Église Sainte-Catherine (St. Catherine Church), Lille

In the center of the Old Lille district is Saint Catherine Church, dedicated to Saint Catherine of Alexandria. It was built in the thirteenth century. It is constructed as a "Hallekerk", a church laid out like a hall in the old Flemish tradition. It is the oldest parish church in the city.

Although it appears in a lush Gothic style, it is all on one level with three naves and one transept. The bell tower is squat and stolid. It is a dominating figure and it holds the oldest bell in the city. The tower served as an optical telegraph station in the 18th century. On the north wall were reclusoirs, cells for pious meditation.

Inside the church there is much to admire. There is carved wooden furniture from the 1800s and paintings of Saint Mathieu, Saint John the Evangelist, and Saints Mark and Luke by artist Victor Mottez. Most admirable is the stained glass window showing the Triumph of Saint Catherine and the paneled cradles of the ceiling.

The church was classified as an Historical Monument in August 1991.