Saint Bavo's Cathedral, also known as Sint-Baafs Cathedral (), is a

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 ...

cathedral A cathedral is a church (building), church that contains the of a bishop, thus serving as the central church of a diocese, Annual conferences within Methodism, conference, or episcopate. Churches with the function of "cathedral" are usually s ...

Ghent Ghent ( ; ; historically known as ''Gaunt'' in English) is a City status in Belgium, city and a Municipalities of Belgium, municipality in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is the capital and largest city of the Provinces of Belgium, province ...

, Belgium. The Gothic building is the seat of the Diocese of Ghent and is named for Saint Bavo of Ghent. It contains the well-known ''

Ghent Altarpiece The ''Ghent Altarpiece'', also called the ''Adoration of the Mystic Lamb'' (), is a very large and complex 15th-century polyptych altarpiece in St Bavo's Cathedral, Ghent, Belgium. It was begun around the mid-1420s and completed by 1432, and it ...

'', also called the ''Adoration of the Mystic Lamb''.

History

The cathedral stands on the site of the former Chapel of St. John the Baptist, which was primarily of wooden construction and was consecrated in 942 by Transmarus, Bishop of Tournai and Noyon. Traces of a later Romanesque structure can be found in the cathedral's crypt. Construction of the Gothic church began around 1274. In the subsequent period from the 14th through 16th centuries, nearly continuous expansion projects in the Gothic style were executed on the structure. A new

choir A choir ( ), also known as a chorale or chorus (from Latin ''chorus'', meaning 'a dance in a circle') is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform or in other words ...

, radiating chapels, expansions of the

transept A transept (with two semitransepts) is a transverse part of any building, which lies across the main body of the building. In cruciform ("cross-shaped") cruciform plan, churches, in particular within the Romanesque architecture, Romanesque a ...

s, a

chapter house A chapter house or chapterhouse is a building or room that is part of a cathedral, monastery or collegiate church in which meetings are held. When attached to a cathedral, the cathedral chapter meets there. In monasteries, the whole communi ...

nave The nave () is the central part of a church, stretching from the (normally western) main entrance or rear wall, to the transepts, or in a church without transepts, to the chancel. When a church contains side aisles, as in a basilica-type ...

aisles and a single-tower western section were all added. In 1539, as a result of the rebellion against

Charles V Charles V may refer to: Kings and Emperors * Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor (1500–1558) * Charles V of Naples (1661–1700), better known as Charles II of Spain * Charles V of France (1338–1380), called the Wise Others * Charles V, Duke ...

, who was baptized in the church, the old Abbey of St. Bavo was dissolved. Its abbot and monks went on to become canons in a chapter that was attached to what then became the Church of St. Bavo. When the Diocese of Ghent was founded in 1559, the church became its

. Construction was considered complete on 7 June 1569. In the summer of 1566, bands of

Calvinist Reformed Christianity, also called Calvinism, is a major branch of Protestantism that began during the 16th-century Protestant Reformation. In the modern day, it is largely represented by the Continental Reformed Protestantism, Continenta ...

iconoclast Iconoclasm ()From . ''Iconoclasm'' may also be considered as a back-formation from ''iconoclast'' (Greek: εἰκοκλάστης). The corresponding Greek word for iconoclasm is εἰκονοκλασία, ''eikonoklasia''. is the social belie ...

s visited Catholic churches in the Netherlands, including St. Bavo, shattering stained-glass windows, smashing statues, and destroying paintings and other artworks they perceived as idolatrous. However, the altarpiece by the Van Eycks was saved.

Interior

''Ghent Altarpiece''

The cathedral is noted for the ''

'', originally in the Joost Vijd Chapel. It is formally known as the '' Adoration of the Mystic Lamb'' after its lower centre panel by

Hubert Hubert is a Germanic masculine given name, from ''hug'' "mind" and '' beraht'' "bright". It also occurs as a surname. Saint Hubert of Liège (or Hubertus) (c. 656 – 30 May 727) is the patron saint of hunters, mathematicians, opticians, and m ...

and

Jan van Eyck Jan van Eyck ( ; ; – 9 July 1441) was a Flemish people, Flemish painter active in Bruges who was one of the early innovators of what became known as Early Netherlandish painting, and one of the most significant representatives of Early Nort ...

. This work is considered Van Eyck's masterpiece and one of the most important works of the early

Northern Renaissance The Northern Renaissance was the Renaissance that occurred in Europe north of the Alps, developing later than the Italian Renaissance, and in most respects only beginning in the last years of the 15th century. It took different forms in the vari ...

, as well as one of the greatest artistic masterpieces of Belgium. Part of the painting, the lowermost left panel known as '' The Just Judges'', was stolen in 1934 and has not been recovered. It has since been replaced with a facsimile by Jef Van der Veken.

Other religious art

The cathedral is home to the works of other artists of note. It holds the painting ''Saint Bavo enters the Convent at Ghent'' by

Peter Paul Rubens Sir Peter Paul Rubens ( ; ; 28 June 1577 – 30 May 1640) was a Flemish painting, Flemish artist and diplomat. He is considered the most influential artist of the Flemish Baroque painting, Flemish Baroque tradition. Rubens' highly charged comp ...

. There are also works by or after

Lucas de Heere Lucas de Heere or Lucas d'Heere (Ghent, 1534 – possibly Paris, 29 August 1584) was a County of Flanders, Flemish Portrait painting, painter, Watercolor painting, watercolorist, print artist, biographer, playwright, poet and writer.

, one of which is a ''View of Gent''.

Frans Pourbus the Elder Frans Pourbus the ElderGaëlle Brackez, ''Frans Pourbus de oudere (1545-1581) Een blik op zijn leven en oeuvre volume i: tekst'', Masterproef voorgelegd aan de Faculteit Letteren en Wijsbegeerte, Vakgroep Kunst -, Muziek- en Theaterwetenschappen ...

painted 14 panels representing the ''History of Saint Andrew'' (1572) and a ''Triptych of Viglius Aytta'' (1571). Caspar de Crayer is represented by paintings of ''St Macarius of Gent'', ''The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist'' and ''The Martyrdom of Saint Barbara''. The church also holds works by Antoon van den Heuvel including the ''Christ and the Adulterous Woman'' and the ''Resurrection of Christ''. There are also works by

Lucas van Uden Lucas van Uden (18 October 1595 – 4 November 1672) was a leading Flemish Landscape art, landscape painter, draughtsman and engraver, who lived and worked in Antwerp. He was a leading landscape painter who collaborated with various local fi ...

and

Jan van Cleef Jan van Cleve (III) or Jan van Cleef (III) (6 January 1646 – 18 December 1716) was a Dutch-born Flemish painter who is known for his altarpieces, allegorical pictures and mythological scenes.Petrus Norbertus van Reysschoot painted a series of eleven

grisaille Grisaille ( or ; , from ''gris'' 'grey') means in general any European painting that is painted in grey. History Giotto used grisaille in the lower registers of his frescoes in the Scrovegni Chapel in Padua () and Robert Campin, Jan van Ey ...

s, which decorate the choir of the cathedral, above the stalls. Five of these panels represent scenes from the Old Testament while the other six episodes from the New Testament. These paintings were placed in the cathedral between 1789 and 1791.Victor van der Haeghen, ''Reysschoot, Pierre-Norbert Van''
in: Biographie nationale de Belgique, Volume 19, p. 235-238 File:Het Lam Gods - Sint-Baafskathedraal Gent.jpg, The Ghent Altarpiece File:De bekering van de heilige Bavo, Peter Paul Rubens, Sint-Baafskathedraal (cropped).jpg, ''Saint Bavo enters the Convent at Ghent'' by

File:Antoon van den Heuvel - The Resurrection of Christ.jpg, ''Resurrection of Christ'' by Antoon van den Heuvel File:Petrus Norbertus van Reysschoot - The washing of the feet.jpg, ''The Washing of the Feet'' by Petrus Norbertus van Reysschoot File:Christus met kruis - Sint-Baafskathedraal Gent (12).jpg, ''Christ with cross'' photographer Dominique Provost File:Praalgraf van Monseigneur Antonius Triest - Jeroom Du Quesnoy - Sint-Baafskathedraal Gent - 0000 (2).jpg, ''Tomb of Monsignor Antonius Triest'' by Jerôme Duquesnoy (II) File:Mariabeeld - Sint-Baafskathedraal Gent (2).jpg, Statue of Mary File:Preekstoel - Laurent Delvaux - Sint-Baafskathedraal Gent (13).jpg, Pulpit by

Laurent Delvaux Laurent Delvaux (1696, in Ghent – 24 February 1778, in Nivelles) was a Flemish sculptor. After a successful international career that brought him to London and Rome, he returned to the Austrian Netherlands where he was a sculptor to the cou ...

File:Detail van een doopvont - 11261150 - Sint-Baafskathedraal Gent (2).jpg, Detail of a baptismal font File:Epitaaf van de familie De Draeck - Sint-Baafskathedraal Gent (1).jpg, Epitaph of the De Draeck family File:Preekstoel - Laurent Delvaux - Sint-Baafskathedraal Gent (7).jpg, Pulpit by

File:Pater Damiaan - anoniem - Sint-Baafskathedraal Gent - 1010022000.jpg, Father Damien File:Preekstoel - Laurent Delvaux - Sint-Baafskathedraal Gent (4).jpg, Pulpit by

File:Stenen vrouwenhoofd - Sint-Baafskathedraal Gent.jpg, Stone female head File:Triptiek van Viglius Aytta.jpg, The Viglius triptych- File:De Viglius-triptiek- Christus als Salvator Mundi - Frans Pourbus de Oude - Sint-Baafskathedraal Gent - 440.jpg, The Viglius triptych- Christ as Salvator Mundi

Organs

The cathedral has four organs for use at liturgical celebrations. Most famous is the main organ in the upper church, the biggest organ in the

Low Countries The Low Countries (; ), historically also known as the Netherlands (), is a coastal lowland region in Northwestern Europe forming the lower Drainage basin, basin of the Rhine–Meuse–Scheldt delta and consisting today of the three modern "Bene ...

. In 1935, Mgr Coppieters commanded that the Klais organ from the world exhibition would be put inside the cathedral. The organ case dates from the 18th century and the complete organ has more than 6,000 pipes inside. It has five manuals.

Choir

The most impressive part is the high choir with stalls for the members of the Chapter of Saint-Bavon. The episcopal throne is located on the right side with the episcopal arms visible. Highlights of the interior decoration of the choir include the

Baroque The Baroque ( , , ) is a Western Style (visual arts), style of Baroque architecture, architecture, Baroque music, music, Baroque dance, dance, Baroque painting, painting, Baroque sculpture, sculpture, poetry, and other arts that flourished from ...

high altar (1702–1782), in white, black, and red flamed marble, and the tomb monuments of Ghent bishops, including that of Antonius Triest, in white and black marble (1652–1654), a major work of Jerôme Duquesnoy (II). On the right side is the gallery with painted crests of the members of the

Order of the Golden Fleece The Distinguished Order of the Golden Fleece (, ) is a Catholic order of chivalry founded in 1430 in Brugge by Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, to celebrate his marriage to Isabella of Portugal, Duchess of Burgundy, Isabella of Portugal. T ...

. In the choir is the 1559 painting '' The Queen of Sheba visits King Solomon'' by the Flemish artist

. This allegorical work depicts

King Solomon King is a royal title given to a male monarch. A king is an absolute monarch if he holds unrestricted governmental power or exercises full sovereignty over a nation. Conversely, he is a constitutional monarch if his power is restrained by f ...

Philip II of Spain Philip II (21 May 152713 September 1598), sometimes known in Spain as Philip the Prudent (), was King of Spain from 1556, King of Portugal from 1580, and King of Naples and List of Sicilian monarchs, Sicily from 1554 until his death in 1598. He ...

, recognizable by his facial features, receiving gifts from the

Queen of Sheba The Queen of Sheba, also known as Bilqis in Arabic and as Makeda in Geʽez, is a figure first mentioned in the Hebrew Bible. In the original story, she brings a caravan of valuable gifts for Solomon, the fourth King of Israel and Judah. This a ...

, an allegory of the

, representing that country donating its riches to the Spanish king in thanks for his prudent government. File:Inside St. Bavos Cathedral Ghent.jpg, Elaborate stone and marble

s inside the upper church File:Gent Sint-Baafskathedraal-PM 46226.jpg, High choir of the cathedral, in the upper church File:Lucas de Heere - The Queen of Sheba visits King Solomon.jpg, '' The Queen of Sheba visits King Solomon'' by

File:Bavo medaillon - Sint-Baafskathedraal Gent - onbekend.jpg, Bavo medaillon File:Zicht op noordelijke zijbeuk - Sint-Baafskathedraal Gent (3).jpg, View of the northern aisle File:Kooromgang - Sint-Baafskathedraal Gent (4).jpg, Ambulatory File:Epitaaf van Ferdinand De Brunswyck-Luneburg - Sint-Baafskathedraal Gent (2).jpg, Epitaph of Ferdinand De Brunswyck-Luneburg File:Interieur (glasramen) - Sint-Baafskathedraal Gent (2).jpg, Interior (stained glass windows) File:Kapel van de Heilige Macharius - Sint-Baafskathedraal Gent (1).jpg, Chapel of Saint Macharius File:Kapel van de Heilige Geest - Sint-Baafskathedraal Gent (3).jpg, Chapel of the Holy Spirit File:O.L Vrouw te Radiën - Sint-Baafskathedraal Gent.jpg, Our Lady of Radiën File:Vier identieke kandelaars - Benedetto da Rovezzano - Sint-Baafskathedraal Gent - kandelaars hoogkoor (1).jpg, Four identical candlesticks by Benedetto da Rovezzano

Nave

In the nave there is an impressive

Rococo Rococo, less commonly Roccoco ( , ; or ), also known as Late Baroque, is an exceptionally ornamental and dramatic style of architecture, art and decoration which combines asymmetry, scrolling curves, gilding, white and pastel colours, sculpte ...

pulpit (1741–1745), made in oak, gilded wood and white and black marble by

, with wrought-iron railings by J. Arens. There are also chairs designed by the contemporary designer Maarten Van Severen. The main altar is placed between the nave and the choir.

Treasury and crypt

In the Chapel of the Holiest, an important ''

Calvary Calvary ( or ) or Golgotha () was a site immediately outside Jerusalem's walls where, according to Christianity's four canonical gospels, Jesus was crucified. Since at least the early medieval period, it has been a destination for pilgrimage. ...

Triptych'' is on display. This 15th-century work is attributed to

Justus van Gent Justus van Gent or Joos van Wassenhove () was an Early Netherlandish painter, perhaps from Ghent, who after training and working in Flanders later moved to Italy where he worked for Federico da Montefeltro, duke of Urbino, and was known as Gius ...

. Finally, there is a valuable collection of important liturgical plates, reliquaries, and liturgical vessels dating from the 15th century onward. Among the important reliquaries are the head of Saint John the Baptist and of Saint Macarius. The important collection of hand-embroidered and brocaded liturgical ornaments is widely known as one of the most important of the country, some of which are put on display. File:St. Bavos Cathedral Ghent.jpg, Interior of the Romanesque

crypt A crypt (from Greek κρύπτη (kryptē) ''wikt:crypta#Latin, crypta'' "Burial vault (tomb), vault") is a stone chamber beneath the floor of a church or other building. It typically contains coffins, Sarcophagus, sarcophagi, or Relic, religiou ...

, with

fresco Fresco ( or frescoes) is a technique of mural painting executed upon freshly laid ("wet") lime plaster. Water is used as the vehicle for the dry-powder pigment to merge with the plaster, and with the setting of the plaster, the painting become ...

s of religious figures visible File:Calvarietriptiek - Joos Van Wassenhove - Sint-Baafskathedraal Gent - onbekend (1).jpg,

Triptych by

File:Praalgraf van Monseigneur Eugenius Albertus d' Allamont, negende bisschop - Sint-Baafskathedraal Gent (1).jpg, Tomb of Eugeen Albert d'Allamont File:Praalgraf van Monseigneur Carolus van den Bosch - Sint-Baafskathedraal Gent.jpg, Tomb of Karel van den Bosch File:Grafsteen Michelle de France - Sint-Baafskathedraal Gent - onbekend.jpg, The remaining part of

Michelle of Valois Michelle of France (11 January 1395 – 8 July 1422), also called Michelle of Valois, was Duchess consort of Burgundy as the first wife of Philip III, Duke of Burgundy, called "Philip the Good". She was born a princess of France as the daughter of ...

' tomb

Chapter of Saint-Bavo

Still today the chapter is housed inside the cathedral, since its foundation. Members have been important prelates and members of noble houses. Today

Jozef De Kesel Jozef De Kesel (born 17 June 1947) is a Belgian Catholic prelate who served as Archbishop of Mechelen-Brussels from 2015 to 2023. He previously served there as auxiliary bishop from 2002 to 2010. He served as Bishop of Bruges from 2010 to 20 ...

is one of the honorary canons. The chapters of Haarlem and Ghent are united in friendship. Weekly the canons sing Mass with the bishop. * Maximilian van de Woestyne de Becelaere, died 1699: nephew of the

Marquess of Becelaere The Marquess of Becelaere is a former French title, now extinct. Becelaere, in Flanders, is an old spelling of Beselare, in Zonnebeke. History The title was created for Maximilien-Emmanuel de la Woestyne, 1st Marquess of Becelaere (1660-1729) in ...

* Jacques Ignace van Parys, died 1702: grandson of Rubens. * Constant van Crombrugghe * François III Maria Rubens, died 1720: great-grandson of Rubens. * Petrus Joseph Triest, founder of the Brothers of Charity * Thomas-Philip d'Alsace, Cardinal * Antoon Stillemans, before he was ordained bishop * Gustaaf Joos, before he was created cardinal *

, honorary Canon * Lode Aerts, before he was ordained bishop File:Canon Calewaert.JPG, Karel Justinus Calewaert, canon of St. Bavo File:Constant van Crombrugghe.jpg, Constant van Crombrugghe, canon of Ghent

Burials

* Cornelius Jansen (1510–1576), first Bishop of Ghent (1565–1576) * Pieter Damant (1530–1609), third Bishop of Ghent (1589–1609) * Karl vanden Bosch, Bishop of Ghent * Karel Justinus Calewaert, (1893–1963): 27th Bishop of Ghent (1948–1963) * Prince Ferdinand de Lobkowitz (1726–1795) Bishop of Ghent, 1779–1795 * Philippus Erardus van der Noot, baroque tomb by Jan Boeksent. * Jan de Smet, Bishop of Ghent * Jan-Frans van de Velde (1779–1838), 20th Bishop of Ghent. * Gerard van Eersel (died 1778), Bishop of Ghent * Ignace Schetz de Grobbendonk (1625–1680), 11th Bishop of Ghent (1679–1680) *

, Duchess of Burgundy

References

External links

* {{Authority control Roman Catholic cathedrals in Belgium Roman Catholic churches in Ghent Gothic architecture in Belgium Romanesque architecture in Belgium Churches in East Flanders Burial sites of the Pippinids 10th-century establishments in Belgium Tourism in Belgium 10th-century churches 942 establishments Religious buildings and structures completed in the 940s