Attraction

Sint-Christoffelkathedraal

Grote Kerkstraat 2
Roermond
The statue on St. Christopher's Cathedral carries many residents of Roermond with it, literally and figuratively. This stately Gothic cruciform basilica dates from 1410.

Roermond has been a bishop's city since 1559, a welcome development after the city had suffered a major fire. The church withstood, among other things, the Iconoclasm, a looting by the troops of William of Orange, several violent storms and an earthquake.

In addition, the tower burned down completely several times after lightning strikes. But these events were not even the cause of the worst destruction of the church, which it endured on February 28, 1945.

The Germans blew up the tower to prevent English troops from using it as a lookout. The church was left in ruins. One day later Roermond was liberated, but the rebuilding of the church was not completed until 1957.

In that year the statue of Saint Christopher was also made, which in its golden shine, apparently unshakable, still stands high on the tower of the cathedral.

The statue is extra special for the city, because it literally carries the residents of Roermond with it: when hoisting the statue, they were given the opportunity to write their name on a roll of parchment that was put in a tube of the statue.
This text has been automatically translated using an online translation service.

Itineraries in the area

Interesting in this area!