Hotels in Antwerp
What to see by foot: Antwerp
 
Antwerp is the second-largest city in Belgium and the largest in Flanders. Its
streets are ideal for strolling around and you need time to take in all the architectural
nuances of its most impressive buildings. Immerse yourself in Antwerp's rich history
with a look around the Grote Markt and Groenplaats, and a stroll down the fashionable
shopping street (the Meir), to the house of Peter Paul Rubens, the city's most
famous son.
The Grote Markt, or Town Square, is bordered by houses of the town's guilds
or corporations, though the most pre-eminent structure is the Town Hall, which
was built in 1564 and is one of the oldest Renaissance buildings in the Low
Countries. In the centre of the square is the Brabo Fountain, sculpted by Jef
Lambeaux in 1887. Silvius Brabo was a heroic Roman who killed a giant that had
been terrorizing the local population.
The Groenplaats (Green Square), just a short walk from the Grote Markt, may
not be as picturesque, but is certainly more popular among visitors, who settle
into one of the many restaurants and cafés that surround it. In the centre
of the square is a statue of Rubens that was sculpted by Geefs in 1843. There
are also several lovely Renaissance buildings around the square; particularly
notable is the façade of the Karbonkelhuis.
From Groenplaats, wander south along the Meir, Antwerp's most famous shopping
street. The street is now closed to traffic, so you can enjoy window shopping
without the noise and fumes of vehicles to disturb you. Though you might be
distracted by designer accessories, keep an eye open for some well-maintained
historic buildings (at numbers 85 and 50), which are executed in ornately decorative
Rococo style.
In the middle of the Meir, look out for a side-street called Wapper. On this
street is the former home of Antwerp's best-known painter, Rubens. He lived
here from 1616 until his death in 1640, and created most of his best-known work
here. The building is a modern re-construction intended to show how it perhaps
looked in Rubens' day, and it now functions as a museum where you can see paintings
by Rubens and his contemporaries.
Selection of hotels in this region:
Agora Hotel | | Atlanta Hotel | | Ambassador Flat Hotel | | Residence Hotel | | Astrid Park Plaza | | Crowne Plaza Antwerp | | Radisson SAS Park Lane Hotel Antwerp | | Tourist Hotel | |
Click below for a
full list of hotels and online booking
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