Saint Martin's Church () is the main
Roman Catholic
The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics worldwide as of 2025. It is among the world's oldest and largest international institut ...
church and one of the principal
Gothic monuments of
Kortrijk
Kortrijk ( , ; or ''Kortrik''; ), sometimes known in English as Courtrai or Courtray ( ), is a Belgian City status in Belgium, city and Municipalities in Belgium, municipality in the Flemish Region, Flemish Provinces of Belgium, province of We ...
(Courtrai),
West Flanders, Belgium. The church is dedicated to Saint
Martin of Tours
Martin of Tours (; 316/3368 November 397) was the third bishop of Tours. He is the patron saint of many communities and organizations across Europe, including France's Third French Republic, Third Republic. A native of Pannonia (present-day Hung ...
.
History
The first
Gothic Saint Martin's Church was burned down after the Battle of Rozenbeke. This church was located at the place where a Roman church once stood (built in 650). The second church was built between 1390 and 1466, some remnants of which were incorporated in the present day church and remain visible. In 1585, the famous Sacramental tower was constructed in the choir. The current bell tower dates from the 19th century, a rebuilding after a fire in 1862 ruined the choir and major parts of the roof and tower.
The church holds many artworks by Flemish masters including by
Gaspar de Crayer and
Bernaert de Rijckere. The organ, dating to 1888, is made by
Pierre Schyven.
Gallery
Image:Sint-MaartenKortrijk.jpg, Grote Markt (main square) of Kortrijk with Saint-Martin's Church
Image:Sacramentstoren.jpg, The 'Sacrament' tower inside Saint Martin's Church
PM 137407 B Kortrijk.jpg, Triptych by Bernaert de Rijckere
Courtrai st martin nef.JPG, Interior
PM 136607 B Kortrijk.jpg, Altarpiece (detail)
PM 113580 B Kortrijk.jpg, ''Adoration of the Magi'' by Gaspar de Crayer
See also
*
List of tallest structures built before the 20th century
References
External links
site parish Saint-Martin's Kortrijk
{{coord, 50, 49, 39.5, N, 3, 16, 6, E, type:landmark_region:BE_source:nlwiki, display=title
Roman Catholic churches in Kortrijk
History of Kortrijk
Buildings and structures completed in 1466
Churches completed in the 1460s
15th-century Roman Catholic church buildings in Belgium