Cathedrals of Belgium: Four – Mechelen
by Francois Hagnere on 06/12/10 at 1:41 pm
The Cathedral Saint-Rumbold in Mechelen is surrounded by picturesque old houses. The impressive high tower was listed a Unesco World Heritage in 1997 as 56 belfries and bell towers of Belgium and France.
Built from the XIIIth to the XVIth centuries and a metropolitan cathedral since 1560, Saint-Rumbold at Mechelen is a vast and majestic Gothic edifice, approximately 100 m long. A powerful tower rises at the center of the façade whose works began in 1452. It reaches 97 m and was planned to have 167 m high. Vauban admired it very much. From the church consecrated in 1312, several parts remain as the lower parts of the nave, the side-aisles and the first three triple bays of the choir. The transept is even older and partially dates back to the beginning of the XIIIth century. The fire of 1342 determined a new campaign of reconstruction and the upper parts of the nave do belong to this period, as well as the polygonal apse, ambulatory and seven radiating chapels. The elevation presents sharp arcades on the columns, a simple triforium and large high windows with richly decorated traceries in the clerestory. The architects Andrics and Antoon Keldermans erected the high tower.
Cathedral Saint-Rumbold in Mechelen.
Photo by: Jeantosti
Image source: http://s3.amazonaws.com/readers/2010/12/06/stromboutskathedraal3_1.jpg
The cathedral Saint-Rumbold, Mechelen in Winter.
Photo by: Ad Meskens.
Image source: http://s3.amazonaws.com/readers/2010/12/06/saintrumbold28mechelen29inwinter_1.jpg
The market Place and Cathedral at Mechelen.
Image source: http://s3.amazonaws.com/readers/2010/12/06/mechelensintrombouts_1.jpg
Photo by: Donar Reiskoffer
The cathedral of Mechelen and statue of Margaretha of Austria by Joseph Tuerlinckx (1849).
Image source: http://s3.amazonaws.com/readers/2010/12/06/stromboutskathedraal_2.jpg
Photo by: Paul Hermans
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webseowriters
Dec 6th, 2010
Very well written, thanks for sharing
inspirearun
Dec 6th, 2010
nice one…..
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Dec 6th, 2010
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Brewed Coffee
Dec 6th, 2010
It does look like a powerful tower. Magnificent structure
The Soul Explorer
Dec 6th, 2010
Liked it!
Likha
Dec 7th, 2010
Your photos definitely make your articles so interesting. We don’t get to see these things on here. Good work.
awesome11
Dec 7th, 2010
great share! thanks!
Ruby Hawk
Dec 7th, 2010
I love all your cathedrals and architecture. they are interesting and beautiful.
Sharif Ishnin
Dec 8th, 2010
Very intricate and detailed descriptions Francois. The pictures are stunning. I learn many new architectural words from your posts my friend.:)
Phoenix Montoya
Dec 8th, 2010
This church is really amazing. We have a church same like this one- preserved and kept in the old fashioned way. And tourists love it for being like that. Good write too, Francois. Thanks.
Yovita Siswati
Dec 8th, 2010
beautiful churches! thanks for sharing
James DeVere
Dec 9th, 2010
Son of Fance! Keep `em coming! This has made me punch – drunk . j
James DeVere
Dec 9th, 2010
Son of Fance! Keep em coming! This has made me punchdrunk . j
Francois Hagnere
Dec 9th, 2010
Thank you all for your nice comments. Magnificent cathedrals indeed! Best wishes.
Kaye TM
Dec 11th, 2010
nice share! =p
Christine Ramsay
Dec 12th, 2010
That is such a stunning cathedral and rather unusual to look at. Another very impressive post.
Christine
BC Doan
Dec 12th, 2010
What a fascinating castle, and the information is very descriptive to know and learn.
clay hurtubise
Dec 16th, 2010
Great post! Your articles always ‘take me there’: saves on plane tickets!
Thanks,
Clay
Goodselfme
Dec 16th, 2010
I revisited Belgium with your wonderful descriptions and pics. The market place will always remain in my mind because it truly sang with beauty when I was there 6 years ago.
MJ Sunderland
Jan 12th, 2011
Love the tower. Beautiful work, Francois.
Koen DV
May 26th, 2011
Nice article about the cathedral of my hometown Mechelen. Our city has a lot of historic buildings: the cityhall, the belfort, many palaces and of course churches, like the Our Lady over the Dyle, another gotic church of cathedral-size, the beguinages… Mechelen – often called Malines (the French name) – is a pearl between Brussels and Antwerp.
Beerlovers are welcome too to taste the best Belgian beers in our pubs.
And the famous Malinois dog? Where does he come from? Yes, Mechelen or Malines!