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St. Michael and St. Gudula Cathedral (Cathedrale St-Michel et Ste-Gudule)

St. Michael and St. Gudula Cathedral (Cathedrale St-Michel et Ste-Gudule)

St. Michael and St. Gudula Cathedral (Cathedrale St-Michel et Ste-Gudule)
4.5
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The area

Address
How to get there
  • Park • 3 min walk
  • De Brouckère • 8 min walk
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See what travelers are saying

  • SMLikestoTravel
    Bengaluru, India391 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Austere but serene
    We walked here from the Grand Place and then walked to the Galeries Royales Saint Hubert. Worthwhile spending about half and hour here. After all the ornate churches and basilicas in Italy, the interiors felt comparatively austere to us. But it is still a beautiful and serene place with far fewer crowds.
    Visited May 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written December 3, 2023
  • Tobique
    Ruckersville, Virginia604 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Worth a trip
    I visited the cathedral during the Christmas season, so was lucky enough to see displays by the various immigrant groups who attend the church. But the cathedral is worth a visit anytime as it’s spectacular. Sitting on an incline in central Brussels, it features marvelous stained glass windows and a beautiful carved pulpit. I’m happy I made a visit.
    Visited December 2023
    Traveled solo
    Written December 12, 2023
  • Nick F
    Greece270 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Gothic beauty cathedral
    The Gothic Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula in Brussels, which is sometimes also called Brussels Cathedral. Its history begins in the 11th century. The main facade has four entrances, and above them you can see sculptures of saints. The interiors of the cathedral are no less impressive. And here's another interesting fact. The French writer Victor Hugo was so admired by the Brussels Cathedral that he considered it almost the only true example of Gothic architecture. I wonder why then he made Notre Dame Cathedral the main “character” of his novel?😁😁😁
    Visited December 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written January 22, 2024
  • Judy431
    Grayson, Georgia97 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Cathedral in Brussels
    Beautiful Church. I walked the long way around to reach the front and was concerned it may not be open based on all the weeds growing around the building. The interior is very nice. Near the shop, there is the story of "The Meridian of Brussels". A north/south line that runs through the church. An oculus in the stained glass window to the side of the altar helped to set the accurate time.
    Visited June 2024
    Traveled solo
    Written June 17, 2024
  • Carny P
    6 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful
    This was a wonderful place to visit. Beautiful altar and statues. There was a priest available also. Very peaceful and after the church visit there was a lovely park in front to people watch . Nice way to spend time in Brussels.
    Visited September 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written September 7, 2024
  • traveldoc
    Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan690 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Love this place - beauty and peace!
    Great Cathedral - lovely photos outside and inside. It's wonderful thinking of the prayers of people in this Cathedral for hundreds of years! Don't miss it! We attended Mass here on a weekday and Vigil Mass on a Saturday Both were in French (interesting, but fun)!
    Visited September 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written September 21, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles5,211 reviews
Excellent
2,789
Very good
2,031
Average
369
Poor
16
Terrible
6

These reviews have been automatically translated from their original language.
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Alex S
Zurich, Switzerland259 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2022 • Family
The place is must visit when in Brussels. There is a woman statue with stars around her head, so these stars became a symbol of European Union. They offer to visit excavation in a basement for 1 Euro, but there is nothing to see there, so save your money. There is an online multimedia guide, which worth to buy despite it’s badly coded. The guide costs 4 EUR for 30 minutes and 5 EUR for 50 minutes, so you better take a 50 minutes one. But keep in mind, there is no free wifi, so the guide will eat your mobile data.
Written August 15, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Herbert C
1,808 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2022 • Couples
This is probably the most impressive of the not-so-well-known cathedrals that I’ve seen in Europe. This cathedral is not in the league of Westminster, Notre Dame or La Sagrada Familia, and most people outside of Brussels would probably not have heard of it, so I have little expectation of what I’m about to see. Imagine the awe and adulation that swept through me as the stunning Gothic facade greets me from across the small park. This cathedral is huge (and I mean really huge!). Its incredibly massive interior is mesmerisingly grand, beautifully adorned by stained glasses and exudes a serenity that certainly calms the soul. For €1, you can also visit the archaeological site beneath the cathedral (entrance via the main hall), but there’s nothing much to see here. Definitely one of the more spectacular medieval building that I’ve seen in my European travels.
Written November 10, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

danioko
Greater London, UK542 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023 • Solo
The Cathedral like most dominates the position in which it sits. Located just a 10 minute walk from Grand Place the Cathedral is within easy reach.

Roman Catholic buildings are usually quite elaborate and covered in gold but here I felt it was quite subdued and less 'in your face'.

The Cathedral is grand in regards to stature but subtle (for the most part) in regards to it's decor.

Various parts like anti chapels are intricately carved and glazed and the whole interior just works perfectly to deliver a peaceful ambience.

There is a slight upcharge of €2 if you wish to see the museum of treasures, a very reasonable price when you look at other major European religious buildings.

Wandering slowly to absorb what you can will take approx 30-45 mins.

FREE TO ENTER!
Written August 2, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

June A
Surrey, UK2,754 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2020
The Castle sits on a small hill not far from the railway station and city centre - I walked past it almost every day yet did not go inside until almost my last day. The outside is if anything more pictureqsue and interesting than the inside with its views of the surrounding area. The inside is of course still worthy of a look if only to admire the beautiful stained glass windows.
Written July 11, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

SnowyShasta
Portland, OR2,439 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2022
This cathedral is a short walk from both the Grand Place and the Centraal station; we stopped on our way between the two and appreciated the chance to admire this huge cathedral. Entry inside is free; we especially enjoyed the statues of the 12 apostles, each with a golden accessory (like Peter with golden keys). We walked around the outside and spent about 15 minutes admiring the interior.
Written June 20, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

G.B.
821 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2021
The church, while not standing out compared to other Gothic cathedrals in Europe, does have some special features. The one that struck me the most is the sundial inside (obtained through a hole in a stained glass window). You can discover it by standing in front of the shop. In this period there are also cribs from all over the world (a nice surprise).
Written January 3, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Bubbles73uk
Weedon Bec, UK850 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020
This cathedral is a stunning example of the Brabant Gothic style. The construction of the church started in the 13th century & finished 300 years later in 1519. Its impressive interior is decorated with breathtaking stained glass. As it was Christmas there were cribs from different parts of the world which were beautiful.
Written January 5, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

MidwestKathM
Detroit, MI1,129 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2022
We love to walk the cities we visit in Europe so that we can see the history and architecture. We came across the beautiful Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula on our first day in Brussels and luckily its doors were still open so we entered to take a stroll around. This is a Gothic cathedral dating back to the 13th century. Stunning view down the center aisle. Beautiful stained glass. 12 columns, each featuring one of the twelve apostles, line the nave. The pulpit is stunning with its depiction of Adam and Eve and the Virgin Mary crowned with twelve stars. Free to enter. Worth a visit!
Written October 28, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Kufunda
Harare, Zimbabwe341 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2022
With its majestic exterior, this is a beautiful cathedral with a mixture of old and modern architecture. It is well preserved, and information on the building can be scanned. Its attractions include a beautiful pulpit, modern main altar, imposing stained glass windows and two pipe organs. It is a venue for state occasions, including those involving the Dutch Royal family. Well worth a visit if you are interested in religious architecture and history.
Written September 6, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

sokolalene
Kyiv, Ukraine3,293 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2024 • Solo
The cathedral is amazing in its size. Came to see him on a rainy day and it only added to the impression - real Gothic, gray huge. And I came from the back and you can see a lot of interesting things there too. Saint Michael the Archangel is the heavenly patron saint of Brussels. Saint Gudula too, though less well known, the daughter of the Duke of Lorraine Gudula, a saint of the Catholic Church, lived in Brabant (modern Belgium) in the late 7th century. The relics of St. Gudula were transferred to the Cathedral of Brussels by Charles I, Duke of Lorraine. Since then, the main church of Brussels has been called the Cathedral of St. Michael and Gudula. It will take you more than an hour to see the temple - here you can go down to the basement and look at the excavations, look into the treasure trove, climb one of the towers and just to see the temple with the magnificent stained glass windows, sculptures takes time and time. The discovery in the Belgian temples for me was the church pulpits - here too it is a genuine carved work of art. So this is one of the first attractions in the Belgian capital. Where you need to look, even if you are in Brussels for just a day or you are not very fond of temples, but one for ticking still plans to visit. And it's in the heart of the city close to the main station and the Grand Place.
Automatically translated
Written November 14, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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St. Michael and St. Gudula Cathedral (Cathedrale St-Michel et Ste-Gudule), Brussels

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