Collegiate Church of Sainte-Waudru

A collegiate church in Brabant Gothic. The church is dedicated to the city's founder and patron saint and was built from 1450 over 236 years. Climb the stairs to the church and enter on the left.
Admire the beautiful choir, stained glass windows, statues and side altars and especially the famous Car d'Or.

“Saint Waudru and her daughters visiting the prisoners”
Location of the work: rue du Chapter, 2 - 7000 Mons

Uniting the past with the present, uniting classical art and contemporary art is the ambition of Andrea Ravo Mattoni in this work dedicated to Saint Waudru.

To create a dialogue between the past and the present, the artist combines academic learning techniques and the use of spray, classic works and accessible supports. The project can be summarized as follows: reproducing classical paintings on large walls, visible to all. Each chosen work has a precise link with the territory where it is reproduced and thus becomes an opportunity to reestablish the dialogue between classicism and contemporary territory. The utopia that is emerging is that of a large open-air art gallery, with works which, until now, were exhibited and "locked" in the rooms of the largest museums in the world.

For this project in Mons, I decided to paint on a large wall the work of Antoine Van Ysendick, "Sainte Waudru and her daughters visiting the prisoners". Saint Waudru is the holy protector of the City and the work is also located in the Collegiate Church opposite the wall. It seemed obvious to me to highlight this masterpiece.

Bron: StreetArtCities

The Collegiate Church of Mons is impressive: 110 meters long, 34 meters wide and 24.5 meters high. It is located high in the city and is near the belfry. It is a beautiful Gothic building, the construction of which was staggered between 1450 and 1621. The church is dedicated to Sainte-Waudru, who founded a small religious community on the hill of Mons in the 7th century. This later became a noble chapter of canons.

Inside, around the choir, seven creations by sculptor Jacques Du Broeucq represent the virtues. You can guess which one… You will also find beautiful stained glass windows (16th century). Numerous chapels refer to the guilds. Notice the relics of Sainte-Waudru.

At the back of the church, somewhat unusually, is a wooden cart, painted with gold in the Louis XVI style. It is the Golden Coach, cherished by the people of Bergen. On Trinity Day (the Sunday after Pentecost), the carriage comes out in procession with the reliquary of Waudru. At the end, the carriage, drawn by sturdy horses, must in one go overcome the precipice to the church, pushed and followed by a large boisterous crowd. If the climb ends well, Bergen will have a good year ahead.

It took three years of work to fully restore the organ! It now has 70 registers spread over 4 manual keyboards and a pedal for a total of over 4,400 pipes.
The transmissions combine mechanics, electricity and IT. The contribution of modern technology to an age-old tradition gives the organist almost unlimited possibilities for recording.
It will make it possible to play a large part of the repertoire from the 17th century to the present in the correct sound.

This collegiate church is listed as an exceptional heritage in Wallonia.

Source: openchurches.eu