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ANTWERP, BELGIUM – Set on the broad river Sheldt, at the gateway to the North Sea, Antwerp is one of the leading trading cities of Northern Europe. In the early 17th century it was one of the great cultural centers.
Location of Old Antwerp
Old Antwerp lies on the east bank of the river Scheldt. The river is so broad that the modern suburb on the west bank seems utterly remote – linked by tunnels. The Scheldt is deep enough to bring large ships to Antwerp’s docks to the north of the city. This easy access to the North Sea has made Antwerp Europe’s second largest port.
History of Antwerp
The city, that has had its share of suffering – battered by the religious wars of the 16th century, cut off from the North Sea by treaty with the Netherlands from 1648 to 1795, and bombed in World War II. These historical apps and downs have endowed the city with a keen edge, like its famous diamonds. Today’s chic pubs, restaurants, and nightclubs reflect this dynamic energy.
Places of interest in Antwerp
Grote Markt is the main square of Antwerp, one of the great gilded arenas of Belgium.
Grote Markt and the City center Fountain
The city authorities made a virtue of its unusual ‘dog-leg’ shape and slope by commissioning sculptor Jef Lambeaux to create an eye-catching fountain, placed off-center, with its water spilling out directly into the cobbles. It depicts Brabo, a legendary Roman soldier free the port of Antwerp defeating the giant Antigoon and throwing his severed hand into the river.
Town Hall
The Italian Influence Stadhuis (Town Hall) dominates the plaza, with its massive horizontals offset by the upward slope of the roof corners, which resembles a grin.
Gothic Architecture in Antwerp
The ‘Meat house’ – Vleeshuis, with its turrets, towers, and Gothic ornamentation, is one of Antwerp’s most magnificent and intriguing structures; it was formerly the gilded home of the butchers and a meat market, now as a music museum. From Street singers to concert hall, the Vleeshuis charts the history of the city through its many forms of musical expression using historical instruments including harpsichords made by the famous Ruckers family, manuscripts and a bell foundry.
The church of St. James in Antwerp is notable for having the richest interior and being Rubens’ final resting place. It was constructed in the late Gothic style between the 15th and 16th century by architects who also worked on the cathedral. The church contains work by leading sculptures of the 17th century, such as Lucas, Faydherbe, Artus and Hendrik Verbruggen, as well as paintings by Rubens, Jordaens and Van Dyck.
Antwerp Cathedral
Cathedral is the largest Gothic church in the Low Countries and one of the most beautiful. Its dainty wedding-cake spire, rising up from a medieval market square, is still a major landmark in the city. the cathedral took 170 years to build, and even then was not complete. It was the church of the wealthy guilds, richly adorned with their shrines, reliquaries and altar pieces.
The Cathedral dainty and unusual spire was built over about 100 years from the mid 1400s onward. As it rises to its pinnacle at 123 meters it shows incresingly daring Gothic style.
Tours in Antwerp
Visit of Lier
This pretty little town to the south-east of Antwerp has a handsomecollection of historic buildings clustered around the Grote Markt, but its most famous possesion is the Zimmerstoren, a 14th century wath-tower with the fascinating Centenary Clock on its facade.
Mechelen visit
Little town of Mechelen was a proud trading city in the Burgundian era, and center of power under Margaret of Austria (1507-30). Dominating the city is the vast bell-tower of the fine Gothic Sint- Romboutskathedral, originally intended to be twice as high.
Booking Hotel in Antwerp
Accommodation in Antwerp depends on the location and stars. The Hilton hotel is one of the most notable, with its location overlooking the Groenplaats in the heart of Antwerp. It is an unusual dome-roofed mansion designed as the Grand Bazar du Bon Marche, a 1920s department store. Part of it has now been transformed into a high-end, fashionable, and well-appointed Hilton Hotel. The majority of the apartments open out into a peaceful inner courtyard.
Groenplaats Scheldezicht Hotel, from it’s position overlooking a little square just to the south- west of the cathedral this friendly popular and well priced hotel has views over the river Scheldt. The hotel excudes old-world but unstaffy charm. Breakfast is served in an oak panelled room.
Great location – friendly staff – Excellent stay – Booking hotel in Antwerp by Trivago
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