The main altar of white marble and black tough-stone is a present of arch-bishop Andreas Cruesen (1657-1666) whose white armorial bearings draw attention on the black bases of the columns. The sculptor-architect Lucas Fayd’herbe (1617-1697), built the porch-altar according to a design of willem Hees or Hesius (1601-1690). The still simple and equilibrated but majestically built baroque altar dominates the volume of the choir, especially with the theatrical 3.75 meters high stature of St Rombout on top of it.

The arched space with the doors and the huge gradin of gilt wood were cut by A. Quellin the Younger (1625-1700); the doors hide the relics-chest with the bones of Saint Rombout. It is work from 1825 by the Mechelen goldsmith J.Fr. van Deuren. At important feast-days the door wings are open in order to show the gilt copper reliquary with its scenes in embossed silver representing events from the life of the town’s patron.*

From Sint-Romboutskathedraal MECHELEN (English Edition)*

The weather was fine when we ventured out after breakfast so first port of call was back to the military barracks.  On our visit the previous day we had forgotten to walk around the side to see the restored railway carriage that had transported the Jews from the barracks to Auschwitz Birkenau.

We then set off on a long trek visiting an exhibition of Rik Wouters art which is housed in  The Schepenhuis followed by what was formerly Margaret of Austria’s Palace, finally ending up in the Toy Museum, where we also took a break for lunch.  Whilst at the museum I picked up an excellent free magazine that covered the history, museums, churches and places of interest in Mechelen.

Whilst returning from the Toy Museum to the centre of Mechelen we inadvertently found the tourist information office.  It became obvious why we had missed the day before!  It had been hidden by a market stall!! I didn’t find anything in the tourist information office that I hadn’t already researched myself.

Our next port of call was St Rumbold’s Cathedral, so that Mr C could ascend the tower.  I sat enjoying the sunlight playing on the statue of St Rumbould and read the free Mechelen magazine that I had picked up and realised that I had happened on an unexpected gem, it had all the information that I could have hoped for.  When we left the Cathedral the Mechelen carnival was in full flow.  The crowd was showered with sweets, popcorn, plastic balls and cuddly toys. It was lovely to watch the children running around trying to gather them up.  Beer was handed out along the way and a bag of little china ornaments was pressed into our hands.  We initially thought it was a nativity set but on closer inspection it was six oriental gentlemen.

After all that we had a well deserved rest in the hotel before our evening meal, which again was followed by a nightcap in the hotel before retiring for the night.