Gravenkapel, church
The Gravenkapel is a small chapel with tall windows and stone walls in Kortrijk. Its interior displays portraits of Flemish rulers across centuries and over one hundred intricate carvings that depict religious scenes and stories from daily life.
The chapel was built around 1370 on the orders of Count Louis of Male, who wished to be buried there. It survived wars and fires, was restored in 1410, and maintained its gothic character through the centuries.
The chapel served as a place to honor the counts of Flanders and keep their memory alive for the community. The portraits and carved stone figures tell stories of rulers and their time, shaping how people understood their region's identity.
The chapel is located inside a larger church and is quite small, so it can be easy to miss. The stone carvings sit high above and are difficult to see clearly, but reproductions and modern presentations help visitors understand the details up close.
The chapel contains over one hundred tiny carvings that were originally painted and gilded but are now barely visible. These mysterious figures depict strange scenes with horse heads on people and saints with unexpected attributes, serving as moral lessons for viewers.
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