Saint Bavo’s Cathedral

Sint-Baafskathedraal has a long and detailed history. As early as 942, a small church is said to have been dedicated to John the Baptist here. A Romanesque church was built in the mid-12th century, traces of which can still be found in the murals adorning the crypt. The Gothic church we are familiar with today was built in the 15th and 16th centuries when it was still referred to as Sint-Janskerk (Saint John’s Church). The nearby Sint-Baafsabdij (Saint Bavo’s Abbey) was dissolved in 1536 by order of the Emperor Charles V. The monks became canons and their chapter moved to the church, which was henceforth referred to as Sint-Baafskerk (Saint Bavo’s Church). Until 1559 when the diocese of Ghent was established and the church became a cathedral. One of the cathedral’s chief administrators was Bishop Anthonius Triest. The opulent, Baroque interior bears witness to his powerful influence. Sint-Baafskathedraal is a true treasure trove, with many other art treasures in addition to the Mystic Lamb, including The Conversion of Saint Bavo by Peter Paul Rubens and the tomb created by Jerôme Duquesnoy II for Bishop Triest.