Weekly Snapshot: Nave of St. Michael and Gudula Cathedral

Nave of St. Michael and St. Gudula Cathedral – Brussels, Belgium

Saint Michael and Gudula Cathedral, located at Treurenberg Hill, is the most esteemed church in Brussels since St. Michael and Gudula are the patron saints of the city.

The cathedral has an interesting history that dates back to 1047.  The building of this Gothic Cathedral commenced at the beginning of the 13th century on the orders of Henry I, Duke of Brabant, and took about 300 years to complete.

The nave was restored during 1983 to 1989, giving the stones, vaults, and windows their splendor of former days. It was also during this restoration that the well-preserved remnants of a Romanesque church of the eleventh century were discovered under the present Gothic church, as well as a Romanesque crypt under the choir.

The beautifully carved statues of the apostles on the columns were added during the 17^th century to refurbish the collegiate church sacked by the iconoclasts during the 16th century and to emphasize the apostolic origin of the Church.

Part of the attraction of visiting this church is going under it to see the archeological remnants.