Mechelen

The city of Mechelen.

Dead center between Antwerp and Brussels.

This is the Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul built in 1669

There is archeological proof of habitation in Mechelen during the Iron Age (450 BC to 1st century BC) in the form of a 27 foot canoe cut from an oak tree. I have no idea where this canoe is now.

This is Saint Rombout's Tower

There are 514 steps to the top of this 22-story tower. Unfortunately the tower was closed the day we visited Mechelen so I look forward to returning and getting a bird's eye view from the top of that tower. If I can.

This is Saint Rombout's Cathedral.

Construction began in it in 1217.

Centuries later Mechelen is famous for the first railway on the European continent which connected Brussels and Mechelen in 1835.

This is the Brusselpoort and it dates to the 13th century.

This gate is the only one remaining of the 12 original gates and it is now a museum.

A quiet city street on a Sunday afternoon.

The Stadhuis (City Hall)

Construction on the Stadhuis began in 1526, but financial problems left the building unfinished for nearly 500 years. In 1900, architects, using the original 16th century plans, began completion of the building in the Gothic Revival style.

It's difficult to tell the scale of this building from the picture above . . .

This is the breezeway running along the left side of it.

Naturally they brew beer and have been since 1369 at the Het Anker Brewery.

A lovely city and only an hour away.