A weekend for art lovers in Antwerp

Artistic life in Antwerp in the Middle Ages did not achieve the renown of later centuries. However, the city's archives do show that it produced a large number of works of art. These included carved wooden altarpieces. But little by little, the city evolved and so did its artists. Brabant Gothic architecture arrived, certainly inspired by the great French cathedrals, such as the one in Amiens or the dome in Cologne. The end of the 16th

century saw a favourable boom in the city's economic life. Artistic activity was on the rise. Large fortunes were being built up, and as they did so, they commissioned more and more works from fashionable artists. Antwerp saw the artistic talent of Peter Paul Rubens, the great Baroque master of the Flemish Renaissance school, flourish. A new church, a new town hall, all accompanied by the construction of new patrician houses, evoking wealth and elegance and setting the tone for the city's aristocracy. Over the centuries, the city has built up its cultural heritage, with fascinating museums and splendid architecture. Home to some of Belgium's greatest artists, Antwerp continues to build its artistic reputation around the world.

Antwerp has a wealth of museums, each more interesting than the last. Art lovers will be delighted to explore the city in search of the most prestigious works on display. But don't forget that the city is also home to young artists fresh out of the academy of fine arts, as well as talented self-taught artists. Despite its small size, Antwerp can never be visited in its entirety in the space of a weekend. But you will certainly have the opportunity to discover little gems of art here and there along your itinerary.

Why not immerse yourself in the city's artistic dimension by staying in the Art Nouveau district. To the east of the city and a little way from the centre, Zurenborg is a suburb close to Berchem, where Art Nouveau was very widespread. An upmarket district, if you are sensitive to this style of architecture, you will undoubtedly be seduced by the charm of the accommodation in the surrounding area.

The east of the city is undoubtedly witness to Antwerp's heyday, when aristocrats in the early 20th

century commissioned Art Nouveau houses from such notable architects as Joseph Bascourt, Jules Hofman and Émile Van Averbeke. Lovers of architecture will love strolling through the streets of Zurenborg to admire the town's most beautiful homes. Bow-windows with plant motifs, exuberant decorations, neo-Greek, Gothic or Baroque adornments, the finesse of the buildings is breathtaking.

In the 1980s, six young Antwerp students graduated from the Antwerp Academy of Fine Arts. They created a sensation and revolutionised Belgian fashion. They became known for their eccentric, avant-garde style, and it is thanks to them that the school now has an international reputation as one of the best in the world. The six have turned Antwerp into a trendy city, and are now considered the cradle of new, subversive designers. Fashion in Antwerp is free of the glamour, elitist and bourgeois shackles. The city is home to boutiques with a more contemporary, daring and authentic style.

Accommodation in the heart of Antwerp's fashion district

Some ultra trendy boutiques to shop in Antwerp

• Het Modepaleis Dries Van Noten

Nationalestraat 16, 2000 Antwerpen, Belgium

Nestling in a magnificent building, the Dries Van Noten boutique, one of six in Antwerp, is a must for anyone who loves fashion and shopping. The prices are inevitably high, but the boutique is well worth the diversions.

• Clio Goldbrenner

Steenhouwersvest 63, 2000 Antwerpen, Belgium

An emblematic Belgian bag with a knitted band, Clio has managed to make a name for itself in Belgian fashion.

• Essentiel Antwerp

Huidevettersstraat 57/59, 2000 Antwerpen, Belgium

A Belgian brand at the cutting edge of fashion, named after the city whose founder is also a graduate of the Antwerp Academy of Fine Arts.

Witness to the meteoric rise of the Antwerp fashion world, the MoMu (Modemuseum Antwerpen) was founded in 2002 to collect, preserve and present the evolution of Belgian fashion. The museum focuses primarily on Belgian designers.

MAS is obviously the city's best-known museum. Nestling in the heart of the old port district, its distinctive architecture is inspired by the containers used on the port's docks. It is an ethnographic, maritime and anthropological museum. The museum also hosts temporary exhibitions. And while not everyone may be interested in visiting, the building and the view are well worth the diversions.

Hanzestedenplaats 1, 2000 Antwerpen, Belgium

To continue your artistic journey in the town of Rubens, discover the Middelheim Museum. This sculpture park features works by Auguste Rodin, Tony Cragg, Erwin Wurm and Barbara Hepworth.

Middelheimlaan 61, 2020 Antwerpen, Belgium

After eleven years of renovation work, the largest museum in Flanders has been given a facelift. The Royal Museum of Fine Arts (KMSKA) houses some absolutely sumptuous masterpieces. It features works by artists such as Van Eick, Magrit, Roger van Der Weyden, Lucas Cranach and Jean Clouet.

Leopold de Waelplaats 1, 2000 Antwerpen, Belgium

Rubens is exhibited all over the world. However, for art lovers, Antwerp remains the ideal place to admire Rubens. Here you will findthe Rubens House. In addition to the house, Rubens can be seen all over the city. He can be seen in the Cathedral of Notre-Dame, where 4 of his works are on display. A real pride of the city, his statue has been enthroned on the Groenplaat since 1843. In short, a visit to Antwerp means walking in the footsteps of the greatest Flemish masters!

As you can imagine, the town has a rich cultural heritage. From the Middle Ages onwards, the city experienced an artistic boom that has continued to grow over the centuries. Architecture, fashion, sculpture, painting - the city's artistic scene is busy in every way. Recent years have seen the emergence of new artists and some very interesting galleries. The Niew Zuid district, which used to be a wasteland, is now a trendy area where restaurants, homes and fashionable art galleries coexist. The Tim Van Laere **art gallery, for example, showcases contemporary art, established artists and young up-and-coming talents. You'll also find the **Everyday Gallery, specialising in ultra-contemporary new visual art, and the Sofie Van de Velde Gallery. **Finish your tour of the Niew Zuid district with a stroll along the quays of Antwerp, bordered by the Scheldt!