The history of the book printing industry comes to life in the house and studio of the Plantin-Moretus printing family.
It took 169 years (1352-1521) of labour to raise the 123m heavenward-reaching steeple of the Cathedral, the highest Gothic building in the Low Countries. The Cathedral is an iconic treasury, with an impressive c
ollection of major art works, including a series of paintings by Rubens. Now, after twenty years, the seven-naved church has been restored to its former architectural glory. Fascinating features include Rubens’ ‘Elevation of the Cross’ and his ‘Descent from the Cross’. Any visit to Antwerp starts with a visit of the Cathedral of Our Lady.
Near the river Scheldt you find Saint Paul’s Church, the former Dominican church, which was completed in 1639. The church has some splendid Baroque altars, more than 200 statues and 50 paintings. Ma
sterpieces by artists such as Jordaens, Rubens, Van Balen and Van Dyck emphasise the church’s unique appeal. The Calvary garden looks like a set from an epic film about Christ’s suffering and resurrection.
The Antwerp Central Station, also known as Middenstatie (Middle station) or Spoorwegkathedraal (Railroad Cathedral), was first used in 1905. The structure is made up from a steel platform covering
and a stone station building in an eclectic style. Recently, the station was completely renovated and in 2007 a tunnel underneath the station and a part of Antwerp was opened, reverting the station’s status as a terminus where are all trains have to turn back. In 2009, the American magazine Newsweek chose the Antwerp Central Station as the fourth most beautiful train station in the world.
Step inside the home of the greatest Baroque artist north of the Alps.