The Saint-Jacques parish was born between 1163 and 1167 when a small Romanesque church was built. The central nave, the aisles and the transept date from the first quarter of the 13th century. They are typical examples of the Gothic style in Tournai. The vaults of the chapel on the right side, painted in 1405 and restored in 1895 by Jules Helbig, feature a choir of musical angels.
The choir houses an eagle-lectern dating from 1411, made in the workshops of the Tournai brass casters. Listed as a real estate asset of Wallonia, it has undergone several restorations, the last of which was in 2011 and 2012.
When taking a stroll around the city-centre, you will notice Saint James scallop shells on the ground. These mark out a Saint James route which you can go on to walk in the steps of Saint James. Tournai is located on the path that take pilgrims from Flanders and the North of Europe to Compostela
