Church of Our Lady across the river Dijle, Gothic church in Mechelen, Belgium
The Church of Our Lady across the river Dijle is a place of worship in Mechelen that blends Brabantine Gothic with Baroque style. The building features a tall tower with 49 bells and displays architectural changes that developed over centuries of construction.
This religious building began construction in the 14th century to replace Mechelen's original parish church and continued expanding through the 16th century. The extended building period allowed different architectural styles to be added at different times.
The church displays a triptych painting commissioned by the local fishmongers guild to showcase their wealth and influence in the city. This work shows how successful merchants used the church to make a statement about their importance to Mechelen.
The building is generally accessible to visitors but may involve stairs in certain areas and some sections might have restricted access. It is helpful to check in advance which parts of the structure are fully open to the public.
The building houses a 14th-century sculpture called 'Our Lady with the Crooked Hip,' which is the only free-standing statue from that period still remaining in Mechelen. This work shows the artistic skill and prosperity the city enjoyed during the medieval times.
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