Places to see and visit in Mechelen, historic Burgundian city in Flanders

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Great Mechelen Square in Flanders in Belgium

Maybe not as well known as her sisters Witches Y Ghent, Mechelen it's one of those beautiful cities of the Flanders region what can you visit in a trip to Belgium.

I had wanted to visit Mechelen, city that in flamenco is called Mechelen, and recently I had the opportunity to travel to meet the new Hof Van Busleyden museum.

Mechelen is part of the Patrimonies of Humanity of the Unesco, within the framework of the declaration of flamingo beguinajes and the bell towers as places to protect.

Great Mechelen Square in Flanders in Belgium

In order to plan a visit on your trip to Belgium, this city has the advantage that it is located just over half an hour from the Belgian capital, so it is an ideal city to make a day trip from Brussels.

Curiosities history of Mechelen

Mechelen is a city with a long history that has been marked by its importance during the era of Burgundy Netherlands during the fifteenth century.

At that time, from 1384 to 1477 several territories of the current Netherlands they joined the French Duchy of Burgundy.

Previously, Mechelen it was a state-independent city that had no link to the other cities in the Netherlands, and with some dependence on the Holy German Empire.

Statue of Marguerite of Austria in Mechelen in Flanders in Belgium

Behind the Burgundy period, Mechelen he lived a moment of great boom from 1507 to 1530, at which time Austrian Daisy he settled in the city when it was named Governor of the Netherlands.

At that time the sciences and arts prospered, as it marked the beginning of the Renaissance, at the same time that Austrian Daisy he took care of the education of who later was the emperor Carlos V of Germany and I of Spain.

What to see in Mechelen

The axis of your visit of Mechelen it's going to be his historical Center, where during a walk you can see the places of greatest interest, which I will indicate below.

Great Mechelen Square

The Large square it is the heart of the city of Mechelen, where you have the most characteristic images of it, always with the presence of the tower of the cathedral of San Romuldo, which rises above the buildings on the west side of that square.

Town Hall at the Great Mechelen Square in Flanders in Belgium

With very wide esplanade totally pedestrian, in the Large square you can see buildings with beautiful facades of different styles, from Renaissance to rococo, before which numerous terraces of bars and restaurants are located.

On the opposite side of the cathedral you find three buildings style buildings gothic brabantino that make up a beautiful architectural ensemble.

Mechelen City Hall

Its about Mechelen City Hall (Huis Van de Mechelar), which is configured with the buildings of Palace of the Grand Council. the Cloth Hall (Lakenhal) and the Belfroi.

The latter is the bell tower built in 1320 and now located between the other buildings, which is part of the Patrimonies of Humanity.

CitedPalace of the Grand Council it is a building built since 1526 in late gothic to house the supreme court of Burgundy Netherlands.

Palace of the Grand Council of Mechelen in Flanders in Belgium

In its time the building did not finish, which was done in 1919 from the plans of the 16th century project.

Currently there is the headquarters of the Mechelen tourist office.

For its part, the Cloth Exchange It is the oldest building of this group, as it was built in the 14th century with the function of being a covered market to house commercial activities.

San Romuldo Cathedral in Mechelen

This large building, one of the main Mechelen monuments, began to be built in the thirteenth century in the aforementioned style gothic brabantino, but throughout its history it underwent diverse vicissitudes, like a fire in its ceiling, reason why it has had diverse remodeling.

In fact, the San Romuldo Tower It was finished lifting in the year 1520.

Saint Romuldo Cathedral in Mechelen in Flanders in Belgium

When you access the interior of the Mechelen Cathedral It is when you really realize its enormous dimensions, and in fact its central nave was the highest one in the fourteenth century.

Its length is 118 meters and inside you can see the characteristic Gothic structure but with various decorative elements of style baroque, like those of the altar and the choir.

It was in 1580 when the Calvinists arrived and destroyed all the altars and sculptures, and when the Catholics returned, the cathedral was already decorated in the aforementioned style baroque.

Inside you will also be struck by a great pulpit from the 18th century that comes from a monastery.

Climb the Tower of San Romuldo

For its part, the tower of the cathedral in its time was built with the purpose of being the highest one that existed, with 167 meters, but in the end it remained at 96 meters.

Saint Romuldo Cathedral in Mechelen in Flanders in Belgium

With a chime with 49 bells, and here you can check the information for climb to the San Romuldo Tower, which you can do every day from 1pm to 6pm, except on Saturdays, which is after 10 am.

He price of admission In general it is 8 euros and I anticipate that you must climb 514 steps.

Margarita Palace of Austria

As we have already mentioned, a key figure in the history of Mechelen is Austrian Daisy, and a reflection of it is the sculpture that you can see in front of the cathedral, which was installed in the 19th century when in the Belgian cities it became fashionable to pay tribute to its heroes.

Now, on your visit to Mechelen you can also see the facade and the central garden of Margarita Palace of Austria.

Margarita Palace of Austria in Mechelen in Flanders in Belgium

Built in the 16th century, it was the first building outside of Italy that was designed in Renaissance style.

In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries it was the seat of Senior Council, Supreme Court of the South Netherlands, and currently this building houses the Court of Justice from the city.

Its interior cannot be visited, although I will tell you that the original building does not remain of its decoration, which is all from the 19th century.

Major Beguinage of Mechelen

In you walk through the historic center of Mechelen you can also enter Beguinaje Mayor, which emerged in the middle of the 16th century when the one outside the city walls was destroyed, and where they came to live up to 1,500 beguines.

Small Beguineage in Mechelen in Flanders in Belgium

You can also see the Little Beguineage which was already created in the thirteenth century in the inner part of the city, where some 100 lived beguines.

Also known as beaterios, is a type of neighborhood characteristic of Flemish cities, such as theBeguinage of Leuven or that of Bruges.

If you do not know them, I will tell you that it was the place where widows or women found no husband, to live godly, but without the vows of nunneries.

The beguineages they are places of great tranquility that maintain the charm of past centuries, and that are protected as World Heritage.

Hof Van Busleyden Museum in Mechelen in Flanders in Belgium

Van Busleyden Palace Museum

A way to get into the history of the era of Burgundy period that was lived in Mechelen is visiting the new Hof Van Busleyden museum, which is based on the great palatial building of the humanist and art collector,Jerome Van Busleyden.

Inaugurated in June of this year 2018, with a modern design and interactive screens you will visit different rooms in which various aspects of that era are addressed.

Thus, for example, you will see rooms dedicated to the art of alabaster or polychrome sculpture.

But what really should take you to visit this museum is the possibility of seeing those known as Intimate Gardens, altarpieces-closet with scenes from Calvary They are unique pieces made in the 16th century with great artistic finesse.

Dyle Canal in Mechelen in Flanders in Belgium

Dyle Canal in Mechelen

Mechelen is also one of the Belgian cities where you find some channels through which you can walk or sail by boat.

These channels are what form the dyle river, which crosses the historic center of the city.

You have a path that is allowed to walk along its shore, and you also have the option of giving a boat trip on the Dyle.

Mechelen Tour from Brussels

If instead of traveling on your own from Brussels you prefer to visit this Flemish city in an organized group, you have the option of joining a excursion to Mechelen, which is done with guide in Spanish.

Café art-noveau in Mechelen in Flanders in Belgium

With a duration of six hours, you will depart from the Grand Place of Brussels to catch the train to Mechelen, where you will travel in a walking tour the most prominent places in this flamenco city.

Here you have the information about the excursion to Mechelen from Brussels in Spanish.

How to get to Mechelen

You can reach Mechelen by train directly from Brussels airport in just 20 minutes.

And from the Belgian capital you will arrive in just over half an hour by car and in 23 minutes by train, making it an ideal city for a day trip from Brussels.

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Video: Anne Boleyn's Time in Mechelen, Belgium (March 2024).