Random thoughts and photos of my journey through life…
Filed under Heritage, Holidays, Mechelen 2014
The present day Town Hall in Mechelan is situated on the Grote Markt:
It consists of two parts: the cloth hall with unfinished belfry and the Palace of the Great Council. Why wasn’t the belfry ever finished? The cloth trade went into decline in the fourteenth century and there wasn’t the money to complete the building. [...]
18 Comments CherryPie on Apr 17th 2014
Filed under Art, Holidays, Mechelen 2014
As well as the Moon Extinguishers (see previous post) the flags flying over the centre of Mechelen also show Opsinjoorke in flight:
The bronze statue in front of the Town Hall shows Opsinjoorke in full flight. The original doll was made in 1647. It is carried in ceremonial and religious processions and thrown into the air [...]
12 Comments CherryPie on Apr 15th 2014
Filed under Heritage, Holidays, Mechelen 2014
The people of Mechelen are sometime nicknamed Maneblussers (Moon Extinguishers):
On the night of January 27th/28th 1687 St Rumbold’s Tower was shrouded in mist. A none too sober tippler emerged from an inn on the Grote Markt. He suddenly saw that the tower was on fire and immediately raised the alarm.
The whole city was thrown into confusion, the [...]
12 Comments CherryPie on Apr 14th 2014
Filed under Gardens, Out & About
It is spring again. The earth is like a child that knows poems by heart.
Rainer Maria Rilke
18 Comments CherryPie on Apr 13th 2014
Filed under Art, Faith Foundations, Holidays, Mechelen 2014
10 Comments CherryPie on Apr 11th 2014
Filed under Books
…Fortresses of the Albigensian Crusade 1209 – 1300
Synopsis:
During the early 13th century the north of what is now France went to war with the south in a bloody crusade aimed at destroying the heretical sect know as the Cathars. The conflict was characterized by vicious guerrilla actions and the besieging of the innumerable fortified sites [...]
10 Comments CherryPie on Apr 10th 2014
