Sint-Michielskerk (Saint Michael's Church), Ghent

Saint Michael's Church (Sint-Michielskerk) in Ghent is a Roman Catholic church with a rich history dating back to 1105 when a chapel dedicated to Saint Michael was first documented on the site. The original chapel was destroyed by fire twice in the 12th century and rebuilt each time. The current late Gothic church began construction around 1440, unfolding in two major phases with a significant interruption between them.

The first phase of construction took place during the 15th and 16th centuries. By 1528, the western part of the church, including the three-aisled nave and the transept, had been completed. Work continued on the western tower, reaching two levels by 1566 before religious conflicts brought construction to a halt. The church suffered during the Protestant Reformation, with parts destroyed by Calvinists in 1578, and the old choir was demolished in 1579.

Construction resumed in 1623, and the Baroque sacristy in the northeast corner was built between 1650 and 1651. In 1662, local architect Lieven Cruyl designed a plan for the unfinished western tower, which, however, was never realized. The tower remained incomplete and was finally covered with a flat roof in 1828.

The interior of Saint Michael's Church is notable for its rich Neo-Gothic style, featuring a grand altar, an ornate pulpit, and numerous 18th-century statues. The church houses a collection of Baroque paintings, including works by renowned artists such as Anthony van Dyck's "Christ Dying on the Cross" and Otto Venius's "Resurrection of Lazarus." Additionally, the church preserves a collection of valuable silver and gold artifacts, including a relic of Saint Dorothea in silver, a sacred "Doorn" donated by Mary, Queen of Scots, and a piece of the true Cross, a gift from Archduke Albrecht and Isabella in 1619.

Saint Michael's Church stands as a significant historical and architectural landmark in Ghent, reflecting the city's turbulent religious history and its artistic heritage.