Plan et historique de la Cathedral Our Lady in Antverp

		Cathedral of Our Lady in Antverp (Notre-Dame)

groundfloor drawing of the cathedral

		history of the building

1124		In the place we see the cathedral today, there was a prayerhouse dedicated to Our Lady since the 9th century, which obtains the status of a church.
12e s.		A bigger church, in roman style, replaces the prayerhouse
1352		Beginning of the construction of the church of Our Lady, the biggest gothic cathedral of the Netherlands. The project included two identical towers.
1521		The construction of the church is completed.
1559		The church becomes Cathedral of the diocese of Antverp.
1566 & 1581		During the religious wars, iconoclasts get into the cathedral and destroy all statues and and many artworks. A big quantity of the treasures and furniture are destroyed, robbed, or sold by the Calvinists.
1794		French Revolutionaries plunder the cathedral.
1798		The Directoire thinks about the destruction of the Cathedral.
1816		Some important artworks, of which three paintings signed by Rubens, which had been transfered to Paris are coming back to their place. During the 19th century the church is entirely restored and re-arranged.