Cathedral of Saint Michael Brussels. Brussels Cathedral - a combination of several styles
12:26 am - Brussels: Cathedral of Saints Michael and Gudula
The Brussels Cathedral of Saints Michael and Gudula, connecting the upper and lower cities, is a very beautiful building in the Gothic style. It makes an impression both outside and inside. The not unknown Victor Hugo called this cathedral the only truly Gothic cathedral. And he knew what he was talking about =)
The cathedral was built on the site of an 11th century church. The first brick of the building was laid in 1226 by Duke Henry I of Brabant, and the “great construction” was completely completed only in 1550, under Charles the Bold, and then the interior decoration continued until 1485, when Emperor Maximilian was Duke. During this time, 13 rulers changed in the region...
The main façade of the cathedral has four doors with three lancet entrance portals and sculptures of saints above them. It was built by the architect Jan van Ruysbroeck, the author of the Brussels Town Hall (I'm talking about it).
Inside, the cathedral impresses... primarily with its size... The length of the central nave is 110 meters, the height is 26 meters, the width of the entire cathedral is 50 meters.
Then, the decoration. Certainly, Catholic churches They don’t look nearly as magnificent as Orthodox churches... but there is a special charm in their asceticism. And the asceticism of Brussels' St. Michael's Cathedral is not just charming, but truly beautiful.
The Romanesque pillars supporting the vault are decorated with statues of the twelve apostles, the work of the sculptors Duquesnoy, Faedherbe, van Mildert and Tobia.
In the center there is such an old pulpit in the Baroque style.
The cathedral has very beautiful stained glass windows. They were performed by various craftsmen, mainly in the 14th century. Majestic tombs line the walls. Which one is whose - I don’t know.
Saint Michael the Archangel is considered the patron saint of Brussels. There are many images of him in the city and it is not surprising that the cathedral is dedicated to him.
But much less is known about Saint Gudula. At least for the Russian Internet (I think that when foreigners try to Google, for example, about Ksenia of Petersburg, they encounter the same difficulties) =)
She was the daughter of the Lorraine Duke of Witger and Saint Amalberga of Maubeuge. She was the sister of Saints Renlinda and Embert (later Bishop of Camarac) and the half-sister of Saint Farailda. She was raised in a monastery by her cousin, Saint Gertrude of Nivelles. After Gertrude's death, she returned home, did charity work, and, according to family tradition, became a saint. Which, with such genes, is not surprising.
Few legends about Saint Gudula have survived. But I found a few
According to one of them, every night she got up and went with the maid to the church, where she stayed until the morning, and after communion she returned back. One day, in the darkness of the night, on the way to church, the candle carried by the maid went out. The maid begged Gudula to come back, but she, pointing out that this was nothing more than the machinations of demons (who had previously tempted the saint), calmed her down. Kneeling down, Gudulua prayed, and the candle lit up by itself.
Otherwise, she carried her cross, healed people and cast out demons.
Gudula died between 680 and 714. And in 1047, Lambert II, Count of Leuven, transported her relics to the Church of St. Michael, the same one on the site of which the cathedral was later built
On June 6, 1579, the church of Michael and Gudula was plundered by Protestants, who, as true admirers of the only true faith, violated the shrines of their opponents - the relics of Gudula were dug up and scattered =((((
And here, by the way, is Gudula herself:
In general, the statues in the cathedral are a different story, personally, I really liked them... I love statues, especially the “gothic” ones
Just a nice coat of arms on the wall...
Organs of the cathedral. I counted two of them here
Decoration element:
In the center of the cathedral there is a small staircase down, so you can go down to the basement and look at the ruins of the very 11th century church on the site of which the cathedral was built
The cathedral also has a very beautiful main pulpit, but for some reason (why???) I didn’t photograph it. But after the tiring journey from Holland I was quite tired and distracted. Therefore, here is just a small “limit”
There was also a small exhibition in the corner. Entrance to it cost a symbolic euro, I gave it to the only attendant whom I noticed in the cathedral - a dear grandmother who reminded me of attendants of Russian museums.
Various churches, etc. were exhibited. "Utensils"... I can't say that I liked it. I haven't liked this for a long time. Here's the sword, I remember...
But in this “euro zone” there were very beautiful tombs:
archangel Michael
Madonna:
I hope to visit this cathedral again!
and, in 1047 he organized the transportation of the relics of the saint (Fr. Gudule de Bruxelles) to the Church of St. Michael and founded a chapter there. After this, the name “Church of Saints Michael and Gudula” was strengthened, which later developed into the “Cathedral of Saints Michael and Gudula”. The saints of this cathedral are also the saints of the capital of Belgium. In 1200, Henry I of Brabant organized the restoration of the temple, and in 1226, Henry II of Brabant decided to change the building style to Gothic; work on the construction of the choir continued from 1226 to 1276. By 1450, the construction of the façade was largely completed, and by 1485 the interior decoration was also completed.
The cathedral hosted the funeral of Albert I (in 1934), his wife (in 1965), Astrid of Sweden
In 1983-1999, restoration work was carried out.
In 1995, the cathedral was visited by John Paul II.
In 1999, the marriage of Duke Philip of Brabant and Duchess of Brabant Matilda took place in the cathedral. In 2003, the prince's marriage took place in the cathedral (Fr. Laurent de Belgique) and princesses (fr. Claire Coombs) Belgium.
Architecture
[The exterior]] of the building is a symmetrical Gothic composition with two mi. Inside each tower there are long staircases that lead to a 64-meter-high terrace.
The main façade of the cathedral has four doors with three lancet entrance portals and sculptures of saints above them. It was built by the architect Jean van Roosbroeck, author.
The doors are decorated with forged reliefs.
There is a huge stained glass window above the main entrance.
Dimensions
Length of the structure: 114 meters (versus 125 meters of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Antwerp)- Length of the structure inside: 109 meters
- Height of two towers: 64 meters (versus 35 meters)
- Maximum exterior width: 57 meters
- Maximum interior width: 54 meters
- Width of the facade along the projections on the towers: 35 meters
- Height of the main hall: 25 meters (versus 33.5 meters and 42.3)
- Height of columns with Capital: 6.7 meters
- Arch height: 10 meters
- Width of the main hall: 13.5 meters (versus 12 meters)
- Side width: 6.7 meters
- Height of the aisle arch: 11 meters
Interior
The cathedral contains beautiful stained glass windows made in the 16th century by Jean Haeka, and in the 18th and 19th centuries by Jean-Baptiste Caproniere. The nave of the cathedral is decorated with columns with openwork capitals and statues of saints; the benches in it have a dark brown tint, contrasting with the light hall. The cathedral has an organ. The cathedral also houses the Belgian national hero Frederic de Merode (fr. Frederic de Merode).
Literature
Histoire du règne de Charles-Quint en Belgique, Volume 5, Par Alexandre Henne- Raymond van Schoubroeck, Hans-Günther Schneider: Kathedrale St. Michael und St. Gudula, Brussels. Kunstführer Nr. 2463, Verlag Schnell & Steiner, Regensburg 2003, ISBN 3-7954-6342-4
Victor Hugo called this cathedral, connecting the upper and lower cities, the only truly Gothic cathedral. With its two blunt towers it resembles the famous Notre Dame de Paris.
Story Cathedral Saints Michael and Gudula goes back to the 13th century. In 1226, Duke Henry I of Brabant laid the first brick of the building, which was completed only under Charles V the Great. Remains from the previous 11th-century Romanesque church can be seen through glass openings in the floor. This explains the overlap of numerous styles: Romanesque, Gothic and Renaissance.
The main facade, in front of which there is a monumental staircase, consists of two square towers 69 meters high, connected by a roof gable, decorated with arches and niches. A large portal opens in the center, decorated with statues of saints. Above this portal rises a huge oblong window. From an architectural point of view, the side facades are in no way inferior to the main facade.
The exterior of the building is a symmetrical Gothic composition with two towers. The Gothic twin towers of the city's cathedral gleam after centuries of dirt have been removed.
Inside each tower there are long staircases that open onto a terrace at a height of 64 meters.
The main façade of the cathedral has four doors with three lancet entrance portals and sculptures of saints above them. It was built by the architect Jean van Ruysbroeck, the designer of the Brussels Town Hall. The doors are decorated with forged reliefs, and a huge stained glass window is placed above the central entrance.
Saint Michael is considered the patron saint of Brussels, but the mention of Saint Gudula means nothing to many people. Very little is known about this daughter of a 7th-century Carolingian aristocrat, but her relics have been preserved here for over 1,000 years. There is a legend that an annoying demon prevented this young and devout resident of Brussels from reading religious books at night - every now and then he blew out the candle. The girl lit the candle again every time and for this constancy she was canonized.
Lambert II, Count of Leuven, in 1047 organized the transportation of the relics of St. Gudula to the Church of St. Michael and founded a chapter there. After this, the name “Church of Saints Michael and Gudula” was strengthened, which subsequently grew into “Cathedral of Saints Michael and Gudula”.
The decoration of the temple gives the entire ensemble a stamp of real splendor. The length of the central nave is 110 meters, the height is 26 meters, the width of the entire cathedral is 50 meters. Romanesque pillars support the vault, they are decorated with statues of the twelve apostles, the work of the sculptors Duquesnoy, Faedherbe, van Mildert and Tobia. The choir, in a primary Gothic style, is illuminated by high windows decorated with stained glass from the 16th century. The main altar, very luxurious, made of carved oak, is decorated with symbolic figures in beaten copper. The remarkable pulpit made by H. Verbruggen belonged to the Jesuits of the city of Louvain, who in 1776 donated it to the Cathedral.
The Communion chapel was built from 1534 to 1539. architect Pierre van Wiegenhoven. Many of the stained glass windows illustrate episodes from the history of the sacrament and were donated by the family of Charles V the Great. In front of the altar, a white marble slab marks the burial place of Archduke Albert and Isabella, who died in 1621 and 1633. The altarpiece is made of carved oak in the Gothic style and is the work of sculptors the Goyers brothers.
The chapel of Our Lady has stained glass windows made in 1656 by Jean de la Barre according to the plans of T. van Thulden. They depict episodes from the life of the Mother of God. The altar was made of white and black marble by Jean Vorspoel, court architect and student of J. Duquesnoy.
The cathedral contains beautiful stained glass windows made in the 16th century by Jean Haeka and the 18th and 19th centuries by Jean-Baptiste Caproniere. The nave of the cathedral is decorated with columns with openwork capitals and statues of saints; the benches in it have a dark brown tint, contrasting with the light hall. The cathedral also houses the mausoleum of the Belgian national hero Frederic de Merode.
Organ of the Cathedral of Saints Michael and Gudula
By the way, it is in Cathedral of St. Michael and Gudula in November 2007, a prayer service was held in memory of the victims of the Holodomor in Ukraine of 1932-1933...
St. Michael's Cathedral in Brussels (Belgium) - description, history, location. Exact address and website. Tourist reviews, photos and videos.
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The Cathedral of St. Michael and Gudule (French: Cathédrale Saints-Michel-et-Gudule de Bruxelles, Dutch: Kathedraal van Sint-Michiel en Sint-Goedele) rises majestically on the Trorenberg hill, between the upper and lower towns, and is rightfully considered the main cathedral Brussels. In the 11th century, the Church of St. Michael, built in the Romanesque style, stood on this site. Two centuries later it was converted into Gothic, so today appearance The cathedral and its interiors are a mixture of Romanesque and Gothic styles.
The construction of the cathedral took 300 years. It was recently restored and its walls, darkened over the centuries, became white again, giving the building a feeling of graceful weightlessness. At the same time, those who want to look at what remains of the old church can go down to the basement in the center of the cathedral, where its ruins have been preserved.
The main facade of Brussels Cathedral is a structure in the classical Gothic style: two rectangular towers are connected by a gallery covered with openwork stone patterns. The height of the towers is 69 meters, over which you will find yourself on a terrace with a picturesque view.
Having climbed the majestic stone staircase and entered the main gate of the cathedral, it is impossible to remain indifferent to the amazing size of the premises, the height of the vaulted ceilings, the beauty and scale of the columns, decorated with life-size baroque sculptures of the apostles. The high windows of the cathedral are decorated with colored stained glass - another element inherent in classical Gothic. The stained glass windows depict historical fragments from the life of Our Lady, most of them were created during the Renaissance. Coloring the sunlight passing through them, the stained glass windows immerse the cathedral premises in a bewitching magical twilight.
The main pulpit of the Cathedral of St. Michael and Gudula is also decorated in Baroque style. The pulpit is divided into two parts: at the bottom there is a scene of the expulsion of Adam and Eve from Paradise, at the top there is the Virgin Mary with the Child piercing a snake with a spear.
In addition to visually enjoying the beauty of the Brussels Cathedral, everyone who comes here can attend an organ music concert right in the cathedral. And on Sundays, beautiful melodies played by the 49 bells of the southern tower of the cathedral sound throughout the area.
Practical information
Address: Cathedrale Saints-Michel-et-Gudule de Bruxelles, Parvis sainte-Gudule - 1000 Bruxelles.
Brussels Cathedral - Saint-Michel-et-Gudul ( Cathédrale Saints-Michel-et-Gudule de Bruxelles)- one of the most beautiful temples capital of Belgium. A true example of Gothic art, it annually attracts thousands of tourists from all over the world.
The famous Cathedral of Saints Michael and Gudula, also called Brussels Cathedral, is located in the center of the capital of Belgium, very close to the main train station - Bruxelles Central and the Gare Centrale metro station. Open seven days a week from 8am to 4pm, excluding holidays. But even at a time when the temple closes its doors, the flow of tourists does not dry up - there are many who want to see one of the most beautiful churches in Europe.
Brussels Cathedral - Saint-Michel et Gudul - stained glass Brussels Cathedral - Saint-Michel et Gudul - relics
The church existed here back in the 9th century, which is not surprising - at a crossroads a temple was built in honor of St. Michael, considered the protector of travelers. Yours modern name The cathedral received after in 1047 the Count of Leuven, instead of the old building, ordered the construction of a church in the Romanesque style in honor of St. Gudula, whose relics were brought to the illuminated house of God in 1051.
However, that construction option did not last long: in 1225, the first stone was laid in the foundation of the majestic Gothic church, the construction of which lasted almost 300 years. During this time, the building received two slender towers 69 meters high, as well as skillfully decorated facades, when looking at which any traveler remembers famous Cathedral Notre Dame of Paris. Construction work lasted almost 300 years and was completed only in 1485, shortly before the accession of Emperor Charles V to the throne.
Brussels Cathedral - Saint-Michel et Gudul - inside
Brussels Cathedral - Saint-Michel et Gudule - organ
The dimensions of the building are impressive - with a length of 114 meters, the cathedral has an internal area of more than 5,000 square meters, and the vaults rise 26.5 meters in height. If we compare the building with its Parisian “brother”, then in terms of scale the Brussels Cathedral loses only slightly.
But it is more difficult to determine the leader in beauty and elegance - the stone used for the construction of the building from Flemish quarries is malleable when processed, this allowed the architects to implement many interesting ornaments. Thus, along the main facade, decorated with three portals, there are numerous arcades and niches. The central portal hides statues of saints, and higher up, above it, there is a larger window. True, it is no longer the same wicker rose that was originally, but a traditional Gothic window.
The interior of the cathedral is amazing. The vault is supported by Romanesque pillars decorated with sculptures of saints. The Gothic choir with the mausoleums of the Duke of Brabant and Archduke Ernest of Austria is illuminated by light from the high windows, on which stained glass windows created in the 16th century have been preserved. And in the center of the nave is a large organ with 4,300 pipes. There are 49 bells on the south tower of the cathedral, where concerts are sometimes given on Sundays.
It is simply impossible to visit Belgium and not visit the cathedral. Uniting believers from different countries, after the location of the headquarters of the European Union in Brussels, the Brussels Cathedral of Saint-Michel-et-Gudule has also become a place where nations unite.
Brussels Cathedral, due to its importance, is often used for Catholic ceremonies and national holidays such as royal marriages or state funerals. For example, in 1999, the wedding of Prince Philip and Matilda d"Udekem d"Acoz took place.
Address: Place Sainte-Gudule, 1000 Bruxelles