Construction of the Cathedral of Our Lady in Antwerp began in 1352, and the main structure was finally completed in 1521, a remarkable span of 169 years, with a few more years needed to finish the finer details. Originally designed with two towers, a devastating fire in 1533 left it with only one.
To me, this is an incredible building, perhaps one of the greatest cathedrals ever created. Words such as stunning, magnificent, and even chef-d’œuvre come to mind, yet none of them quite capture how deeply impressed I truly am.
If it stood within my own kingdom, there would be a smartly dressed army patrolling its streets, musicians filling the air with song, and poets reciting romantic sagas from dawn until dusk. A cathedral of this grandeur deserves nothing less.
Instead, it stands just beyond Antwerp’s shopping district, surrounded by McDonald’s, Panos, coffee shops, and pizza restaurants. Hardly the setting one imagines for a masterpiece whose foundations were laid in the year 1352.
In the back of my mind, I gather my armies, ready to charge in and rescue it from such an ordinary fate.
In reality, I simply stand, look up, and smile in quiet wonder at this magnificent marvel.
Be First to Comment