St. Rumbold's Cathedral – Mechelen, Belgium - Atlas Obscura
Places near me Random place

AO Edited

St. Rumbold's Cathedral

Mechelen, Belgium

The tallest church in Mechelen might have been the tallest in the world if not for a lack of funds. 

View all photos
St. Rumbold's Cathedral
St. Rumbold's Cathedral
Top of the belfry
St. Rumbold's Cathedral
151
135
Top Places in Belgium
The streets of Geel, Belgium.
Geel, Belgium
Geel, Belgium
Menin Gate Memorial
Ypres, Belgium
The Musical Instrument Museum
Brussels, Belgium
 See All

Rising above the surrounding town, this monolithic masterpiece of Brabantine Gothic architecture might have been the tallest church ever constructed, alas, the funds needed to complete the proposed 252-foot (77-meter) spire ran dry.

Constructed between 1200-1520, this imposing house of worship is named for the patron saint of Mechelen, a missionary and martyr whose remains are rumored to be buried inside the cathedral. Its distinctive tower scrapes the sky at an impressive 318 feet (97 meters) and can be scaled by carefully climbing 538 steps to the top.

Ascending the stairs leads visitors past a series of chambers:

Step 160 – Crane Chamber (Kraankamer), a wooden wheel is the key structure in a human-powered crane.

Step 233 - Forge Chamber (Smidse), a smith shop used to repair metal elements within the cathedral.

Step 317 - Bell Chamber (Klokkenkamer).

Step 413 - Carillon Chamber (Beiaard).

Step 423 - Clock Chamber (Uurwerkkamer).

Step 490 - Ash Cellar (Askelder), intended to be used for the construction of the steeple, which never came to fruition.

Step 538 - Skywalk, added in 2009 with an additional modern glass staircase to offer visitors sweeping, panoramic views of the surrounding countryside.

Presently, the tallest church in the world is Ulm Minster in Ulm, Germany, which stands 530 feet (171.5 meters). 

Know Before You Go

The cathedral is open daily from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm.

design churches history & culture architecture
Nearby
Duffelcoat Statue
4.26 miles
Trolls of De Schorre Park
5.90 miles
The Zimmer Clock Tower and Museum
7.98 miles
Want to see fewer ads? Become a Member.
Near This Place
Duffel, Belgium

Duffelcoat Statue

The birthplace of the titular coat and related products celebrates its claim to fame with a statue of a coat.
Boom, Belgium

Trolls of De Schorre Park

Take a leisurely walk through the park to find the seven giant troll sculptures hidden throughout the park.
The Zimmer Tower Clock Face
Lier, Belgium

The Zimmer Clock Tower and Museum

A 14th-century fortified keep showcases the masterpieces of an ingenious 20th-century clockmaker.
Antwerpen, Belgium

Heksensteen

A curious stone in a public square commemorates the victims of witch-burning.
Related Places
Chalmers Memorial Church
Port Seton, Scotland

Chalmers Memorial Church

The true beauty of this church is showcased in the hand-painted stencils across the ceiling.
San Sebastian Church
Manila, Philippines

San Sebastian Church

A church made of steel.
Pine Valley Chapel built without nails in 1868.
Pine Valley, Utah

Pine Valley Chapel

This church was constructed by a shipbuilder and designed like an upside-down boat.
Dome of San Lorenzo.
Turin, Italy

The Dome of San Lorenzo

The intricate geometry inside this Baroque-style dome was designed to create "terror of the human soul."
In partnership with KAYAK

Plan Your Trip

From Around the Web