Top 8 interesting places in Antwerp that you can’t miss. List of attractions in the historical center with photos and descriptions.
Antwerp is a port city in Belgium , a center of arts and crafts. Here everyone will find something special for themselves: masterpieces of architecture and art, fashionable items from all over the world, diamonds, and finally, an entire quarter of the city is famous for their magnificent cutting. There are also world-famous attractions that occupy the top positions on the must-see list of every self-respecting traveler. The list below provides a brief overview of the most interesting places in Antwerp.
Cathedral of Our Lady of Antwerp
Address: Groenplaats 21, Antwerp, Belgium
Dominating the cityscape, Notre Dame Cathedral is considered one of the finest Gothic buildings in all of Europe. Construction of this landmark of Antwerp began in 1352 and ended only two centuries later, in 1520. The church is called an outstanding example of Gothic architecture, and the interiors of the temple with 7 aisles and 125 load-bearing columns are as beautiful as the exterior of the building . Even more beautiful are the multi-colored stained glass windows decorating the cathedral vaults, rare icons and statues on the walls.
Rubens House Museum
Address: Wapper 9-11, Antwerp, Belgium
In the house and former studio of Peter Paul Rubens, a brilliant artist and adherent of the Baroque style, a museum is now open, which has become one of the top places in Antwerp. The mansion, built at the beginning of the 17th century, was bought by the city and completely restored back in 1937. Material for the exhibition was collected for several years, and today in the house with a checkered floor, a large semicircular gallery and a portico you can see 14 paintings by Rubens at once. In addition to the original works of the Antwerp artist, the collection is supplemented by paintings by his most talented contemporaries.
The living part of the house with furniture from the 17th century. designed in the Flemish style, and the artist’s workshop and office in the Italian Renaissance style. Both parts are connected by a Baroque arch, behind which there is a courtyard with a French garden.
Antwerp Market Square
Address: Grote Markt, Antwerp, Belgium
Of course, Market Square!
Every city in Belgium has its own Grote Markt (to put it simply, Market Square). As a rule, the historical reference point is located in the heart of the city – Antwerp was no exception. The local Grote Markt was built back in the 16th century and today boasts a whole exhibition of ancient buildings, the facades of which sparkle with restored gilding and surprise with rich stucco. The most enviable place in the square is occupied by the statue of the warrior Brabo, who, according to myth, defeated the giant that threatened Antwerp and its wealth.
Plantin-Moretus Museum
Address: Vrijdagmarkt 22-23, Antwerp, Belgium
This publishing house, which was one of the best industrial printing houses in the history of Belgium, was founded by Christophelle Plantin in 1555. The printing house was then run by the Moretus family for 300 years. Well, today there is one of the most interesting places in Antwerp: museum visitors will be able to see the world’s first printing press, as well as a whole collection of unusual objects related to early printing and printing art.
Antwerp Central Station
Address: Koningin Astridplein 27, Antwerp, Belgium
For those who arrived in the city by train, we recommend that you do not immediately leave the station building to get to the historical center. This way you might miss one of the most impressive places in the city! Antwerp Central Station, which is visited by thousands of tourists every month, is one of the five most beautiful train stations in the world. This is due to the magnificent baroque architecture of the building, thanks to which it was nicknamed the “railway cathedral”. The station was built between 1895 and 1905. based on a monumental landing stage. At the beginning of the 20th century, it was in decline and was even threatened with demolition, but nevertheless the authorities found a way to restore the building and make it part of the modern infrastructure of the city.
Today, Antwerp Station not only fulfills its functions, but is also connected by tunnels to Astrid and Diamant stations, from where underground trams depart. If you did not arrive in the city by rail, take the time to visit the station: the abundance of marble, various types of stone, decor, and statues turn it, if not into a museum, then at least into an opera house.
Antwerp Zoo
Address: Koningin Astridplein 20-26, Antwerp, Belgium
If you have enough time, it makes sense to go to the local zoo; it is very well located – a stone’s throw from the train station. Opened in 1843, Antwerp Zoo is one of the oldest in the world. This is a great place not only for observing animals, but also for relaxing: the territory of the menagerie stretches over 25 acres, the enclosures are spacious, the paths are wide, plus everything has been done to preserve the surrounding nature in its original form. Antwerp Zoo owns 600 species of mammals, reptiles, birds and fish. The most beloved inhabitants by visitors are koalas, white rhinoceroses, African buffalos, Ussuri tigers and Baringo giraffes. It’s rare to find such an exotic company!
St. Anne’s Tunnel
Address: Sint-Annatunnel, Antwerp, Belgium
Once outside the Old Town, we recommend taking a walk to the St. Anne Tunnel, which runs along the bottom of the Scheldt. In Antwerp, due to the fact that it is an active port, it was decided not to build a complex network of bridges to get from one side of the river to the other, but to dig a tunnel. The job is done: anyone can take the elevator down to a depth of 31 meters and then walk along the bottom of the Scheldt. At the exit you will be rewarded for taking a risky step: a panorama overlooking the Cathedral and the first Antwerp skyscraper – until 1952 it was the tallest in the world!
Monument to sailor Alekseev
Address: Kloosterstraat 143/147, Antwerp, Belgium
When almost all the sights of Antwerp have been explored and explored, don’t forget to take a photo with the monument to sailor Alekseev in the background. Don’t know this? No wonder: under this name, wanting to remain incognito, Peter I once arrived in the city. In Antwerp there is a law, surprising for our country, that prohibits the erection of monuments to political figures. The only exception was the monument to the Russian Emperor, erected in 1998.