Mechelen is a beautiful historical site in Belgium which though is missed out by the visitors but it needs to be visited along with cities like Bruges, Brussels and Antwerp. Map Mechelen Belgium is situated half-way between Brussels and Antwerp with a population of 75,000 inhabitants.
Mechelen city is a pleasant typical Flemish city which belonged to the Duchy of Brabant which was founded in the early Middle-Ages on the banks of the river Dijle. The town center is a low-traffic area, which makes Mechelen a pleasant shopping city. On Saturdays the main shopping streets 'Bruul' and 'IJzerenleen' are visited by all the people of the city itself and the neighboring villages.
Mechelen enjoyed an important role in history when it was the capital of the Low Countries. At that time Margaret of Austria ruled here and had set up her court in Mechelen. Her successor, Charles V, again moved the court to Brussels. Now Mechelen is still the religious capital of Belgium and the Archbishop of Belgium resides here. The city suffered badly during the World Wars of the 20th century, but a lot of interesting and beautiful old buildings have been preserved. Some of the tourist interests are the St. Rumbold's Cathedral, the former Palace of Margaret of Austria, the Town Hall, and several really beautiful and enchanting houses.
Map Mechelen Belgium shows how easily the city is accesible for the visitors. Mechelen lies at the E19-highway. Mechelen is a very compact city, and one can reach most places on foot. |
