Saint Charles Borromeo Church — Attraction in Antwerp

I hunger for utopia whenever it feels like I'm carrying the weight of the world on my shoulders. Although it may be out of reach, I will share the second best location where you can find peace of mind, which is located in front of this magnificent church.

Often I seek refuge amid the buildings located on the Henri Conscience square. There I will claim a quiet spot among my fellow carbon replicas and feel at ease. The square is named after the author who taught his male and female comrades to read. Thank you, Henri! The statue overseeing this secluded area is the spitting image of this Belgian literary genius. The 'Nottebohm library,' adjoining the 'Carolus Borromeus church,' actually harbours some of his writings.

The structures on this square are fascinating. They serve as an architectural blueprint for my personal utopia. The genuine Italian feel of this spot, which may be the reason why I fell in love with it, and its authenticity has been confirmed by unpretentious Italian tourists of the non-imaginary kind.

The terraces of the venues located here are first-class. Enjoy an ambrosial glass of wine and observe the people walking by. Sit down and drink the fermented grapes as Henri keeps an eye on your 'six.' Confine yourself to the present, and doze off as skillful musicians manipulate their violins and acoustic guitars.

Be part of the cure for paunchiness. Go out for a stroll through Antwerp and suffocate the couch potato in you. Fall in love with Antwerp's little...

The Church of Saint Charles Borromeus (Sint-Carolus Borromeuskerk) is an attractive Baroque style church in Antwerp that is worth a quick visit if you enjoy visiting historic churches. Opening hours are 10-12.30pm and 2-5pm (Monday-Saturday) and entry is free.

Originally built in the early 17th century by the Jesuits, the church was designed in the manner of Chiesa del Gesù in Rome, providing a delightful facade and entrance to the church. There is also a small square and fountain in front that are worth having a look.

Inside, you'll find a more subtle Southern Netherlandish Baroque style compared to the more ornate and decadent interior of Italian churches like Gesù. The altar is quite attractive and worth viewing. Apparently, they still rotate the altarpiece so you may see a different masterpiece depending on when you visit. There is a lovely carved wooden pulpit on the right side of the nave that is worth a look as well.

Sadly, St. Charles has a somewhat turbulent history, including the loss of its 39 ceiling paintings by local Master, Pieter Paul Ruebens, to fire that occurred in 1718. Today, the ceiling is bare but one can imagine what it might have been like had the Ruebens works survived.

In the end, this is a nice Baroque style church in Antwerp with an interesting (if not sad) history. Sint-Carolus Borromeuskerk is only a few minutes walk from Grote Markt, meaning you can conveniently include a stop here during sightseeing of attractions in the city...

The Saint Charles Borromeo church (“Sint-Carolus Borromeuskerk”) is an absolutely stunning baroque style church that is worth a visit. It is located in small quaint square, “Hendrik Conscienceplein”, very near the heart of the city. Opening hours are 10-12.30pm and 2-5pm (Monday-Saturday) and entry is free.

In the 17th century words lacked to describe this church, which seems to be on an Italian piazza. It was built for and by the Jesuits  from 1615 till 1621, in the middle of the Counter Reformation period.

Peter Paul Rubens played an important role as a painter, decorator and architect. His influence is visible in the tower, façade, high altar and the vault stucco in Our Lady’s Chapel (also called Houtappel Chapel). It is THE baroque church of the “17th century Netherlands” (not to confuse with today’s Netherlands!). A unique feature of this church is the original, functioning mechanism above the main altar used to switch paintings: an impressive spectacle.

Sadly, St. Charles has a somewhat turbulent history, including the loss of its 39 ceiling paintings by Rubens, to fire that occurred in 1718. Today the ceiling is bare but one can imagine what it might have been like had the Rubens works survived. The main altar's apse, Mary's chapel, the many sculptures and the elaborate wooden carvings still bear testimony to the church's...