Lille Cathedral, Lille

Lille Cathedral, Lille

The Basilica of Notre Dame de la Treille, better known as the Lille Cathedral, is a 19thcentury Roman Catholic church that serves as the the seat of the Bishop of Lille.

The Basilica of Notre Dame de la Treille, better known as the Lille Cathedral, is a 19thcentury Roman Catholic church that serves as the the seat of the Bishop of Lille. The church takes its name from a 12th-century statue of the Virgin Mary protected by an iron trellis, which was stolen and is now replaced by a replica.

The construction of the Neo-Gothic edifice was started in 1854, but completed only in 1999. The cathedral sits on an old sandstone crypt, which now hosts a centre of sacred art. The main contemporary style façade to the west by Pierre-Louis Carlier and Peter Rice has a panel of translucent white Portuguese marble tiles with metal lattice that glow orange with lighting. The rose window features Resurrection by Ladislas Kijno and the portal in glass and bronze was done by sculptor Georges Jeanclos. You can also find symbols of ufos, cosmonauts, a chalice and grapes, and ‘E=mc2’ on the facade. The north portal is dedicated to Saint Joseph, with elaborate sculptures by Leo Santos and Augustus Gerrein, while the south portal is dedicated to Saint Eubert. The interiors feature 8 chapels featuring scenes from the lives of Christ, the Virgin and the saints – Chapel of St Joseph, Chapel of Joan of Arc, Chapel of St John the Evangelist, Saint-Chapelle, Chapel of St Anne, Chapel of St Charles the Good, Chapel of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and chapels of the choir.

The 35 metre high Saint-Nicolas campanile houses the cathedral carillon.