Antwerp the city in Belgium is popular for its harbor and diamonds and is the second largest city of Belgium. More it has popularity for fashion exhibits there are ancient buildings constructed there and existed between period of 13th and 19th century. Some of the important landmarks of the city are described as following:
- Onze Lieve Vrouwe Cathedral: Also termed as the cathedral of Our Lady it is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Antwerp, Belgium. The construction of the cathedral began at 1352 and its first stage was completed by 1521 however cathedral was never been completed. This Gothic style cathedral was designed by Jan and Pieter Appelmans. The church contains a good number of buildings and architectural work from the Baroque painter Peter Paul Rubens, as well as paintings by artists such as Otto van Veen, Jacob de Backer and Marten de Vos. This cathedral is on the list of World Heritage Sites. At the present location of the cathedral there used to stand a small chapel of Our Lady from the 9th to the 12th century that acquired the status of Paris church in 1142. By reaching the 12th century it was replaced by a larger Romanesque church. In 1352, construction was begun on a new Our Lady’s church. The church became cathedral of the bishopric of Antwerp in 1559 but lost its title from 1801 to 1961, due to the Concordat of 1801. In 1794 the French revolutionaries who conquered the region plundered Our Lady’s Cathedral and inflicted serious damage. Yet in 1816, various important works of art were returned back from Paris, including three Rubens masterpieces. In 1965 and 1993, a complete restoration of the cathedral took place.
- St Pauluskerk: Saint Paul’s Church is a magnificent Baroque church having beautiful wood carvings, altars and paintings, consisting works by Rubens, Van Dyck and Jordaens. The first small church was constructed at the present site in 1276; however, the latest Baroque church was made in the 16th century. In 1968, a disastrous fire destroyed the whole complex the new roof was put over it only after 20 years later. It is considered as one of the best historical spots in Europe with sculptures and wood carving. There is also located a sculpture garden out side.
- Grote Markt: It is a beautiful market in Antwerp at the heart of the old city; it is surrounded all around by the Town Hall and otherwise referred houses of the Guilds or corporations. In the background to the marker one can have magnificent view of the Lady’s Cathedral. A large part of the Grote Markt was burnt down in 1576. And most of the structures there reconstructed by Hans Vredeman, the town architect, in Flemish Renaissance style. In the 19th century the houses were again renovated. The house number 7 is one of the most beautiful houses there. Presently Grote Markt is one of the most pleasant squares in the city. In warm summer days many a people prefer this place as a spot to enjoy a refreshing beer from its many terraces.
- Brabo on Grote Markt: In the center of ‘Grote Markt’ there is located Brabo fountain. There a statue is made by sculptor Jef Lambeaux in 1887. Without the Brabo fountain, the Grote Markt would not be complete. The water of the fountain is not caught in a basin, but just simply disappears under the stones of the monument where it enters in a closed water circuit.
- Cogels Osylei: It is an area of the south east Antwerp developed during the mid period of 1894 and 1906 and is shows up a high concentration of townhouses on Art Nouveau and other in fin-de-siecle style. It is unique and extraordinary in Antwerp in a manner that it is only a few areas in the city developed with an urbanistic plan in the late 19th century. There houses are made in cottage style catching in similarity with British Tudorbethan architecture. These Art Nouveau houses as expanded as neoclassical mansions and other eclectic architectural styles can be found throughout Zurenborg, that is geographically is divided between Antwerp and the district of Berchem.
- Botanical Garden: The Antwerp Botanic Garden is a spot full of greenery at the busy center of Antwerp. There in the Garden one can have to view a good number of substantial numbers of exceptional trees and shrubs. The herbal collection at the Botanical garden includes about 2,000 species of plants and herbs. Even there at the greenhouse there is a good collection of tropical and subtropical species. The garden has a historical background of around 200 years during its initial years it was a medical garden of the closing Saint Elisabeth hospital. Around 125 years ago, important botanical and scientific research used to be done here. Since 1926, the garden is under the supervision of city council. In 1950, the garden was classified under a category of a landscape of great value.
- Antwerp Zoo: Antwerp Zoo is located at the center of Antwerp, situated next to the Antwerpen-Central railway station. It is the oldest animal park in the country, founded on 21 July 1843. Along with its sister park Planckendael, Antwerp Zoo it houses over 6,000 animals of about 950 species. Both zoo combining receives around 1.5 million visitors each year and have too 38,000 supporting members. The most common and visited animals in the Zoo are: Vriesland: King Penguin, Rockhoppers and Gentoo Penguins, Sea Lion Theatre with Californian Sealions, recently renovated reptile house with may species of snakes, lizards, turtles & frogs as well as caimans, aquarium with many species of salt- en freshwater fish, Nocturama with aardvark, tamandua, two-toed sloth, night monkey, armadillo, plains viscacha, Gambian pouched rat senegal galago, slender loris, Lesser Mouse-deer, rakali and Egyptian fruit bat, Zebras and African buffalos and others.
- City Park: There many parks are situated around the city center. And the largest park among all others is the 14 hectare (35 acres) city park or stadspark. It is situated by the Jewish neighborhood not far away from the central station. The feature of the parks includes a white painted pedestrian bridge made over the pond. The iron bridge is integrated into artificial rock masses on the each side of the park. It is among a few elevated areas it the city. Despite being situated within the noise of city, the park is a favorite spot for joggers, walkers, elderly persons and others.
Other places of attraction in Antwerp are Groenplaats, KBC tower and St Jacobesk.