Ghent (Brussels Morning Newspaper): Saint Michael’s Church in Ghent, originally planned to have a 134-meter tower, now stands at just 24 meters due to financial issues. The church is over 600 years old and needs €382,000 in renovations, starting soon.
Tourists often miss St. Michael’s Church in Ghent, located near St. Michael’s Bridge, as they focus on taking pictures of St. Nicholas’ Church, the Belfry, and St. Bavo’s Cathedral. From their viewpoint, they often miss St. Michael’s, even though it was originally planned to have the tallest tower in Ghent at 134 meters, taller than Antwerp’s Cathedral of Our Lady, which is 123 meters high.
What challenges did St. Michael’s Church in Ghent face during its renovation?
Financial problems and changing priorities stopped the project from completing St. Michael’s Church’s tower, leaving it just 24 meters high instead of the planned height. If finished, it would have been the tallest tower in the Low Countries and a key landmark in Ghent. Despite its rich history and impressive design, many visitors overlook the church as they focus on capturing photos of Ghent’s more famous towers.
St. Michael’s Church, which is over 600 years old, is still an important monument, but its condition is getting worse due to pollution and weather. Two years ago, parts of the porch started to crumble, leading to the closure of the square in front of the church. An inspection showed that it needs repairs. Loose stones have been removed to prevent any danger. Now, preparations for the renovation are complete, and work will start in two weeks. The project will take five months and cost 382,000 euros, with Flanders contributing 92,000 euros. This is the first phase of the renovation, and more repairs will be needed for the rest of the building later.
