Antwerpen Hostels

The Cathedral of Our Lady. The spectacular tower of the Cathedral of Our Lady, the highest cathedral tower in Benelux, is seen from far away. It's 123 meters tall and it's located in the very historical centre of the city. The first stone of this gothic cathedral was laid in the 14th century and only when two centuries passed the work was finished. The cathedral was built on the place of a Romanesque church. Only when in the 80s archeological dig was carried out, the specialists got an idea, how the previous church looked like. Unfortunately, almost nothing is left from the former interior. In the 16th century at the time of Iconoclastizm, the Calvinists destroyed windows, pictures, relics, burial-vaults and dozens of altars. From the original decoration remained only some frescos and the image of Madonna, which was made from marble of the 15th century. The interior of the cathedral was recreated from the very beginning, and it makes the cathedral so special: in the cathedral decoration absolutely different styles are used: gothic, baroque, rococo, Renascence and neo-gothic. In the cathedral 4 paintings of a world-famous artist Peter Paul Rubens are kept (2 diptychs: 'The Descent from the Cross' of 1612 and 'The erection of the Cross' of 1609-1610), 'Ascension of Virgin' of 1626 and 'Resurrection of Christ' of 1612. The stained-glass windows, which concern biblical plots, look as fabulous, as the altars. At the main altar one can see 'The Death of Virgin' by Abraham Mattissense.

The House of Rubens. It goes without saying that the most famous citizen of Antwerp is Pitter Paul Rubens. In Antwerp there are a lot of places that remind about this son of the city. There is a monument in his favor at Grundplats. His paintings can be found in numerous cathedrals and museums. The House of Rubens, in which the painter worked and lived, is still full of aura of Antwerp baroque. With the help of the furniture, pieces of art and works from the early collection, real atmosphere of Rubens' times is created. Also a great collection of paintings not only by Rubens, but also by Van Dyck and Matsys can be found in the perfectly restored House of Rockoxhuis.
Read more: guide to Antwerpen with maps, photos and weather conditions.

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