Our Lady of Pamele

From the 12th century, Pamele was a medieval town that remained more important than Oudenaarde for a long time: it was only taken over by its neighbor in 1593. The power and wealth of Pamele is reflected, among other things, in an oversized Our Lady of Pamele Church built in a very short time between 1235 and 1265. Stylistically, this church is a particularly beautiful example of Scheldt Gothic, in the Tournai stone . It is certainly worth remembering that the church still has its original roof truss from the 13th century. The interior offers beautiful stained glass windows. At the back of the aisles you will find two tombs of the barons from Pamele. The high altar contains a gilded sandstone retable. Also notice the shape of the ciborium, it looks like a spire of a tower. You can find the church open from June to June. August during the WE from 2 pm to 5.30 pm.

The Church of Our Lady of Pamele or Church of Our Lady of the Nativity is a church in the Belgian city of Oudenaarde. The church is located on the right bank of the Scheldt, in the district of Pamele. It was built between 1234 o.s. (1235 a.s.) and 1300.
The Lord of Oudenaarde and Pamele, Arnulf IV, was the builder who had the Church of Our Lady of Pamele built. A plaque on the facade, which was very unusual at the time, indicates that Arnulf van Binche was the builder.
The church was much richer than the old Saint Walburga Church of Oudenaarde. The illegitimate daughter of Emperor Charles V and Johanna van der Gheynst was baptized in this church. She was called Margaretha and later became governor of the Netherlands as Margaretha van Parma.
The building is considered a typical example of Scheldt Gothic; exemplary are the still very Romanesque windows and choir ambulatory, while the colonnade above the nave already clearly shows Gothic features. The corner towers of this thirteenth-century church are also very artistic. The church building is unstable and that has to do with the marshy ground around and under its foundations. The Scheldt flows barely a few meters from its northwestern facade. The subsidence is especially visible on the inside of the transept and the chancel. The monument care of the province of East Flanders regularly checks the stability.

The Church of Our Lady of Pamele sparkles on the banks of the Scheldt. Built in the 13th century by Arnulf IV, Baron van Pamele, it was much richer than St. Walburga's Church.
It was here that Margaret of Parma was baptized. The church is a fine example of Scheldt Gothic, with a striking mix of Romanesque and Gothic elements.

Source: oudenaarde.be