Antwerpen, part 1
“One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things ”
Love at first sight, that's what happened to me the moment I arrived in Antwerp. Throughout my life (practically since birth), I've traveled a lot and seen many beautiful cities, cities that truly amaze, but only two (and perhaps not the most well-known ones) ever captured my heart at first sight. However, today is not about them.
When I started writing for my blog, I didn't plan to write about cities, but Antwerp inspired me so much that I decided to break that rule (my blog, my rules :)). After all, we can consider a city as a living organism, as a personality that changes over time, shaped by its past, present, and even a bit of the future. Every city has its own character and face.
I won't attempt to accurately describe Antwerp's personal traits right now, as we remember this is love at first sight, and when it happens, and you only have 2.5 days, you don't have time to delve into all the details, nor do you want to. You simply wander through the streets and enjoy their architecture, atmosphere, stories, and realize that you'll return here again and again.
Antwerp is a cosmopolitan city, and in that, we are completely alike. Here, numerous ethnic groups peacefully coexist side by side. It's a city where its incredibly rich history and continuous modern development are reflected on its face. It's the city of Rubens, Van Dyck (the list of artists could go on endlessly), the legendary "Antwerp Six" (plus Martin Margiela). It's the city of diamonds and exquisite jewelers. A city with outstanding Michelin-starred restaurants and pleasant cafes... One could talk about this city endlessly, but right now, I want to share with you the moments I gathered during those 2.5 days there. So, let's go :)
. Antwerpen-Centraal railway station
If you didn't arrive in Antwerp by train, still make sure to visit the railway station. It is one of the top four most beautiful railway stations in the world and truly impressive!
The Station was originally built between 1895 and 1905, and at the moment it serves as a major transportation hub.The station building features a blend of various architectural styles, including a combination of neo-gothic and eclectic designs. Looks really stunning!
. City Fragments
"Endless delight - without exaggeration, it is the most fitting epithet to describe my feelings throughout the entire visit to the museum. Even now, as I sit at my desk writing this text, those positive emotions return to me again and again.
The museum was under reconstruction for a long time (from 2011 to 2022), and if it was already on the wish list of many art lovers before, now, after such a grand reconstruction, it is an absolute must-visit place.
For me, it was a long-awaited and exciting visit, as in this museum, along with the magnificent collection of works by my beloved Ensor, incredible paintings by Rubens, and many other masterpieces of world art, there is my most favorite painting - Madonna by Jean Fouquet. I won't write the story of this painting and my distant acquaintance with it now (a little spoiler - I was 12 years old :)) because I want to make a separate post about this work.
In conclusion, if you have the opportunity and even a slight love for art, be sure to visit this museum - the halls are excellently organized, the works are arranged in thematic sections ("love," "light," "hate"), where sometimes the theme is conveyed through metaphors. The light that literally makes the paintings come to life, and you cannot take your eyes off them. The inclusion of contemporary art among the works of old masters, digital art... and 4-5 hours fly by unnoticed."
In the museum building, there is a restaurant, grand café & bar called Madonna, and before starting our immersion into the world of art, we stopped by the café to have coffee and dessert. The interior made a very pleasant impression on me - high ceilings (which is always a big plus for me), subdued tones in the café, softly glowing bar area and restaurant, bright with a great color combination... all of which I would describe as stylish contemporary classic.
And if you want to visit the restaurant separately from the museum, so to speak, to separate the culinary experience from the cultural one, it's not a problem; there is a separate entrance from the street and a spacious outdoor terrace.
