St. Rumbold's Cathedral
| St. Rumbold's Cathedral | |
|---|---|
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Catholic |
| District | Mechelen–Brussels |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Cathedral |
| Year consecrated | 1312 |
| Location | |
| Location | Mechelen |
| Geographic coordinates | 51°01′44″N 4°28′42″E / 51.02889°N 4.47833°E 51°01′44″N 4°28′42″E / 51.02889°N 4.47833°E |
| Architecture | |
| Groundbreaking | 1200 |
| Completed | 1520 |
| Height (max) | 97 metres (318 ft) = |
| Part of | Belfries of Belgium and France |
| Criteria | Cultural: ii, iv |
| Reference | 943-016 |
| Inscription | 1999 (23rd Session) |
St. Rumbold's Cathedral (Dutch: Sint-Romboutskathedraal; French: Cathédrale Saint-Rombaut) is the Roman Catholic metropolitan archiepiscopal cathedral in Mechelen, Belgium, dedicated to Saint Rumbold, Christian missionary and martyr who founded an abbey nearby. His remains are rumoured to be buried inside the cathedral. State-of-the-art examination of the relics honoured as Saint Rumbold's and kept in a shrine in the retro-choir, showed a life span of about 40 years and a death date between 580 and 655, while tradition had claimed 775 AD.
In 1999, the tower of the cathedral was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as part of the Belfries of Belgium and France site, in recognition of its architecture and its importance in civic duties such as a watchtower.