Aartsbisschoppelijk Paleis van Mechelen, Episcopal palace in Mechelen, Belgium
The Aartsbisschoppelijk Paleis van Mechelen is a neoclassical episcopal palace located at Wollemarkt 15 with Italian architectural influences. It features a U-shaped layout with strong horizontal lines and a symmetrically designed facade characteristic of 18th-century neoclassical architecture.
Cardinal Thomas Philippe d'Alsace commissioned construction of the palace between 1719 and 1741, replacing two patrician houses that had previously served as refuge for Affligem Abbey. During French occupation in 1789, the building temporarily became a brewery after its north wing and parts of the east wing were demolished.
The palace serves as the residence of the Archbishop of Mechelen-Brussels and represents an active center of Catholic church authority in Belgium. Visitors can sense the building's ongoing spiritual importance through its maintained religious spaces and administrative functions.
The interior of the palace is generally closed to the public, but visitors can explore the palace garden and arrange group tours to see the entrance hall and chapel. It is best to visit the exterior at Wollemarkt and check ahead about any special access opportunities.
The site of the palace once served as a refuge for monks from Affligem Abbey before being transformed into a prince-bishop's residence. This spiritual heritage of the location makes it more than simply an architectural monument.
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