Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula
Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula, Gothic cathedral in Brussels, Belgium
The Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula is a Gothic church building in Brussels with two prominent towers and a spacious floor plan. The interior displays large windows with colored glass paintings, stone altars, and wooden furnishings from various centuries.
The site began in the 11th century, but the present Gothic structure was built in phases from the 13th through 15th centuries. This gradual development reflected the city's growing role as an administrative and trading hub.
The church takes its name from two patron saints and holds artworks spanning different eras that reflect the devotion of countless generations. These pieces – from medieval carvings to painted glass windows – tell stories of faith and artistic skill preserved across centuries.
The building is easy to reach on foot in the city center and can be viewed from outside at any time. Visitors should come in the morning or early afternoon when natural light best illuminates the windows and artwork inside.
The towers provide nesting space each year for a threatened bird of prey, making the site an important refuge for this species in the city. Attentive visitors can observe the birds raising their young during certain seasons.
Location: City of Brussels
Inception: 1047
Founders: Lambert II, Count of Louvain
Architectural style: Brabantine Gothic
Height: 64 m
Length: 114 m
Width: 57 m
Accessibility: Wheelchair inaccessible
Address: Esp. de la Sainte-Gudule, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium
Opening Hours: Monday-Sunday 08:00-18:00
Phone: +3222178345
Website: https://cathedralisbruxellensis.be
GPS coordinates: 50.84778,4.36028
Latest update: December 6, 2025 16:00
Brussels combines baroque guild houses, neo-Gothic churches, and modern architecture. The Grand Place forms the historic center with its cobblestone square and gilded facades. The Atomium from 1958 stands in the northern part of the city, displaying the structure of a magnified iron crystal. Saint Michael and Gudula Cathedral preserves Gothic stained glass and wood carvings from the 13th century. The city holds numerous collections of European painting at the Royal Museums of Fine Arts and the Magritte Museum. The Palais de Justice sits on a hill overlooking the city, while the Royal Palace serves as the official residence of the Belgian monarchy. Parks such as Bois de la Cambre and Cinquantenaire Park offer open spaces between city districts. The Belgian Comic Strip Center and the Horta Museum document Belgian contributions to illustration and Art Nouveau design.
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