According to ezinesports, the cultural Antwerp, the economically liveliest and most attractive metropolis in Flanders is undisputed. Particularly, the gigantic port is important for the development of the current cityscape and of great importance for Antwerp. In the past it made possible an intensive maritime trade and Antwerp a great wealth.
A lively cultural scene pulsates in the Belgian metropolis and over time the city has developed into a center of European fashion design. Every year resident designers lure the international fashion world to Antwerp. But that’s not the only reason why this city is so interesting, no, it also has many sights that tell of Antwerp’s past. The Jewish fourth l is a special piece of contemporary witness. The largest Jewish community in Europe lives here. Most of them migrated from Spain and Portugal
moved to Antwerp in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. They participated in the diamond trade with great success and so the city became the most important trading point for these gemstones in the whole world. Probably the largest “diamond mile” in the world is the “Pelikanstraat” in the Jewish quarter.
Antwerp’s most spectacular shopping street is the Meir. It connects the main train station with the “Grote Markt”. During a relaxed stroll you can visit the overwhelming houses from the early days. There are wonderful shops, spacious department stores and cozy cafes in the houses.
The “Grote Markt” is the heart of Antwerp’s old town and enchants every visitor with its magnificent guild houses. The facade of the town hall, built in 1564, runs over the entire west side of the “Groten Markt” with a total of 67 meters.
The sacred buildings of Antwerp are also beautiful and have a lot of interesting things to offer. The Gothic cathedral “Vrouvekathedrale” (Cathedral of Our Lady) on the Groten Markt, built between 1352 and 1521, is a landmark of Antwerp with its 123 meter high tower. Inside the tower is the overwhelming “tryptic” and monumental art – “The Krakaufrichtung” by Paul Rubens. And on the platform of the tower you have a breathtaking panoramic view of Antwerp’s old town.
One of the sacred buildings that should definitely be mentioned is the St. Augustineus Church – St. Augustine Church from the seventeenth century, which houses works by Peter Paul Rubens, Anthonis van Dyck and Jakob Jordanens.
A very impressive church is the baroque St. Carolus Bonomeus-Kerk or Karl Borromäus-Kirche, built in 1621. A fire in 1718 destroyed large parts of the site and its magnificent furnishings. 38 ceiling paintings by Peter Paul Rubens fell victim to the fire. The only thing that was spared from the fire was the Liebfrauenkapelle, which still shines today in its marble, baroque splendor.
Stehen Castle was built between 1200 and 1225. At the time of the eighteenth century there was a courtyard in the castle and at the moment there is the National Maritime Museum.
The rather inconspicuous park has a lot of charm and is known under the name Beguineage. There is a tiny church there as well as a small pond. The winding park ensures a relaxing and calm atmosphere. The Nachtegalenpark, which includes Vogelenzang Park, Middelheim Park and Brand Park, is located in the south of Antwerp and enchants its visitors with its open-air sculpture collection.
In 1843 the zoological garden was founded in Antwerp, making it the oldest zoo in Belgium. You can still find Art Nouveau buildings on the site that are reminiscent of times gone by. Some of the most impressive buildings are the reptile house, the okapi house and the Egyptian temple of the elephants from 1885. There are more than five thousand animals from around 950 species in this zoo. As a tourist you can spend some enchanting evenings with a wide variety of cultural offers.
De Sinyd is the arts and culture center of recruiting, where Belgian and international dance and theater productions are staged on a regular basis. For those who prefer to spend their evening watching a classical ballet, a visit to the Royal Ballet of Flanders is highly recommended.
