The Romanesque Church

At the beginning of the 11th century, in 1047, Count Lambert II of Leuven built a Romanesque-style church on a hill where a small cemetery was located. This church, smaller than the current cathedral, was dedicated to the archangel Saint Michael, the protector of the city of Brussels.

Archaeological excavations under the current cathedral have uncovered the foundations of this Romanesque church. These excavations have also revealed the crypt that houses the sarcophagus of Duke John II of Brabant, who died in 1312.

This first church was entrusted to a college of 12 canons and was called a collegiate church.

To attract pilgrims, Count Lambert II of Leuven had the relics of Saint Gudula, which were in the lower town in the chapel of Saint-Géry, transferred to the collegiate church.

The church was then officially named the Collegiate Church of Saint Michael and Saint Gudula.

It was not until 1962 that it acquired the status of a cathedral and was placed under the authority of the Archdiocese of Mechelen-Brussels.

Indeed, each cathedral is a church placed under the authority of a bishop, who has his seat there. This seat reserved for the bishop is called the cathedra. This cathedra is located in the choir of our cathedral.