The 400-foot towers of Antwerp Cathedral are about to disappear behind scaffolding for two years of renovation on the ancient cathedral, starting this week.
The cathedral, dating to 1518, is the largest Gothic building in the ‘Low Countries’ and its towers are a Unesco World Heritage site. Unlike previous renovation work, this round will focus on the exterior stone, grouting and sculpture of the towers.
During the work, which will also include regilding the rooster and cross at the top, the Cathedral’s chimes and bells, which mark the half and full hours, will be turned off to avoid vibration during the work. The clockface will be taken down altogether and rebuilt off-site. A special bell will be rung, but only for special events.
