Church of St Catherine

The Gothic Church of St Catherine was built in the fourteenth century in an area where historically many poor people lived and this is reflected in the church. There are signs that economies were made in the building itself: it is quite modest in scale and many of the vaults are made of wood rather than the more expensive stone.

The church is full of references to Catherine, a mythical figure from the Roman period. Legend has it that she refused to renounce her Christian faith and the Roman emperor sentenced her to death on the wheel. She was tied between the spokes of the wheel which was then turned so fast that normally death resulted. Legend has it that it was not Catherine who broke but the wheel. Eventually they decided that Catherine should be beheaded but again something extraordinary happened: milk flowed from the wound in her neck, dispelling the plague in the city.

Other references to Catherine include twelve rose windows in the nave recalling Catherine's instrument of torture and a beautiful rose window in the façade.

Opening hours

Monday closed
Tuesday 13:00 - 17:00
Wednesday 13:00 - 17:00
Thursday 13:00 - 17:00
Friday 13:00 - 17:00
Saturday 13:00 - 17:00
Sunday 13:00 - 17:00

Closed: 

  • January 1st
  • 24th of December
  • 25 December
  • December 31

Price

Free

Comfort

Access

For more information about access, feel free to contact the venue.

Contact

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

Location

Sint-Katelijnestraat 78, 2800 Mechelen

Click on the blue place marker for more information.