MECHELEN, BELGIUM

TOOK ADVANTAGE OF A BEAUTIFUL SPRING DAY AND DROVE TO A TOWN CALLED MECHELEN IN BELGIUM.  IT'S JUST SOUTH OF ANTWERP.  THE AREA WAS ORIGINALLY SETTLED DURING ROMAN TIMES.  IT'S GOOD LOCATION HELPED IT TO CONTINUE TO  BE AN IMPORTANT CITY DURING GERMANIC TIES AND AFTER THAT, WHEN IT WAS CHRISTIANIZED BY THE MISSIONARY ST. RUMBOLD.   IN FACT, IN 1200  CONSTRUCTION BEGAN ON THE CHURCH NAMED FOR THIS SAINT.

THE CITY WAS BURNED AND PILLAGE IN 1532.  DURING THE TIME OF RECONSTRUCTION FURNITURE MAKING AND WOOD CARVING BECAME AN ARTFORM IN THE CITY AND EVEN TODAY IT IS WELL KNOWN FOR IT'S FURNITURE MAKING.

THESE NEXT 3 PICTURES ARE OF THE BRUSSELSPORT WHICH IS THE ONLY REMAINING CITY GATE OUT OF THE ORIGINAL 12 GATES.  IT DATES BACK TO THE 13TH CENTURY BUT MUCH OF IT HAS BEEN RENOVATED.   ONE OF THE FIRST CHANGES MADE TO THE GATE WAS TO LOWER THE TWO TOWERS BACK IN THE 16TH CENTURY.  CURRENTLY IT HOUSES THE MECHELEN HISTORY MUSEUM.  

THE TOWN HAS A CANAL WHICH CONNECTS TO THE LARGE PORT OF ANTWERP.  THIS PLAYED AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE TOWN IN IT'S EARLY YEARS.  MECHELEN WAS ALSO PLAYED A VERY IMPORTANT ROLE IN RAILROAD HISTORY.  IT HAD SUCH A GOOD SYSTEM OF TRACKS THAT WHEN HITLER HAD CONTROL OF THE CITY, HIS TROOPS USED IT FOR THEIR INFAMOUS TRANSIT CAMP.

BELOW ARE PICTURES OF ST. RUMBOLD CATHEDRAL.   THE CHURCH TOWER IS THE PRIDE AND JOY OF MECHELEN.   THE FIRST STONE WAS LAID IN 1452.  THE TOWER REALLY DIDN'T START TO RISE, HOWEVER UNTIL 1462.  SO THE PROGRESS WAS PAINFULLY SLOW.  THE BELLS WERE  MOVED TO THEIR NEW HOME IN 1492 AND ....IN MAY OF 1498.....FIRE STRUCK.  THE FIRE WAS SO INTENSE THAT MOST OF THE BELLS MELTED AS A RESULT OF THE HEAT.  THE TOWER WAS REBUILT BUT THERE WAS NEVER AGREEMENT ON WHETHER TO PUT A SLENDER SPIRE AT THE TOP.  THEY NEVER DID PUT A SPIRE IN PLACE.  

THIS IS THE HUGE AUTOMATED CARILLON LARGE DRUM.  IT HAD FALLEN INTO DISREPAIR BUT WAS RESTORED.  EVERY 7.5 MINUTES THE DRUM PLAYS A TUNE.

AS YOU CAN SEE IT WAS JUST AFTER NOON AND THE BELLS WERE RINGING DURING MY ENTIRE HIKE UP AND MY ENTIRE HIKE DOWN AND THEN SOME... THEY PLAYED BEAUTIFUL MUSIC FOR A WHOLE HOUR.

HERE ARE A COUPLE OF LINKS TO HEAR SNIPPETS OF THE BELLS.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQaDNuUaPSA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TeD-TTXpwuY

TO THE RIGHT OF THE TOWER, FAR IN THE DISTANCE IS THE ATOMIUM IN BRUSSELS

538 STEPS GETS YOU TO THE SKYWALK AND GREAT VIEWS ON A CLEAR DAY.    YOU CAN EVEN SEE BRUSSELS.  

97 METERS ABOVE THE TOWN SQUARE

98 BELLS ALL TOGETHER.   BUT IT IS THE ONLY CHURCH IN BELGIUM WITH TWO CARILLONS