Onze Lieve Vrouw Kathedraal (Cathedral of our Lady)
(text taken from Antwerp brochure)
The largest gothic church of the Low Countries (1352-1521) has more to offer than an exceptionally elegant towering dimension of 123 meters. First there is the gothic, wide, three-dimensional effect with a playful incidence of light that ushers you into another dimension. The four masterpieces by Rubens, including the famous Jesus' Descent from the Cross, remain the main attraction. The pulpit and some sinister gravestones are also baroque. Many altars, stained glass windows and other church furniture in neo-gothic style bear witness to the ecclesiastical body of ideas in the 19th century.
St. Carolus Borromeus Church (St. Charles Borromeo's Church)
(text taken from Antwerp brochure)
This school example of baroque church construction (1614-1621) is owed to the Order of Jesuits. The richly sculpted facade reflects the self-awareness and joy of the Counter Reformation. Despite the loss of more than 40 paintings by Rubens due to fire and confiscation, this church has been able to retain a typically rich baroque interior. The pulpit and thepanel work were made by J.P. Van Baurscheit (1703). Thanks to a hoisting mechanism the high altar can still show a variety of painted visual materials. The Maria chapel, for which Rubens designed the ceiling, is especially rich in marble and has whimsical screens.
This typical baroque church was built by the Jesuits between 1615 and 1621 to a design drawn up by their rector Francois Aguillon and Brother Peter Huyssens. Rubens played an important part in the decoration of the facade and more ...
Hendrik Conscienceplein 6 - 2000 Antwerp
sint-caroluskerk@topa.be
www.topa.be
Admission : Free visits to the church.
Opening hours :
Monday to Saturday: 10a.m. to 12.30p.m. and 2p.m. to 5p.m.
Sundays and bank holidays only open for worship.
Sint Paulus Kerk (St. Paul's Church)
(text taken from Antwerp brochure)
This church, in gothic style, is truly a great shrine of the baroque art of painting and sculpture. A grandiose interior is formed by the main and side altars, choir stalls, the panel work with its 11 confessionals, and the organ. The Dominican fathers obviously liked to call on the most deserving artists: including Rubens, Van Dyck, Jordaens, C. De Vos and many others as painters. The Calvary garden next to the church is especially pretty, a genuine open-air theatre for the suffering, death and resurrection of Christ (beginning of the 18th century).
St. Paul's Church was originally part of a vast Dominican cloister. It was consecrated in 1571 as a replacement for a previous house of worship. But disaster struck here as well and on several occasions. After the fire of 1679 more ...
St. Paulusstraat 22, 2000 Antwerp
(main entrance Veemarkt 14)
sint-pauluskerk@topa.be
www.topa.be
Admission : by donation.
Opening hours : From Easter Saturday to 30 September: 2 p.m - 5 p.m.
(Closed during services)
From Easter until September: guided tours every Sunday and bank holidays at 3 p.m.
Sint Jacobs Kerk (St. Jacob's Church)
(text taken from Antwerp brochure)
A hospital once stood here for pilgrims to Santiago de Compostella. Now the sturdy, unfinished steeple embodies the independence of this parish. The baroque interior is surprisingly intact and extraordinarily furnished. The father of Amadeus Mozart praised the church for its countless marbles. These are found at the more than 20 altars, the heavily moulded choir rood loft, communion rails and gravestones, and at the partition of the chapel spaces. No wonder Pope Clement XI titled the church 'celebrated'. An extra attention-getter is the burial chapel of Rubens.
It is the tomb of the prince of painting, Peter Paul Rubens, that attracts most visitors to this church. But there is much more besides, for St. Jacob's Church is more ...
Lange Nieuwstraat 73-75,
2000 Antwerp
sint-jacobskerk@topa.be
www.topa.be
Admission: 2 Euro per person. Children and seniors: 1,5 Euro
Opening hours: 1 April to 31 October every day from 2p.m. - 5p.m.
1 November to 31 March: 9a.m. - 12p.m.
Closed on Sundays, religious holidays and during services.
