Sainte-Catherine Catholic Church, Vieux-Lille
Sainte-Catherine Catholic Church at Vieux-Lille is one of the oldest churches in Lille, traces of which can be found in the 12th century. Its tower-belfry has the oldest bell in the town dated 1403 and called Marie.
About this building
Closed in the 20th century due to danger of collapse, it was finally saved and restored during the 1960’s and classified Historical Monument in 1991. The very sober exterior, only decorated by a frieze under the cornice, keeps its original style of flamboyant gothic architecture in spite of enlargements during the 15th, 16th and 18th centuries. The architecture of the church, without transepts, shows all its capacity inside. It is a “hallekerke”, three luminous naves, of the same height and width more or less. Its Flemish gothic architecture particularly valorises its furnishings, such as the four paintings attributed to Gerard Seghers, Flemish painter of the beginning of the 17th century, or the classic furnishings of the 18th and 19th century.
