ANTWERP, BELGIUM

THE CATHEDRAL OF OUR LADY IS A HIGHLIGHT OF ANY TRIP TO ANTWERP. THE STEEPLE CLIMBS 404 FEET.  YOU CAN CLIMB THE TOWER BUT ONLY DURING CERTAIN WEDNESDAYS OF SUMMER MONTHS.  IT TOOK OVER 170 YEARS TO BUILD THE CHURCH, STARTING IN 1350.  THE CHURCH WAS ORIGINALLY DESIGNED TO HAVE 2 MATCHING TOWERS, HOWEVER, THE 2ND TOWER WAS NEVER BUILT AFTER THE CHURCH WAS RAVAGED BY FIRE IN 1533.   

MORE DAMAGE WAS INFLICTED ON THE CATHEDRAL DURING THE FRENCH REVOLUTION WHEN ANTWERP FELL.  IT TOOK MOST OF THE 19TH CENTURY BUT THE CHURCH WAS RESTORED AND SEVERAL ORIGINAL MASTERPIECES BY PAUL RUEBENS WERE RETURNED FROM PARIS TO THEIR RIGHTFUL HOME, THE  CATHEDRAL OF OUR LADY.  EVEN NOW THERE IS SOME SERIOUS RESTORATION WORK BEING DONE.  MAINTENANCE OF THE CATHEDRAL IS 1.5 MILLION EURO PER YEAR. 

NAPOLEON COMMENTED ON THE BEAUTIFUL SPIRE COMPARING IT TO MECHELEN (BELGIUM) LACE

THE LARGEST BELL IN THE BELL TOWER REQUIRES 16 RINGERS

THE CATHEDRAL CAN HOLD 25,000 PEOPLE BUT THERE ARE JUST 2,500 SEATS.

THE 19TH CENTURY SCHYVEN ORGAN HAS 90 REGISTERS AND 5,770 PIPES

SOME RENOVATION WORK

THIS PHOTO IS A BIT BLURRY BUT I  REALLY WANTED TO SHOW HOW DETAILED THE CARVING IS.