The Antwerp Cathedral of Our Lady is a masterpiece of lace work in stone. Begun in 1352, it is one of the finest Gothic buildings in Europe. The church, which became a cathedral in 1559 replaced a Romanesque church built in the 12th century. The last vestiges of that church were demolished in 1481. It contains a number of significant works by painter, Rubens. Its spire is 123 m high. This portal features statues which include the missionary Saint Willibrordus. He is thought to have spent time in Antwerp in the 7th century.The Church of Our Lady and St Philip was the gift of Henry Fitzalan-Howard, 15th Duke of Norfolk. The architect was Joseph Hansom, widely known as the inventor of the Hansom Cab. The style of the Cathedral is French Gothic about 1400.
The Cathedral serves as a “model Church for all Parish Churches” in the style and content of its liturgical celebrations. In design, art and furnishings, the Cathedral is rich in cultural diversity in a city in which Sunday Mass is celebrated in 42 different languages. It also tells a story of glory and prosperity – and even more so one of sorrow and disaster. This is the story of people who built dreams, people who expressed their allegiance to God and their fellow men. For over a thousand years, Mary has been the patroness of this Cathedral and of the city of Antwerp; each year thousands of people come and express their love and sorrow to Mary. This church is much more than just a museum filled with valuable treasures, it is still an active place of worship.
Despite all the plundering, major art treasuries have survived. The most notable are three large paintings by Rubens: Descent from the Cross (1612), Elevation of the Cross (1610) and the Resurrection Triptych (1612). There are many more notable objects inside like altars, confessionals, statues and the pulpit. The main relic that survived the middle ages is the bronze tomb of Isabella of Bourbo The Cathedral is also adorned with 34 huge stained windows.
