St. Rumbold’s Cathedral

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St. Rumbold’s Cathedral is the archiepiscopal cathedral of Mechelen in Belgium and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It was built in honor of Saint Rombout (Rumbold) who was a 7th-century Irish missionary. There are rumors that Saint Rombout’s remains are buried inside the cathedral. In the choir, there are 25 paintings that illustrate the life of the saint. Construction of the cathedral was started after 1200 and in the final phase 1452-1520, the tower was built. The cathedral’s tower dominates the surrounding area. All in all this World Heritage site is 97.28 meters high. It has a total of 514 stairs and is visited by thousands of tourists every year. Famous people from the pages of history who have visited the cathedral are among others Louis XV, Napoleon, and King Albert I. There are 49 bells in the original carillon which still work today and each of them has its own name. Those that are the most notable include Salvator weighing in at 8884 kg., Jehsus built in 1460 and the Liberation being the newest addition in 1947. A second complete carillon can be found 39 steps above the original and is used for concerts during the summer months. Both carillons together weigh over 80 tons and altogether there are 98 bells. Underneath the tower is the main entrance which leads into the nave of the cathedral. Inside there is a Baroque quire (the area which houses the altar) and a high altar designed by Lucas Faydherbe. There are paintings by Anthony van Dyke (a Flemish Baroque artist) among others, sculptures by such sculptors as Lucas Faydherbe, Michiel Vervoort, and other and stained-glass windows. The main highlights of the cathedral are a painting and a glass window of the Black Madonna. Has anyone heard about this cathedral? Has anyone been to Belgium?