You had better take a good...
by Ronald_T
You had better take a good look at this picture of the Central Train Station because it may take years before you will have the opportunity to admire this magnificent building in all its splendour. The façades have been in scaffolding for two years now and will be for the next to come. However, what is worse, due to distasteful restoration the Main Hall been ruined and its beautiful dome hidden from view by a false ceiling. On the other hand, the glorious original Cafeteria has been untouched so far and is there for you to enjoy.
For more pictures and info, look into my Central Station travelogue please…
ARCHITECTURE
by Helga67
The old town of Antwerp is full of beautiful houses, erected in Flemish style. Just stroll along the streets around the 'Grote Markt' (Market Square) and 'Groenplaats' and enjoy the views and make lots of pics.
STATUE OF BRABO
by LoriPori
The Saga behind the STATUE OF BRABO goes something like this:
The Schelde River was dominated by the Giant -- Dryoon Antigoon -- who charged a heavy toll on all passing ships. Those who refused to pay, paid an even higher price -- their hand was cut off. Along comes a Roman Soldier -- Silvius Brabo -- who killed the Giant, cut off his huge hand and tossed it into the Schelde River. Thus according to this legend, the basics for the name of the city *** Hand -- Werpen ( werpen - to throw ) .
The Statue of Brabo, by sculptor Jeff Lambeaux in 1887, can be seen in the Grote Markt in front of the Stadhuis.
Lange Wapper
by tompt
In front of the Steen, the castle-like building along the banks of the Schelde, you will find a statue of Lange Wapper. Two drunk citizens are staring up at him.
Lange Wapper is a legend, probably orginated from the large wooden cranes that were used to transport water from the river to the many breweries in the city. These cranes with long moveable arms in the often foggy weather got imagination going.....
Wapper.
The Wapper looks like...
by irisbe
Wapper.
The Wapper looks like a little square at your right on the Meir when you keep the Central Station in your back.
It is in this street that you can find the Rubens Museum and it connects the Meir with the Theatre and Fashion district. Rather not so fondest memory:
Not all times this Wapper looked like a square.
Until the 60ties, it consisted out of two narrow streets with houses on the spot of the fountain.
But some very honestly project developers thought that if they demolish those old houses they could make an EXIT!!!! of the HIGHWAY!!!! directly coming into the CENTER!!! of the city!
I think a lot of profit must have been sticking on this project to tear down historical buildings and get a excit of a highway in almost the middle of this historical centre!!!
Lucky there were still people with brains and a little contra political power that could convince the responsables that if you have an excite... it means the cars need to be going SOMEWHERE!!???
So where were they supposed to go?
They would have been obliged to tear down more historical beautiful houses in order to make a road to let the cars drive further into the city.
Oef!!! Someone listened!!!
So no highway excit (people who have been on the highway around Antwerp will know how crazy this idea must have been!!! the idea of a lunatic!) but the houses at the Wapper were gone, so they just made the place look a little nicer and added a fountain.
Some other *** however decided to build a very VERRRY UGGLY tourist information desk just in front of the beautiful house of Rubens.
Now you can forget to put it nicely on a picture.
The UGGLY AQUARIUM is blocking the nice view!!!
Do people that come up with these kind of infrastructure ever get carried away in a long with coat with their arms tied up ??? in a little white van with a bleu flickering light on it?
Or worse... Do these people actually get PAID??? for those architectural monsters?
Every time I look at it I feel that the good taste of esthetics is raped again :-((
Pls Antwerp, hasn't it been enough???
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As modern as anywhere in Europe
Groenplaats
2pac Graffiti in Antwerp
Boerentoren Skyscraper
