Mechelen is a municipality located in the province of Antwerp in Flanders. Mechelen, a Dutch-speaking city comprises the villages of Muizen, Hombeek, Leest, Heffen, Walem, the hamlets of Battel, Nekkerspoel and the city of Mechelen. Mechelen is also known as the Dijlestad or the Dijle City after the famous Dijle River, which flows through the city.
Before undertaking Mechelen travel the tourists should equip themselves with the facts about Mechelen. Mechelen falls on the Brussels-Antwerp axis, which is the main industrial and urban axis. Mechelen is scattered with plenty of sightseeing locales and tourist attractions. The places of interest in Mechelen include the Sint Romboutskathedraal, Sint-Janskerk, Brusselpoort and the Schepenhuis.
The Sint Romboutskathedraal featuring an imposing tower has been declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Sint-Janskerk displays the world-famous paintings including the Miraculous Draught of Fishes, Kerk van Onze-Lieve-Vrouw-over-de-Dijle and the Adoration of the Magi. The Brusselpoort dating back to the 13th century is another famous tourist landmark of Mechelen. The Schepenhuis is the earliest city hall in Flanders, which is carved out of stone. The Schepenhuis housed the Supreme Court or the Great council of Mechelen.
The specialties of Mechelen include wooden furniture, sculptures, woodcarving, Mechelen lace, cordwain and tapestries. The Palace of Margaret of York is the earliest renaissance structure in the city. The Lakenhal and the Belfry dating back to the 14th century has been announced as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Lakenhal served as the meeting place for the wool merchants.
The Groot Begijnhof, Klein Begijnhof, Technopolis, the Toy Museum located at Nekkerspoel, and the animal park situated at Muizen are the leading tourist destinations of Mechelen. The Kruidtuin is a stunning tourist attraction, which houses the world-renowned marble statue of Rembert Dodoens, the famous herbalist.
For more information on Mechelen browse through travel.mapsofworld.
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