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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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  • Park • 3 min walk
  • De Brouckère • 8 min walk
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See what travellers 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
    Travelled with family
    Written 3 December 2023
  • Tobique
    Ruckersville, Virginia602 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
    Travelled solo
    Written 12 December 2023
  • Nick F
    Greece251 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
    Travelled with family
    Written 22 January 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
    Travelled solo
    Written 17 June 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
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 7 September 2024
  • traveldoc
    Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan687 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
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 21 September 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 waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles5,204 reviews
Excellent
2,784
Very good
2,031
Average
367
Poor
16
Terrible
6

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 15 August 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
1,791 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 10 November 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, UK535 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 2 August 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 11 July 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, OR2,356 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 20 June 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 3 January 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, UK849 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 5 January 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, MI1,099 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 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 28 October 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, Zimbabwe344 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 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 6 September 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.

ogerkan
New York City, NY4,725 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2022
The Cathedral is situated on a small hill overlooking old Brussels. There is 300 years of architectural history here combining many styles and elements. Beautiful large stained glass windows throughout add a soft lighting effect. Plan on just exploring and enjoying the craftsmanship.
Written 10 November 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.

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

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