Place of interest in Antwerp
Antwerp is complete in typical Flemish fashion with a Grote Markt. Grote Markt is the central square of the city, where you can find beautiful architecture, large town hall complete with flags and fountains, and charming cafes and restaurants. Not far from there is the 13th century fortress Het Steen. You can walk through this fortress free of charge and submerge yourself into Antwerp’s medieval history. It is situated right along the River Schelde for a truly medieval experience. Hard to miss is the Cathedral of Our Lady situated in the center of Antwerp. This gorgeous gothic-style cathedral is the largest cathedral in the Low Countries. It began as a small parish in 1124, but started to be built upon in 1352 and completed in 152 to become what it is today. The cathedral is constantly added to depending on the time, so it not only has Gothic influence but also additions from renaissance, baroque, and so on. This cathedral is so large that you can see its top spire from almost anywhere in the city, making it a landmark building. Another place to visit is Rubenshuis, or Ruben’s House. This is the former house and studio of the famous Flemish artist Peter Paul Rubens. It is a gorgeous museum complete with not only his artwork, but of various items from his life. There is a beautiful garden and courtyard outside. In typical Belgium fashion, don’t skip out on getting a typical Belgian waffle, Belgian chocolate, or both combined! There are various waffle shops around the city where you can indulge in this Belgian delicacy. You can get delicious Belgian chocolates from Leonidas shops all around the city for a small price. If you’re looking to do some shopping, head over to the Meir Shopping Street. It has a great atmosphere, beautiful buildings, and unique statues, complete with plenty of places to shop.