The Cathedral of Our Lady, whose bell tower rises 123 metres above the historic centre of Antwerp, is rightly a symbol of the city. It was built in the Gothic style over two centuries (14th - 16th centuries) on the site of an old Romanesque church. However, the building is still considered unfinished. The cathedral was designed by father and son Amel. From the 16th century, contemporaries admired the external beauty of the cathedral, comparing its spire to lace, as well as the amazing bell shimmers.
Very little remains of the cathedral's original appearance: the exterior, an image of the Madonna and a few frescoes. The church has experienced quite a lot of upheaval during its existence: fires, destruction of artworks by iconoclasts, shelling and looting during the French Revolution. The bell tower of the cathedral is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The church is crowned by three towers - the northern tower (also known as the bell tower), the southern tower and the lantern tower. The northern tower is open to tourists, however, only under the watchful eye of the cathedral staff.
The interior of the gathering embodies features of various styles, from Gothic to Rococo, which was the result of numerous restoration and renovation works. Inside, the cathedral impresses with its vast space, its interior is solemn and its walls are decorated with works by the world-famous artist, Pieter Rubens, as well as canvases by Martin de Vos, Jacob de Backer and Otto van Veen. Two of Rubens's paintings have also been given World Heritage status.
Antwerp Cathedral holds no small place in the history of music. Many famous composers and organists have served and worked here. There are two organs in the cathedral, with the main one being over 130 years old. It has 90 registers and occupies an area of three floors. The choir of the cathedral has not interrupted its activities even during wartime. The women's and men's choirs chant almost every Sunday morning during Mass. They also go on tour every year.
