I climbed to the top of Antwerp Cathedral yesterday. No, it’s not what you think: you cannot just buy an entrance ticket and leisurely walk up to the top of this 123 m (400 feet) monument as if it were a Disneyland attraction. As this 700 yo cathedral tower is not open to the average walk-in tourist, it involved quite a lot of planning. You ascend over an endlessly revolving, ever so narrow, spiral, seven century old staircase, step-by-step, along with 15 others and a qualified guide. The experience is quite exclusive: 16 participants, once a week, only during the summer vacation.
Appropriate shoes, a bottle of water, the ability to climb 400 feet, sanitary precautions (there are no toilets on top of a cathedral tower 
) and no fear of heights or elevated open spaces are essential. The 700 yo Antwerp cathedral staircase is too narrow to allow for simultaneous ascending/descending visitors: we were briefed extensively on the do’s and dont’s during this exclusive experience.
The whole experience (neglecting the gray, rainy Belgian weather at 18°C/65°F) was a dream come trough: as I can see Antwerp cathedral 24/24 from my living room, actually climbing it was a real thrill. The best part of it all? Facing the huge bells (some weighing over 6 tons), along with watching the inside of a impressive carillon I can hear hourly. Although the Antwerp cathedral bells are partially computer-controlled these days, the carillon is not, with weekly live performances of classic masterpieces, resounding over the entire historic Antwerp downtown. I videotaped part of the climb and subsequent skyline views, but for the time being I hope you enjoy these pictures (please click to enlarge).
This blog is not affiliated with or endorsed by the city of Antwerp, Belgium.