Antwerpen Kathedraal is largest Gothic church in the Netherlands but four Rubens altar paintings and other art are often the main draw. The Cathedral of Our Lady (Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekathedraal) in Antwerp is the largest Gothic building in the Dutch-speaking world. Its single belfry is the tallest church tower in Belgium and on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage list. While … [Read more...]
Climb the Belfry Tower of Mechelen Cathedral
It is just over 500 steps to the top of the UNESCO-listed bell tower of the Sint Romboutskathedraal for excellent views of Mechelen and northern Belgium. The belfry of the St Rumbold ‘s Cathedral in Mechelen is just shy of 100 m while just more than 500 steps get visitors to the top with a modern skywalk offering spectacular views of the old town, surrounding … [Read more...]
Visit the Historic Churches of Mechelen
Mechelen near Antwerp has eight historic churches filled with art including paintings by Rubens and Van Dyck, Baroque wood carved pulpits and statues. Mechelen has eight important churches full of art in its historic old town. Mechelen was an important town in the Middle Ages and experienced a further cultural Golden Age during the Baroque leaving this small university … [Read more...]
Visit the Gothic Stadhuis in Gouda, South Holland
The historic Town Hall in Gouda, one of the oldest Gothic stadhuizen in The Netherlands, is at the center of the Markt and weekly outdoor cheese market. Gouda, famous for its cheese, is also worth visiting for its 350 rijksmonumenten (national monuments). At the heart of the old town is one of the most impressive monuments – the mid-fifteenth century Gothic Stadhuis … [Read more...]
See Stained-Glass Windows in the Gothic Sint Janskerk in Gouda
The 16th-century stained-glass windows in De Sint Janskerk (St John’s Church) in Gouda, South Holland are among the best post-medieval religious art in The Netherlands. The Sint Janskerk (St John’s Church) in Gouda is the longest church in The Netherlands allowing for fine acoustics and enough space to display almost half of all sixteenth-century stained-glass windows … [Read more...]
Visit the Sint Janskathedraal (St John’s) in ‘s-Hertogenbosch
The St John’s Cathedral (Sint Jan) in Den Bosch is one of the largest and most impressive Gothic churches in The Netherlands. The Kathedrale Basiliek van Sint-Jan Evangelist (Basilica Cathedral of St John the Evangelist) dominates the skyline of the old town of ‘s-Hertogenbosch in North Brabant in the south of The Netherlands. It is one of the largest and most … [Read more...]
Visit Aachen Cathedral to See Charlemagne’s Throne and Shrine
The imperial throne and tomb of Charlemagne in a gilded shrine are top attractions to see in the Carolingian Aachener Dom in Germany. Aachen Cathedral (Aachener Dom) is one of the most famous and most interesting historic buildings in Germany. It was originally the palatine chapel of Charlemagne and for almost six centuries the church where German kings were crowned. … [Read more...]
The Building and Exterior of Aachen Cathedral
Aachen Cathedral’s core was built by Charlemagne but later additions enlarged the palatine chapel that became the coronation church of German kings. Aachen Cathedral (Aachener Dom) in western Germany is one of the oldest continuously in use buildings in Germany. The octagonal core of the church was built by Charlemagne as a Mary chapel attached to his palace in … [Read more...]
The Interior of Aachen Cathedral
Aachen Cathedral blends original Carolingian elements with later mostly Gothic decorations and additions as well as modern Byzantine-style mosaics. Aachen Cathedral is one of the shiniest cathedrals in Germany. The interior shows an unusual amount of gold while the Byzantine-style mosaics add color and bling to what is in part a fairly dark building. The core of the … [Read more...]
See the Throne of Charlemagne (Karlsthron) in Aachen Cathedral
The marble throne and shrine of Charlemagne in the Aachener Dom can only be seen when on a guided tour of the historic Aachen Cathedral. The marble throne of Charlemagne (Karl der Grosse / Charles the Great), where 30 German kings were crowned, can be seen only on a guided tour of the Aachener Dom in Germany. Similarly, only visitors on the guided tour may enter the … [Read more...]
See the Gothic Choir of Aachen Cathedral
The choir of the Aachener Dom contains the shrine of Charlemagne, further relics, and magnificent Ottonian and Romanesque art. The magnificent choir area of the Aachen Cathedral in western Germany has the remains of Charlemagne (Karl der Grosse / Charles the Great) in a large gilded early 13th-century shrine (Karlsschrein). The Mary shrine (Marienschrein) from the same … [Read more...]
See the Aachen Cathedral Treasury in Germany
The Aachener Domschatz is one of the most important treasuries in Europe with art related to Charlemagne, German royal coronations, liturgy, and relics. The Aachen Cathedral Treasury (Aachener Domschattz) is one of the largest and most important treasuries of medieval Christian artworks in Europe. The treasury has over a hundred works that are exhibited in a large museum … [Read more...]