St. Rumbold's Cathedral

St Rumbold's Cathedral was built in the thirteenth century. From the outset it was larger and more impressive than all the other parish churches and later on it became 'the church of the archbishops'. Originally there was a triple-nave cruciform church on the site of the vast cathedral. Only after a series of building campaigns did the church become our city's star attraction.

In the religious wars in the sixteenth century the church took some hard knocks. Much of the old interior was lost to iconoclasms and plundering. Calvinist rule at the end of that century removed all references to Catholic worship. But the church had even more storms to weather. In the Second World War Mechelen was bombed and in 1972 a huge fire broke out. St Rumbold's Cathedral withstood them all.

The inside of the cathedral is breathtaking. You can admire Anthony van Dyck's painting 'Christ on the Cross', along with works by (among others) Michel Coxcie, Gaspard de Crayer and Abraham Janssens. The real showpiece, however, has to be the high altar by Lucas Faydherbe which dates from 1665. 


 

Opening hours

Monday 08:30 - 17:30
Tuesday 08:30 - 17:30
Wednesday 08:30 - 17:30
Thursday 08:30 - 17:30
Friday 08:30 - 17:30
Saturday 08:30 - 17:30
Sunday 08:30 - 17:30

Price

Free

Comfort

Access

Partly accessible by wheelchair  
Facilities for the visually impaired

The tower itself is not wheelchair accessible, but you can visit it virtually at www.virtualtour/mechelen360. In the cathedral there is a wooden model of church and tower, which you are allowed to touch. Outside and next to the cathedral (Onder den Toren side) there is also a miniature bronze version of the tower, which you can slide your fingers along.

Contact

T +32 15 29 40 32
info@torensaandedijle.be
torensaandedijle.mechelen.be/nl/sint-romboutskathedraal

Where?

Onder-den-Toren 12, 2800 Mechelen