België - Oudenaarde, Sint-Walburgakerk

The 88 meters high tower of the Sint-Walburgakerk (St Walburga's church) rises above Oudenaarde with its Brabant Gothic style. The church consists of two half churches built together. The oldest church dates from the 10th century. The building history records 1150 as the date of rebuilding the church after a fire in 1126. This new church had a large choir with a so-called crossing tower. The present choir is a remnant of this early Gothic monument. The church is dedicated to Saint Walburga, the patron saint of Oudenaarde.

Around 1422/23, mention is made of a new building, but due to financial difficulties, only half of these grand plans took shape. A start was made on the tower; in 1428 the work was halted before being restarted in 1478. In 1501, the tower's hull was finished. The stately tower only had its crowning glory when a baroque spire was placed on the Gothic trunk in 1620, which burned down in 1804 due to a lightning strike.

The materials used for the church are mainly Tournai-stone for the oldest part and Balegem-stone for the late Gothic. Tapestry weaving was Oudenaarde's main industry for three centuries, and St Walburga's church played an important role in the lives of tapestry weavers. A number of Oudenaarde tapestries hang in the church.