Envision a grand cathedral. Its towers rise high above Brussels. This is the Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula. It is a beacon of history and faith.
The Cathedral of St. Gudula stands as a testament to time. Its story began in the 9th century. A small chapel dedicated to Saint Michael marked the spot. This humble start evolved over centuries. It grew into the magnificent structure we see today.
In the 11th century a Romanesque church replaced the chapel. Then in 1047 Lambert II Count of Leuven founded a chapter in this church. He organised the transfer of Saint Gudula’s relics to it. These relics had previously rested in Saint Gaugericus’ Church. By 1072 the church was reconsecrated. It probably followed a fire.
The 13th century marked a turning point. Henry I Duke of Brabant ordered two round towers to be built. His son Henry II continued the vision. He instructed the construction of a Brabantine Gothic collegiate church in 1226. The choir took fifty years to build. Construction of the nave and transept spanned the 14th and 16th centuries. The main structure was completed just before Emperor Charles V’s reign in 1519.
The Cathedral of St. Gudula became a co-cathedral in 1962. It shares this honour with St. Rumbold’s Cathedral in Mechelen. As Belgium’s national church it hosts important events. Royal weddings state funerals and national day celebrations occur here.
The exterior showcases the stunning Brabantine Gothic style. Stone from the Gobertange quarry forms the walls. The main facade features three portals and two towers. These reach a height of 64 metres. Jan Van Ruysbroeck designed the towers. He also designed Brussels’ Town Hall tower.
Inside the Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula awaits. The nave displays statues of the twelve apostles. They stand on cylindrical columns. These 17th-century statues replaced those destroyed in 1566. A Baroque pulpit from 1699 depicts Adam and Eve’s expulsion from Eden.
Stained glass windows illuminate the cathedral’s interior. The large window in the western facade depicts the Last Judgement. Jean Haeck created it in 1528. Windows in the northern and southern transepts portray Charles V and Louis II of Hungary with their wives.
The Cathedral of St. Gudula houses impressive organs. The large pipe organ in the nave has 4300 pipes. Gerhard Grenzing built it. Sunday concerts often resonate from the 49-bell carillon in the south tower.
Even falcons have found a home here. Since the late 1990s peregrine falcons have nested atop the towers. A project called Falcons for Everyone allows people to watch the birds online.
The Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula is more than a building. It is a living chronicle of Brussels’ history. Its stones echo with centuries of prayers coronations and artistic endeavors. Take a moment to appreciate its grandeur. Consider the countless stories it holds within its walls.