Welcome to Breda... Wait, are we sure we're in Breda? What is this magnificent medieval skyscraper in the city centre? Maybe a new invention by Elon Musk? If the tower could talk, it would surely be identified as a 15th century president, with its impressive 97 metres. And it definitely get votes!
But every thing has its beginning, and to understand it, we need to dig a tunnel to the very roots of the past. Poof! Here we are in 1410, when all of Europe thought Gothic was all the rage, and out of nowhere the Grote Kerk appears... like magic. Well, not exactly, but surely the architects said to themselves, “We're going to create something people will look at even 600 years from now!” Now, whether exactly 600 years or 6,000 years - nobody knows. Imagine the shock when they said it - like an Indian soap opera, people must have been speechless.
The tower itself was completed in 1509. Back then, of course, there were no cranes, lasers or modern measurements. But if you're building something you want to be seen for centuries, you have to make it tall. So high that it can be seen from neighbouring villages.
Originally this beautiful Gothic... I won't use a bad word, "virgo", was Catholic. During the Reformation, “Game of Thrones” style, the church was converted to Protestant. Over the years, it has certainly seen more politics than the American Election, haha. Yet if you live in Breda and you can't see the tower out your window in the morning, you need glasses or you're in the wrong city. On rare occasions this is acceptable if there is fog, but even then you can see its shadow in the distance. She is the guardian of the city, its wealth and history.
The real treasure, is not the tower. Surely you've heard of the Kardashians? Kim, Courtney, Kylie... I think there were more, but I don't remember them, haha. Inside the church are the real treasures - the tombs of the medieval Kardashian family, Nassau. Rich, influential and always the center of attention. Legends say that from the tower, the Nassau Counts watched to see if enemies were approaching the city. And in those days, there were quite a few, haha.
We're not done with the tour, come back! Inside the church, you'll find exquisitely decorated tombs of family members sculpted with incredible detail. The most famous of these is René of Chalons, whose tomb includes a sculpture depicting him as a skeleton - a reminder of the transience of life. Here's something that might get you thinking about the meaning of life... or at least the question of why someone would want to be remembered like that.
If that doesn't impress you, the carvings and stained glass windows with scenes from the lives of saints and the columns with exquisite ornaments certainly will. They're so detailed you'll need a magnifying glass to fully appreciate them. Perhaps because of all this, the church is like an eternally inaccessible lady - impressive, beautiful, but full of mysteries, hahaha.
Today it is not only a place for prayers, but also hosts concerts, exhibitions and even weddings. Imagine saying “I do” under the Gothic arches, while the tower seems to bless you from above. On your way out, you can sit in the square in front of the church. With a cup of coffee in hand, you'll feel like a modern-day count resting after a long day and breathing in the smell of...weed? And let us remember that the truly important things are not lost in time.
suffer from the past, to long for the future, but to forget the present.
Any unsourced images and writing are my own. Life is worth it!
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