The Cathedral of Our Lady in Antwerp is the largest Gothic church in the Low Countries. Its northern tower, which is stone lacework, is 123 metres high. It’s the pride of the city. Vertical lines in the monumental sacred space symbolise an aim for something higher, something celestial. Anointment for the art-hungry soul.

It took 169 years (1352-1521) of labour to raise the 123m heavenward-reaching steeple of the Cathedral, the highest Gothic building in the Low Countries. The Cathedral is an iconic treasury, with an impressive collection of major art works, including a series of paintings by Rubens. Now, after twenty years, the seven-naved church has been restored to its former architectural glory. Fascinating features include Rubens’ ‘Elevation of the Cross’ and his ‘Descent from the Cross’. Any visit to Antwerp starts with a visit of the Cathedral of Our Lady.