The late medieval Grote Markt or main town square is one of the best in Belgium. Dominating one side is the town hall (stadhuis), a fine example of Renaissance architecture. The other main feature of the square is a water feature with a sculpture of the city’s symbolic hero, Brabo. This legendary figure reputedly saved Antwerp from the grasp of an evil giant who wouldn’t let travellers cross the river into the city without either paying a fee or losing a hand. As a fitting gesture to mark his victory, Brabo chopped off the hand of the villainous beast and hurled it into the water.

Antwerp also boasts an impressive cathedral, the Onze Lieve Vrouwekathedraal. It’s a late medieval masterpiece with incredibly ornate stonework and it houses an impressive collection of works of art such as Rubens’ The Raising of the Cross and The Resurrection.

Behind the square in the other direction, guarding the riverside, is Antwerp’s Castle. It’s referred to locally as ‘The Stone’ because at the time it was built, it was unusual for buildings to be built in stone – wood was the material of choice until later in the medieval period.
The Meir is the city’s principal thoroughfare and it’s where most of the major shops are concentrated. It runs between the old town and the station. It’s a paradise for shoppers as it’s closed to vehicular traffic, but it’s also impressive to lovers of fine architecture – if you cast your eyes above the shop facades you’ll see some wonderful Rococo buildings, some of which were once home to Belgian royalty.

On a street that leads off the Meir is the stock exchange, which claims to be the world’s oldest. The building it is now located in dates from just the end of the 19th century, but the stock exchange itself was established as early as the 1400s.