Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula facts for kids

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Quick facts for kids Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula
Cathédrale Saints-Michel-et-Gudule (French) Kathedraal van Sint-Michiel en Sint-Goedele (Dutch)
St. Michael and St. Gudula's Cathedral
50°50′52″N 4°21′37″E / 50.84778°N 4.36028°E / 50.84778; 4.36028
Location	Parvis Sainte-Gudule / Sinter-Goedelevoorplein 1000 City of Brussels, Brussels-Capital Region
Country	Belgium
Denomination	Roman Catholic
History
Status	Co-cathedral (Cathedral status from 1962)
Dedication	Saint Michael Saint Gudula (patron saints of Brussels)
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Heritage designation	Protected
Designated	05/03/1936
Architectural type	Cathedral
Style	Gothic Brabantine Gothic Baroque
Years built	11th–15th centuries (church) 1485 (facade and towers)
Groundbreaking	c. 9th century (chapel)
Completed	1519
Specifications
Number of towers	2
Number of spires	2
Spire height	64 metres (210 ft)
Administration
Archdiocese	Mechelen–Brussels

The Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula is a famous Roman Catholic cathedral in central Brussels, Belgium. People often call it the Cathedral of St. Gudula or just St. Gudula. It is named after Saint Michael and Saint Gudula, who are the patron saints of Brussels. This cathedral is a great example of Brabantine Gothic style.

The church started as a Romanesque building in the 11th century, replacing an older chapel. It was mostly finished in its current Gothic style by the 16th century. Over the years, its inside was changed many times. It has chapels from the late-Gothic and Baroque periods. Some of its stained glass windows and other decorations were added in the 19th century. The cathedral is also known for its music, with two pipe organs and huge church bells. It became a protected historic monument in 1936.

In 1962, the church became a cathedral. It is now one of the two main churches for the Archdiocese of Mechelen–Brussels, along with St. Rumbold's Cathedral in Mechelen. Because it's the national church of Belgium and the main seat for the country's top bishop, it often hosts important events. These include royal weddings, state funerals, and other official ceremonies.

Since the mid-20th century, the cathedral stands on a large open area called the Parvis Sainte-Gudule or Sinter-Goedelevoorplein. This area is easy to reach by train at Brussels-Central railway station and by metro at Parc/Park metro station.

History of the Cathedral
- How it Began
- Modern Times
What the Cathedral Looks Like
Outside the Cathedral
Inside the Cathedral
- The Nave
- Choir and Chapels Inside
Beautiful Stained Glass Windows
Organs for Music
The Cathedral Bells
Fun Facts: Falcons!
- Falcons Living in the Cathedral
How the Cathedral is Used
See also

History of the Cathedral

How it Began

The exact start of the cathedral is not fully known. But historians believe a chapel for Saint Michael was there as early as the 9th century. This spot was very important in Brussels. It was where two major trade routes crossed. One route connected the County of Flanders and Cologne. The other went between Antwerp and Mons. These crossroads were on a hill called Treurenberg, which means "Mount of sorrows". A gate called St. Gudula Gate was part of the first city walls here. This area was later used as a prison, which is why it got its sad name.

Detail of Pastoral Instruction, c. 1480, showing the Church of St. Gudula's north tower still incomplete

In the 11th century, a Romanesque church replaced the first chapel. In 1047, Count Lambert II of Leuven and his wife Oda of Verdun started a chapter at this church. They also brought the relics of Saint Gudula here. Before this, the relics were kept in Saint Gaugericus' Church. In 1072, the church was blessed again, probably after a fire.

By the late 12th century, a Romanesque front section was added to the west side of the nave. In the 13th century, Henry I, Duke of Brabant, ordered two round towers to be built. His son, Henry II, Duke of Brabant, started building a Brabantine Gothic collegiate church in 1226. The choir was built between 1226 and 1276. The nave and transept were built later, from the 14th to the 16th centuries. The whole church took about 300 years to finish. The main building was completed just before Emperor Charles V's rule began in 1519.

In the 16th and 17th centuries, more changes were made. Some new chapels were added. These included the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament of the Miracle (1534–1539). Also, the Chapel of Our Lady of Deliverance (1649–1655) and the Chapel of St. Mary Magdalen (1672–1675). In 1579, the church was attacked and damaged by Protestant groups. Saint Gudula's relics were dug up and scattered. In the 1790s, the church was again looted and damaged by French revolutionaries.

Miniature of Margaret of York praying in front of the Church of St. Gudula, c. 1468
St. Gudula's Church, engraving by Erycius Puteanus, 1646
St. Gudula's Church, etching by Pieter Devel from Les délices des Pays-Bas, 1711
St. Gudula's Church, painting by Andreas Martin, before 1762

Modern Times

The church was named a historic monument on March 5, 1936. In the mid-20th century, it was almost affected by the building of a major railway link. This link was called the North–South connection. A large open area, the Parvis Sainte-Gudule, was built in front of it. In 1962, the church became a co-cathedral. This happened when the Archdiocese of Mechelen–Brussels was created. It became the main church for the Archbishop, along with St. Rumbold's Cathedral in Mechelen. The current patron saints, Saint Michael and Saint Gudula, are also the patron saints of Brussels.

The church was restored in the 19th century by architect Tilman-François Suys. He worked on the towers and portals from 1839 to 1845. More restoration happened in the 20th century. The cathedral was fully restored again between 1983 and 1999. During this time, archaeologists dug and found parts of the Romanesque church and a crypt under the current choir.

Baptism of Louis-Philippe of Belgium, son of King Leopold I, in St. Gudula's Church, 1833
The church in the early 20th century
The street (now gone) in front of the church, in the 1920s
Funeral of Queen Elisabeth at the (by then) cathedral, 30 November 1965

What the Cathedral Looks Like

The cathedral's main features

Most of the cathedral is built in the Brabantine Gothic style. Some parts, however, show the newer Baroque style. It is one of three main Gothic churches still standing in central Brussels. The cathedral is made from stone from the Gobertange quarry. This quarry is about 45 kilometers (28 miles) southeast of the cathedral.

The building follows a classic design: a Latin cross shape. It has a choir with three sections. This choir ends in a five-sided apse with a walkway around it called an ambulatory. The cathedral is very large: 110 meters (360 feet) long, 30 meters (98 feet) wide (50 meters or 164 feet at the choir), and 26.5 meters (87 feet) high. The entrance towers reach a height of 69 meters (226 feet).

Outside the Cathedral

Front and Towers

The main front (western side) has three portals with pointed tops. It also has two tall towers, 64 meters (210 feet) high. These features are typical of French Gothic style. Instead of a round rose window, it has a large pointed window, common in Brabantine Gothic. Strong flying buttresses support the building. They have double spans and are topped with pointed decorations and gargoyles.

The two towers were built between 1470 and 1485. Their top parts are flat, like terraces. They were designed by Jan Van Ruysbroeck. He was the architect for Philip the Good. He also designed the tower of Brussels' Town Hall. The towers of the cathedral look unfinished. They don't have the tall, pointed spires seen on other Gothic cathedrals. They were meant to be much taller. Still, they are a very noticeable part of the Brussels skyline.

The front of the cathedral looks very tall. Four strong buttresses frame the three portals. The two outer buttresses are larger. They include two tall, narrow towers that go from the bottom to the top of the main towers. The facade is also divided into three horizontal levels. The bottom level has the three portals. The middle level has a large window with many sections. This window is flanked by two tall windows, one for each tower. The top level has a large triangular section. This section rises from a gallery with thin columns and is topped by several flaming pointed decorations. The tallest of these reaches 55 meters (180 feet).

The western facade
The central portal
Ogival window and decorative merlon
Statue of Saint Michael slaying the dragon

Chapels on the Outside

From the transept, on each side of the choir, there are two large chapels. These were added later. The northern Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament of the Miracle was built in the 16th century. The southern Chapel of Our Lady of Deliverance was added in the 17th century. These chapels are so big that the building looks like it has three choirs. Behind the apse, in the center of the church, is the Chapel of St. Mary Magdalen. This chapel is in Baroque style and was added between 1672 and 1675. It has an octagonal shape with a dome and a small tower on top.

View of the apse and chapels
Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament of the Miracle
Chapel of St. Mary Magdalen (or Maes Chapel)

Staircase and Front Area

The grand staircase in front of the cathedral was designed by Pieter Paul Merckx. It was built between 1702 and 1707. This staircase was a gift from the City of Brussels. It was originally built against the city walls. It helped people get to a walking path between two city gates.

In the gardens in front of the cathedral, there is a statue of King Baudouin. It was made by the sculptor Henri Lenaerts [nl]. The statue was finished in 1996. It was moved to its current spot in 2003–04. This was part of a project to improve the green space.

View of the monumental staircase
Bust of King Baudouin in front of the cathedral
Closeup of King Baudouin's bust

Inside the Cathedral

The Nave

The nave shows all the features of Brabantine Gothic style. The four-part vaults are not too high. Strong round columns line the central aisle of the nave. Their tops are shaped like cabbage leaves. Statues of the twelve apostles are attached to these columns. These statues are from the 17th century. They were made by famous sculptors like Lucas Faydherbe and Jerôme Duquesnoy the Younger. These new statues replaced older ones that were destroyed in 1566.

The nave also has a Baroque pulpit from the 17th century. It was made by the sculptor Hendrik Frans Verbruggen in 1699. The bottom of the pulpit shows Adam and Eve being sent out of the Garden of Eden. At the top, the Virgin Mary and Child are shown defeating a serpent. This symbolizes redemption.

To the right of the northern transept entrance is a beautiful 17th-century sculpture. It shows The education of the Holy Virgin by Saint Anna. It was made by Jerôme Duquesnoy the Younger, based on a painting by Rubens. The side aisles have 17th-century oak confessionals. The cathedral also holds the unmarked burial place of Dermot O'Mallun. He was the last Irish-born leader of the O'Moloney family.

The nave lined with cylindrical columns supporting the twelve statues of the apostles
Baroque pulpit by Hendrik Frans Verbruggen (1699)
Adam and Eve expelled from the Garden of Eden, detail of the pulpit
Confessional by anonymous (17th century)

Choir and Chapels Inside

The choir is Gothic in style. It has three rectangular sections and a five-sided apse. It also contains the tombs of the Dukes of Brabant and Archduke Ernest of Austria. These were made by Robert Colyn de Nole in the 17th century. The choir has three levels: large arches connecting to the ambulatory, a triforium, and high windows.

To the left of the choir is the Flamboyant Gothic Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament of the Miracle (1534–1539). This chapel now holds the Treasure of the Cathedral. Here you can see the famous Drahmal Cross, also known as the Brussels Cross. This is an old cross-reliquary from the early 11th century.

To the right of the choir is the Chapel of Our Lady of Deliverance (1649–1655). This chapel was built in a late Gothic style. It has a Baroque altar by Jan Voorspoel (1666). Behind the choir is a Baroque chapel dedicated to St. Mary Magdalen (also called the Maes Chapel). It was built between 1672 and 1675. It features a marble and alabaster altarpiece. This artwork shows the Passion of Christ and was made by the sculptor Jean Mone in 1538.

The choir
Ceiling
The vault of the choir
Marble and alabaster altarpiece by Jean Mone (1538)
Statue of Saint Gudula

Beautiful Stained Glass Windows

The cathedral has many beautiful stained glass windows. They are from the 16th, 17th, and 19th centuries. Most of them were made between 1525 and 1663. A very special one is the large window on the western front. It shows the Last Judgement. This window was made in 1528 by Jan Haeck, a glassmaker from Antwerp. His design was based on drawings by Bernard van Orley.

Haeck and Van Orley also made the windows in the northern and southern transepts. The northern window, from 1537, shows Charles V and his wife Isabella of Portugal praying. The southern window, from 1538, shows Charles's brother-in-law, Louis II of Hungary, and his wife Mary of Hungary praying.

The Chapel of Our Lady of Deliverance has stained glass windows by Jean De Labaer. These windows, made between 1654 and 1663, show important moments in the life of the Virgin Mary. They are based on drawings by Theodoor van Thulden, a student of Rubens.

There are also fifteen impressive stained glass windows from the 19th century in the aisles. These were made by Jean-Baptiste Capronnier around 1870. They were created for a special celebration of the Sacrament of Miracle.

Western facade: stained glass window by Jan Haeck after Bernard van Orley depicting the Last Judgement (1528)
Northern transept: stained glass window by Jan Haeck after Bernard van Orley depicting Charles V (1537)
Southern transept: stained glass window by Jan Haeck after Bernard van Orley depicting Louis II of Hungary (1538)
Three scenes of the Legend of the Sacrament of Miracle. Stained glass windows by Jean-Baptiste Capronnier (c. 1870)

Organs for Music

The large pipe organ in the nave was installed in October 2000. It hangs high up, like a swallow's nest organ. It has 4300 pipes, 63 stops, 4 keyboards, and a pedal-board. This amazing instrument was built by Gerhard Grenzing from Barcelona, Spain. He worked with the English architect Simon Platt.

The choir organ, which has two keyboards, was made in 1977. It was built by the organ-builder Patrick Collon [de].

Organ by Gerhard Grenzing (2000)
Choir organ by Patrick Collon [de] (1977)

The Cathedral Bells

Both towers of the cathedral hold bells. The south tower has a carillon with 49 bells, made in 1966. Concerts are often played on these bells on Sundays. Only seven of these bells can actually ring. They are named Fabiola, Maria, Michael, Gudula, Philippe, Astrid, and Laurent. Fabiola, Philippe, Astrid, and Laurent are named after members of the Belgian royal family.

The north tower has only one large bell called Salvator. It was cast by Peter van den Gheyn in 1638. There is also an empty space where another large bell used to be.

Nr.	Name	Mass (kg)	Note	Tower
1	Salvator	6645	G₀	North
2	Fabiola	3164	B♯₀	South
3	Maria	2298	C₁	South
4	Michael	1628	D₁	South
5	Gudula	1332	E₁	South
6	Philippe	975	F₁	South
7	Astrid	690	G₁	South	8	Laurent	485	A₁	South

Fun Facts: Falcons!

Falcons Living in the Cathedral

In the late 1990s, bird watchers in Brussels found a pair of peregrine falcons resting on top of the cathedral's towers. In 2001, scientists from the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (RBINS) put a special nesting box on the building. They hoped the falcons would build a nest there. The box was never used, but in spring 2004, a pair of falcons nested on a balcony on the northern tower. The female laid three eggs.

Watching the three baby falcons do amazing tricks on the cathedral's gargoyles led to a project called "Falcons for everyone" in May 2004. The RBINS set up cameras with a live video stream on their website. This way, everyone could watch the falcons!

How the Cathedral is Used

The Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula is the main church for the Archbishop of Mechelen–Brussels. This Archbishop is the top Catholic leader in Belgium, currently Archbishop Luc Terlinden. Because the cathedral is in the country's capital, it is often used for important national Catholic events. These include royal weddings and state funerals. For example, in 1999, Prince Philippe and Mathilde d'Udekem d'Acoz were married there. Other official ceremonies, like the Te Deum on Belgian National Day, are also held here. The King and other important people attend these events.