Town Hall
The Antwerp City Hall on the main square of Grote Markt is exactly the place you absolutely should visit, as it is a vivid example of the Dutch Renaissance-one of the first buildings constructed according to the classical standards of the era, and simply an impressive sight in Antwerp. Built in the mid-16th century according to designs by the architect Cornelis Floris, the Antwerp City Hall building harmoniously combines elements of Italian Mannerism and Flemish architecture of Gothic town halls.
Cathedral of Our Lady of Antwerp
Antwerp has long, fervently and reverently revered the Virgin Mary; she was considered the city’s protector and patron. A statue of the Mother of God was kept in a small chapel at the heart of the city, where over 250 years the magnificent Cathedral of Our Lady of Antwerp was built, having been founded in 1352 by the architect Jan Amel, who never saw his masterpiece in all its splendor. Today, the cathedral is one of Antwerp’s main symbols and signature sights. The cathedral’s tower, standing 123 metres tall, is recognized as a masterpiece of Late Gothic architecture.
Sten Castle
The Castle of Steen is one of the oldest buildings in Antwerp. It was built in the 13th century to control the River Scheldt and was among the first stone structures in the surrounding area. Over time, a prison appeared within its walls, where zealous inquisitors brought everyone suspected of heresy. From there, the unfortunate were faced with torture, trial, and the stake. The sad chapter came to an end only in the 19th century, and by the end of that century a museum of archaeology opened in its walls. Today, its collection and the collection of the Museum of Navigation have been transferred to the holdings of the MAS center.
Antwerp Central Railway Station
For those who arrive in Antwerp by train, there’s no need to go far in search of sights, since the first of them is already waiting on the platform. This is Antwerp Central Railway Station (Antwerpen Centraal), which, according to the American magazine Newsweek, was named the fourth in the list of the world’s most beautiful stations in 2009. Not surprising, because locals even call this landmark the Gothic “railway cathedral.” Located on Astrid Square, not far from the “diamond district,” the modern Antwerp Central Railway Station itself can boast a diamond gallery with 30 jewellery boutiques.
Church of St. Charles Borromeo
In the city of Antwerp, between 1615 and 1621, the Jesuit order built a church with a unique Baroque-style façade. The construction plans were developed by the Jesuit brothers François Aguilonius und Frater Pieter Huysens, and its patron was named Saint Ignatius de Loyola, the founder of the Jesuit order. But after the Jesuit order was dissolved in 1773, the church in Antwerp gained a new patron, Saint Charles Borromeo, Bishop of Milan, and since 1803 it has been an independent parish church. The façade design and the vast majority of the interior were thoroughly worked on by the brilliant Peter Paul Rubens.
