Rocking horse Korenmarkt
Are you sitting comfortably and enjoying the view? Perfect! Then allow me to introduce myself! My name is Charles, Prince Charles actually. I spent my boyhood in Mechelen and so I know the city like the back of my hand. I was born in 1500 and grew up on Keizerstraat at the court of my aunt Margareta of Austria. That’s the palace with the beautiful inner garden.
Here in Mechelen and all over the world they know me as Emperor Charles V. My empire that was so vast that the sun never set on it. I reigned over more than 27 kingdoms, 13 duchies and 22 counties in Europe, Central America and North Africa. Sadly, I was unable to enjoy them for long. I was just 58 when I died in Yuste in Spain.
Where you rock, I tell stories about the city and in particular about the places I have fond memories of.
| Please note that the rocking horse in the Korenmarkt is currently in the barn for maintenance. Therefore, you won’t be able to visit this horse temporarily. |
Rocking horse Korenmarkt
Long before I was born – so a very long time ago - Mechelen originated right here. As you can see, the Korenmarkt is triangular. The Celts gathered here under a linden tree, which sadly no longer exists. Mechelen used to be called Maclines, which derives from the Celtic ‘Mahal’, meaning ‘meeting place’.
In my day, Mechelen was a sort of city state – an independent sovereign city with surrounding area. So Mechelen was not part of the duchy of Brabant or the county of Flanders. The people of Mechelen were devoted to our family. It was my German great grandfather who gave the city the motto ‘In Trouwen Vast’, meaning ‘Ever Faithful’, because Mechelen always supported our family.
We felt loved in Mechelen. That’s why my aunt came to live here and my sisters and I grew up here. We had the time of our lives in this city! The people of Mechelen bent over backwards to make it just the way we wanted. Even today, centuries later, there are still references to my family here. City brewery Het Anker even named the Gouden Carolus beer after me! Quite a compliment, wouldn’t you say?
- You will also find this walk in the Visit Mechelen app. That way you can follow the horses on a map without having to scan the QR code each time. Download the app here.
- Free
- Available in 4 languages: Dutch, French, German & English.
