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Sightseeing in Mechelen - what to see. Complete travel guide

Sint-Jan de Doperkerk, Mechelen This Belgian town has recently become very popular among Russian tourists. Since ancient times Mechelen has been famous for bell art. Many bells manufactured by local artists are installed in largest churches of Moscow and St. Petersburg. There is also an old school of bell ringers named Het Shipka in Mechelen.
When it comes to historical and architectural monuments of the town, we can definitely mention St. Rumbolt Cathedral. Some of the towers of the cathedral have a height of 97 meters. In order to climb to the top of the tower, one needs to go through 514 steps. The observation area on the top of the tower features perfectly visible neighborhoods of Mechelen. When the weather is clear you can see the shape of Antwerp on the horizon. The altar of the cathedral is made of marble. The master worked over its creation in 1665. If you walk behind the altar, you will see beautiful frescoes, triptychs and sculptures that were created in the 14th - 16th centuries. The most precious decoration of this holy place is the painting of Van Dyck titled “The Crucifixion of Christ”.
The most important historical value of the town is the monument of Marguerite of Austria, who was the aunt of Charles the Fifth. During her reign the city experienced a period of rapid growth. The Town Hall and the Palace of Margaret of Austria continue the architectural complex. These buildings amazingly combine best traditions of gothic style and renaissance. Today the City Court is located in the walls of the palace. Church of St. John is one of the best examples of the Baroque style, and Saint Peter and Paul Cathedral features a rich collection of paintings which belong to the 17th century. Walking around town is, without a doubt, an unforgettable experience, and new discoveries lay at simply every step because in Mechelen you will find many theaters, museums and exhibition centers. Copyright www.orangesmile.com
Mechelen cannot offer an abundance of large shopping centers, but there are many small interesting shops here. On the main city square, you will find a large Het Mechels gift shop where they … Open
The first mention of the city dates back to the 11th century. Many of its present streets are historical; they have not changed their location for almost a thousand years. Currently in the vicinity of Mechelen, there are many important archaeological areas in which researchers discovered artifacts from the times of the Roman Empire. Some areas are open to tourists for visiting, and the finds of archaeologists can be admired in local museums.
In the 16th century, the city almost completely lost its unique appearance. It was destroyed during the hostilities in the course of the struggle for independence. As early as the 17th century, residents managed to restore their homes and many historical monuments, as well as factories in which high-quality fabrics and laces are still produced. These historical factories are among the important historical sites. They conduct fascinating excursions for tourists.
Mehelen is not distinguished by an abundance of entertainment centers and children’s attractions. In any case, family recreation here will definitely not be boring. One of the primary … Open
Among the historical symbols of Mechelen, the House of Busleyden is noteworthy. In the 16th century, it belonged to a famous politician and scientist. The luxurious gothic mansion bears the name of its owner even now. For several decades, the building housed the Mechelen City Museum. Its collection is very extensive and encompasses the most diverse aspect of history and culture. Collections of artistic masterpieces, ancient precious exhibits, objects of everyday life of the past centuries and military artifacts are just a part of the museum's rich collection.
There are several unique monuments of world importance in the city. The Great Beguinage at Mechelen was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. It is a large-scale architectural complex. Its construction began in the 13th century. Now the central part of the complex is occupied by the Chapel of St. Mary Magdalene. It is surrounded by ancient residential buildings. Today, a significant part of the old houses is privately owned, but some mansions can be visited by tourists.
In Mechelen, you can try a lot of interesting and original dishes, each of which has a unique history. A traditional local specialty is Mechelen Cuckoo. This is a common name for a variety … Open
Among the other outstanding attractions is the Clock and Watch Museum, housed in a beautiful historical building. It stores unique watches, which the masters made several hundred years ago. Some of the exhibits are in a single copy. Tourists with children will be interested in the Toy Museum, which also contains many interesting old exhibits. The Museum of Railway Transport will be an excellent place for a family visit.
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City tours, excursions and tickets in Mechelen and surroundings

Reference information
Map of all castles
Survived castles around Mechelen
♥   Castle 'Cleydael Castle' , 13.8 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Castle 'Bouchout Castle' , 15.2 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Castle 'Royal Palace of Laeken Belgium' , 18 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Castle 'Rameyen Castle' , 18.1 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Castle 'Het Steen' , 21.6 km from the center. On the map   Photo
Map of all parks
National and city parks around Mechelen
♥   National Park 'Grenspark de Zoom - Kalmthoutse Heide' , 41.1 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   National Park 'Oosterschelde' , 77.7 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   National Park 'De Biesbosch' , 82.4 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   National Park 'De Loonse en Drunense Duinen' , 82.9 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Regional Nature Park 'Scarpe-Escaut' , 98 km from the center. On the map   Photo
Map of all art museums
Art galleries in Mechelen and around
♥   Art museum 'Royal Museum of Fine Arts' Antwerp, 20.2 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Art museum 'Museum of Modern Art Antwerp (MuHKA)' Antwerp, 20.5 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Art museum 'Museum Mayer van den Bergh' Antwerp, 20.7 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Art museum 'Rubenshuis' Antwerp, 20.8 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Art museum 'Cinquantenaire Museum' Brussels, 22.2 km from the center. On the map   Photo

Sights around Mechelen from our guide 'Extreme places on Earth'

Antwerp City Hall

From the series “Famous Buildings of Renaissance Architecture”
One of the main building decoration is the central sculpture of the Holy Mother. Near has placed other interesting compositions based on Bible history. The last huge reconstruction of the city hall was at the end of the 19th century. Practically all original elements were saved. The inner decoration of the hall was also saved. Today the main decoration of halls is the frescos. The walls and ceilings are covered with illustrations of the main historical events. Some halls have portraits of outstanding Belgium kings. The best Belgium artists of the Renaissance worked on them. … Read further

Celebrities Underwear Museum

From the series “Strange, Weird and Unusual Museums Amusing its Visitors”
All collages presented in the museum are humorous and charming. One of the best collages is, according to the opinion of the museum founder, the collage depicting Nicolas Sarkozy. The talented painter does not want to stand still. He aims to expand the collection of the original museum and to prove to his guests that 'face to face all underwear are the same.' … Read further

Antwerp Cathedral

From the series “Gothic Architecture – Magnificent Monuments”
The people of Antwerp have considered the Virgin Mary their patroness for hundreds of years. Her ancient statue was kept in a small old chapel earlier. It is one of the main relics of the cathedral today. The cathedral was looted and destroyed during numerous wars. But this statue always managed to survive completely. Locals believe that nothing threatens their city as long as the statue remains in its place. Antwerp Cathedral is one of the largest in the world. It can accommodate up to 25,000 people at a time. … Read further
Car rental on OrangeSmile.com Rentals in Mechelen

Hilton builds third luxury hotel in Kyoto

It will welcome its first guests in 2024. 313 rooms of various categories will be available, the interior of rooms and hotel spaces will become one of the main features of the high-class hotel. When decorating the rooms, it is planned to use local textiles, which are famous for their high quality and are considered to be one of the best in the world. Read this

19.03.2024

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Sightseeing in regions nearby Mechelen

All about Mechelen, Belgium - sightseeings, attractions, touristic spots, architecture, history, culture and cuisine. Prepare your trip together with OrangeSmile.com - find out the 'must see' things in Mechelen, which places to visit, which excursions to take, where the breathtaking views are waiting for you. Planning your trip with this travel guide will help your to get the most out of Mechelen in few days.
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