Résumé en anglais
The Cathedral of Our Lady of Antwerp is the largest gothic church in the countries north of France. It had barely been constructed when a fire destroyed its timberwork in 1533. The falling beams damaged the magnificent gothic contours of the central columns, which were provisionally restored with plaster. The restoration taking place at the present time is attempting to reconstruct the authentic contours in cut stone. The columns consist of a nucleus of brick masonry and are faced with calcareous sandstone from Balegem.