Mechelen City Guide
Mechelen is a traditional Flemish town, and the settlement on the banks of the river Dijle dates back to Roman times. Mechelen has beautiful medieval architecture, and was once the capital of Belgium under Margaret of Austria. Mechelen is now the religious centre of Belgium, and home to the Archbishop of Belgium.
Mechelen is 2 hours 40 minutes from London by train.
What to do and see in and around Mechelen
Grote Markt Square
The medieval Grote Markt square is the centre of Mechelen, and dates back to the 15th century. The Town Hall and St Rumbold's Cathedral and Tower are on the square, and in the centre is a statute of Margaret of Austria who ruled the Netherlands in the 16th century from her palace in Mechelen. Grote Markt is a great place to sit in one of the pavement cafés and watch the world go by, every Saturday there is a market on the square.
St Rumbold's Tower and Cathedral
Mechelen's most famous landmark is the huge gothic medieval St Rumbold's Tower. The Tower is unfinished but stands at 97 metres. Visitors can climb the 514 steps to the top for a panoramic view over Mechelen and to see the famous Mechelen carillion (Church bells). The Tower dominates Mechelen's Cathedral, which is home to the Archbishop of Belgium, tombs of the Archbishop's predecessors are in he crypt of the Cathedral.
Town Hall
Mechelen Town Hall is on the Grote Markt Square and occupies 3 different buildings. The oldest building is the cloth hall which has a 14th century belfry, remains unfinished due to the decline of the cloth trade in the 16th century. The middle section of the Town Hall was once a prison - look for the bars over the windows. The newest building is the Gothic Great Council building - which was only completed in the 20th century.
Toy Museum
The Toy Museum in Mechelen attracts kids of all ages! The Museum includes toys from all over the world, and highlights include stepping through Pieter Brueghel's "De Kinderspelen" painting to discover toys from the 16th century, miniature trains, cars and vehicles, toy soldiers and teddy bears.
Court of Law
Mechelen's Court of Law was once the Residence of Margaret of Austria who ruled the Netherlands in the 16th century. The building is late Gothic Renaissance in style and was designed by the French architect Guy de Beaugrant around a central courtyard. The Palace has been used by Mechelen as the Court of Law since 1796.
De Nekker
The De Nekker Park in Mechelen offers visitors a break from sightseeing. The park includes a large lake with watersports facilities including sailing, windsurfing and diving. There are indoor and outdoor sports facilities and an indoor playground for younger children.
Planckendael
Planckendael is just outside Mechelen, but you can take a boat from Mechelen railway station directly to the park. Planckendael is a vast park area, with a large zoo containing over 1000 animals. Visit the famous storks, apes and the only koalas in Belgium!
Tapestry Museum
Tapestries have been woven in Mechelen since the Medieval period, and the tradition is continued by the De Wit Royal Manufacturers of Tapestry, who conserve, repair and create new tapestries. The company is now housed in Mechelen's Tongerlo Abbey, and visitors can take a tour of the building and enjoy a tapestry weaving display.
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