St. Michael's Cathedral

The first brick of this magnificent temple was laid in 1226 by Duke Henry I of Brabant, and was completed only under Charles V. Through glass openings in the floor of the church you can see the remains of the previous church of the XI century. The extant image of the temple was built according to the project of architect Jean van Ruesbröck, the author of the central town hall of Brussels.

The Cathedral of St. Michael combines Romanesque, Gothic and Renaissance styles. Even Victor Hugo called it a real Gothic cathedral. Two symmetrical towers, made in the Gothic style and having a total height of 69 meters, appear before visitors. A large portal decorated with statues of saints opens in the center. Inside each tower there are long staircases overlooking a beautiful terrace at a height of 64 meters.

You can enter the temple through powerful doors decorated with forged reliefs. Believers can see the luxurious interior of the temple, including amazing stained glass windows and the main altar, made of carved oak and decorated with figurines of minted copper.

The temple is consecrated in honor of St. Michael - the heavenly patron of the city. In addition, the relics of Saint Gudule are kept within the walls of the church. According to legend, she was the daughter of a Carolingian aristocrat of the VII century and led a pious lifestyle. For her constancy during her ordeal, she was canonized. According to legend, the demon interfered with reading religious literature at night, and she again and again lit a rotten candle.