ANTWERP CATHEDRAL (ELEVEN LIEVE VROUWEKATHEDRAAL)

Notre-Dame Cathedral (Dutch: Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekathedraal) is a temple of superlatives, impressing with its height, gigantism and fine craftsmanship, in the purest example of Brabantine Gothic, just like its richly decorated interior. In addition to the building itself, what's most striking here is certainly the fact that it has managed to preserve its original medieval environment: it is still surrounded by old, very low-rise houses that contrast with its imposing stature. Construction of this Gothic masterpiece began in the ^14th century on the remains of a ^10th-century Romanesque church, and continued for 169 years. The spire (initially two spires were planned) was completed in 1521 and stands 123 metres high. This extremely finely chiselled Gothic stone spur points skywards in all its verticality, far higher than the surrounding buildings, symbolizing the power of the city: in fact, at the time of its construction, it was the largest Gothic building in the former Netherlands. Raise your nose to its feet, vertigo guaranteed! The church became a cathedral in 1559: it's the largest in the Benelux and is designed to hold 24,000 people. Despite numerous fires and lootings, it still boasts a number of artistic treasures, including four Baroque masterpieces painted by Rubens in the early ^17th century: TheErection of the Cross, TheAssumption of the Virgin Mary, The Descent from the Cross and The Resurrection of Christ. Other highlights include an impressive ^18th-century wooden pulpit, a ^14th-century marble Madonna, stained glass windows..

Tower climb: the 515 steps of the cathedral tower can be climbed from April to September on weekends with an official guide (€16/person). Information from the Vleeshuis: https://museumvleeshuis.be/nl/beklim-de-kathedraaltoren.

Carillon concerts all year round on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 12 noon to 1 p.m.; from May to the end of September also on Sundays from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.; in July and August also on Mondays from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m.

De Plek bistro. The former Saint-Jean chapel behind the sacristy has been converted into a convivial meeting place: the bistro De Plek. Here you can sample a beer specially brewed for the cathedral: Aurora (blonde) and Memento (brown). The bistro is open every weekend and on Fridays in July and August.