Sint-Janskathedraal (St. John's Cathedral)
Parts of this magnificent cathedral date back to the 1200s, though most of the present Gothic structure was finished in 1529. The cathedral suffered considerable damage during a fire in 1584, when the cupola and its tower collapsed. Some of the original 15th-century frescoes were revealed during restoration, among them those in the ambulatory depicting the Joshua Tree and St. James. Have a look at the 15th-century brass chandelier in the Chapel of the Holy Sacrament on the north side of the choir. The chapel (1497) is lavishly decorated and imbued with a soft light. Notice also the little stone figures on the flying buttresses and up the copings (miniature copies of these delightful figures are on sale in local gift stores). The 50-bell carillon in the rump of the 13th-century, late-Romanesque tower is played every Wednesday from 11:30am to 12:30pm.
Parts of this magnificent cathedral date back to the 1200s, though most of the present Gothic structure was finished in 1529. The cathedral suffered considerable damage during a fire in 1584, when the cupola and its tower collapsed. Some of the original 15th-century frescoes were revealed during restoration, among them those in the ambulatory depicting the Joshua Tree and St. James. Have a look at the 15th-century brass chandelier in the Chapel of the Holy Sacrament on the north side of the choir. The chapel (1497) is lavishly decorated and imbued with a soft light. Notice also the little stone figures on the flying buttresses and up the copings (miniature copies of these delightful figures are on sale in local gift stores). The 50-bell carillon in the rump of the 13th-century, late-Romanesque tower is played every Wednesday from 11:30am to 12:30pm.
