Belgium Information
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 Posted: Thu Oct 19, 2006 7:21 am Post subject: BELGIUM TOURISM GUIDE (ANTWERP)/ TOURISM IN BELGIUM |
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BELGIUM TOURISM GUIDE (ANTWERP)
GENERAL
Antwerp, daughter of the River Scheldt and second largest city of Belgium.. The 500.000 inhabitants call it the 'Metropolis' (Antwerpians are known in Belgium for not being too modest). This city has so many different facets that it takes a while before one gets to know it thoroughly.
It is the second largest harbour of Europe (after Rotterdam). Moreover, Antwerp is a splendid city with numerous architectural highlights, most of which date from the 16th (the golden era of Antwerp) and the 17th century. The destructions of the Second World War, unfortunately, has scarred somehow the fair face of the old town. Still there are enough monuments left for those who like monument-hopping to spend a few days admiring them. The past is also represented by the numerous paintings of Peter Paul Rubens who lived in the Antwerp of the early 17th century.
Antwerp, the diamond centre of the World. If diamonds really are a girl's best friend, than a lot of ladies will not leave out a visit to the diamond district around the Railway Station. This area is also the Jewish part of the city. The presence of many 'Chassidic' Jewish people gives the city a flair that cannot be found in other Belgian cities.
Antwerp, however, does not only live from the past. Nowadays, Antwerp has earned a place among the fashion cities of the world thanks to the efforts of numerous young Flemish fashion designers ( e.g.: Walter Van Beirendonck, Nadine Wynants, Ann De Meulemeester, Dirk Bikkembergs, Kaat Tilley and others). Visit the fashion area of Antwerp near the Meir shopping street.
TOURIST ATTRACTIONS
THE GROTE MARKT
Not as big as the 'Grand'Place' of Brussels, but certainly as beautiful is the 'Grote Markt' (= Town Square) of Antwerp. Here is still the heart of the old city. The Grote Markt is beautifully surrounded by the Town Hall and the so-called houses of the Guilds or corporations. In the background the tower of Our Lady's Cathedral completes the magnificent view.
THE TOWN HALL
The eye-catcher of the 'Grote Markt' (town square) is, of course, the Town Hall of Antwerp. It is one of the oldest Renaissance buildings in the Low Countries. It was finished in 1564 by architect Cornelis Floris de Vriendt.
THE 'STEEN'
'Steen' is the Dutch word for 'stone'. In Antwerp the 'Steen' is the name of the little castle that can be seen at the entrance of the city centre, on the border of the river Scheldt. The castle is called that way because it was one of the earliest buildings in Antwerp constructed with stones (at a time when most houses were still built with wood). The name 'Steen' can be found in other cities too. It always refers to a castle-like fortification (e.g.: the castle of the counts of Flanders in the city of Gent is also called 'Graven-steen', or (stone) Castle of the Counts).
MEAT HALL
Somewhat hidden between a renovated (and ugly) residential quarter and the houses alongside the quays of Antwerp, stands the old Meat Hall (or Butcher's hall, or 'Vleeshuis' in Dutch).
GROENPLAATS
The town square 'Grote Markt' is the most beautiful square of the city of Antwerp as well as the historical heart of it. The most popular square, however, is certainly the 'Groenplaats' (= Green Square). The square used to be a parking lot. But recently, the parking has been built underground, and the Groenplaats is rapidly finding back its charm of old.
THE 'MEIR'
The 'Meir' is the name of the most famous shopping street of Antwerp. The large avenue is now free of traffic and invites thousands of people every day to a pleasant shopping stroll in a beautiful historic surrounding. Roughly spoken, the shopping district of the Meir stretches from Our Lady's Cathedral to Central Station.
The street boasts numerous beautiful historic buildings. One of the most important is the 'Osterrieth'-house at number 85. This house was built between 1745-1746 by architect Van Baurscheit in Rococo-style. The middle section has almost literally been carved out with a chisel and is decorated with a monumental fronton. It is now the seat of the Paribas Belgium bank and houses a remarkable collection of Belgian paintings.
HOUSE OF RUBENS
In a side-street (named 'Wapper') of the Meir avenue stands the former house of Peter Paul Rubens, the greatest and most famous of all the Antwerp painters. Rubens bought an existing 16th century house here, after he had returned from his stay in Italy (1600-1608). He lived in the house from 1616 onwards and died here in 1640.
CENTRAL STATION
One of the grandest buildings in Antwerp is the 'Central Station'. It welcomes visitors who arrive by train in Antwerp like a modern day cathedral. The part of the station where the platforms are is covered by an immense metal and glass dome (typical for turn-of-the-century railway stations in Europe), designed by architect Van Bogaert. The station building itself was designed between 1895 and 1905 by architect Delacenserie. Here ends the oldest railway line in Belgium (between Brussels and Antwerp over the city of Mechelen).
ZURENBORG DISTRICTt (a.k.a The Cogels-Osy Lei)
Zurenborg is the name of a district, consisting of a few streets in the Antwerp suburb of Berchem. The district is situated near the railway station of Berchem. What you can see here is absolutely unique in Belgium, or perhaps in Europe. An incredible mixture of architectural styles unfolds itself before the eyes of the visitor. Nowhere else can such a panoply of neo-styles be admired (or ridiculed, according to some). The district is not really very large, so the best way to visit it is by taking a stroll through the different streets. In Belgium the district is also sometimes referred to as the 'COGELS-OSY lei.', which is the name of its main street.
OUR LADY'S CATHEDRAL
The chapel which stood here in the twelfth century was replaced twice until it became a huge church. It was around that parish church that building work on the present Cathedral started in about 1352. The last vestiges of the original church were demolished in 1481.
ST PAUL'S CHURCH
St. Paul’s Church was originally part of a vast Dominican cloister. It was consecrated in 1571 as a replacement for a previous house of worship. But disaster struck here as well and on several occasions. After the fire of 1679, a new baroque tower was built. The paintings were plundered in the French period but returned in 1815. Great damage was also done during the Belgian Revolution (1830) and by a fire in 1968. On that occasion, those living round about risked their lives to save the works of art from the fire.
CAROLUS BORROMEUS CHURCH
This typical baroque church was built by the Jesuits between 1615 and 1621 to a design drawn up by their rector Francois Aguillon and Brother Peter Huyssens. Rubens played an important part in the decoration of the facade and the pinnacle of the tower but especially of the interior. However, thirty-nine ceiling paintings, the work of his studio, were lost in a fire in 1718. Most of the original marble was also destroyed.
ST JAMES' CHURCH
In Dutch, this church is known under the name "Sint Jacobskerk". It is the tomb of the Prince of Painting, Peter Paul Rubens, that attracts most visitors to this church. But there is much more besides, for St. James’ Church is sumptuously decorated. The parish could certainly afford such opulence when the church was built (1491-1656) and the area inhabited by the upper middle classes, merchants and members of the aristocrary.
THE MUSEUM OF FLEMISH CULTURE
The museum part of the Archives and Museum of Flemish Cultural Life provides an overview of two hundred years of cultural life in Flanders : sculptures, paintings, photographs, documents of historical interest, outstanding publications and some reconstructions of ‘litarary interiors’ are permanetly on display.
BREWERS MUSEUM
The Brewers’ Building (1535-1554) used to supply the surrounding breweries with drinking water by means of an ingenious distribution mechanism, which has remained largely intact. The plant consists of a horse mill which set a machine in motion that ladled up water and emptied it into containers on the upper floor. From there it was distributed to the breweries by means of pipes.
MUHKA MUSEUM
MUHKA’s full name is Museum van Hedendaagse Kunst Antwerpen, or Museum of Contemporary Art Antwerp. It has been housed in a converted grain silo and adjoining warehouse since 1987. This renovation and change of use is very much in keeping with the attention that is now being paid to the fascinating urban planning of the ‘Zuid’ or South area of the city.
THE MAYER VAN DEN BERGH MUSEUM
Here we see the private collection belonging to art collector Fritz Mayer Van den Bergh (1858-1901). The museum was built in sixteenth-century style after his death. It comprises mainly work from the fourteenth, fifteenth an sixteenth centuries : paintings, sculptures, illuminated manuscripts, stained glass, silverware and earthenware, coins, tapestries and furniture : a world-famous art collection preserved in its entirety.
The real showpiece is ‘Dulle Griet’ or Mad Peg, by Pieter Bruegel the Elder. But there is also work on show by Quinten Matsijs, Jan Mostaert, Joos van Cleve, Jan Bruegel I, Pieter Aertsen, Pieter Huys, Cornelis de Vos, etc.
THE HARBOUR & PORT OF ANTWERP
'The Scheldt river owes its existence to God, and Antwerp owes its existence to the Scheldt river' is a popular saying that shows how important the river Scheldt is for the city of Antwerp. Thanks to this waterway Antwerp has become the second-largest harbour in Europe (after Rotterdam), and the fourth largest harbour in the world. |
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