A Tourist’s Guide to Antwerp

Author: Lance Rush

Antwerp is the second largest city of Belgium. The capital city of the province of Antwerp, it is also the second largest harbor in Europe after Rotterdam. It is a leading commercial center famous for cutting, trading and polishing of diamonds. Since the last 15 years, Antwerp has been elevated to the status of being one of the leading cities for fashion design in Europe.

The name ‘Antwerp’ has been linked to the word “aanwerp” (alluvial mound), which was the geographical feature in the early settlement period in this place. The earliest records of fortification for this historical place take us to the seventh century BC. In the 10th century, Antwerp became a provincial border for the Roman Empire. By the 14th century, the city of Antwerp was already ranked as being the prime center in Western Europe for trading and finance, thanks to its flourishing wool market and seaport.

The city went through a low phase economically during the Reformation period and the subsequent conflict between the Catholics and the Protestants. The city rose again in the 17th century with painters like Reubens and Van Dyck becoming famous names. It was Napoleon who realized the strategic importance of Antwerp and undertook the modernization of the Antwerp port. As times passed, Antwerp went on to progress and became what it is today-the tenth largest port in the world.

Places of interest:

The Antwerp’s Grote Markt (town square) is the wonder of the 16th century architecture. The Stadhuis (town hall) is a popular Flemish Gothic structure built in the Renaissance fashion. In the middle of the town square lies a statue of the first hero of Antwerp Brabo. He was the man who had killed a giant, who according to a legend used to control river traffic and extract money from people. The roman soldier Brabo cut the giant’s hand and threw it into the Schedlt River.

Our Lady’s Cathedral is another important landmark. With its Gothic architecture, the 123 meter lofty tower is a sight to behold. The cathedral is home to two of the masterpieces of Reubens, ‘The Descent from the Cross’ and the ‘Elevation of the Cross.’

The Antwerp castle, known as Steen (stone) is called such because castles in the 13th century were built of wood. This was the first castle at that time to be built of stone.

The Meir is another tourist attraction. It is a shopping street and a busiest one at that. The Osterrieth House and the former royal residence of the Belgian kings in Antwerp are two of the important buildings in the Meir. The first stock exchange building in the world was built on Meir. It was gutted down in the middle of the nineteenth century and was reconstructed in Neo-Gothic architecture.

Things to do:

One thing every visitor can look forward to are the fascinating museums and galleries of Antwerp. The city has been organized and maintained well. A tourist finds exploring Antwerp relatively easy compared to other places because places of interest and other pleasant sights in the town are within walking distance.

Take a stroll through the paved lanes and maze like streets of Antwerp. You will be amazed to see the streets lined with royal looking mansions, ancient churches and museums. The city is a pleasant mix of the ancient and the modern with a range of boutiques, restaurants and bars springing up continually. One thing you can do while you tour the city is pay a visit to the Royal Museum of Fine Art (Koninklijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten). The museum is divided into two units-one containing the works of the Old Masters and the other for the artists belonging to the 19th century and later. Superior collection of European painting is available in the museum including the works of Rubens, Van Dyck, Hals, Van Gogh etc. Ruben’s the most famous child of Antwerp has his work displayed in the Old Lady’s Cathedral as well.

MoMu is the epicenter for Antwerp’s mushrooming design trade. If you are an aspirant designer, you can join an academy to learn the latest in fashion and style. MoMu is known the world over for hosting creative exhibitions for their work. As Antwerp is one of the leading centers of fashion, style and designer outfits, you can profit in many ways.

Since Antwerp is well known for diamonds, you can pay a visit to the city’s biggest showroom, Diamondland at Appelmansstraat to see craftsmen at work, cutting and polishing the most beautiful object known to man-exquisite diamonds. The Provinciaal Diamantmuseum which has just been shifted near Antwerp’s zoo holds fantastic exhibitions showcasing diamonds and informing people about the history and production of diamonds.

Food and Drink:

The citizens of Antwerp swear by Belgian cuisine. The cuisine is somewhat French and Flemish oriented. The hot favorite is mussels accompanied with chips and mayonnaise. Other seafood like herring are also favoured and eaten raw. Drinks consist of good quality French wine. Beer however reigns supreme as the country’s favorite drink. In fact Belgium has more than 100 brewers manufacturing more than 400 different beers.

People in Antwerp drink three kinds of beer-lager, white beer and the lambic beer. The lager beer comes as a dark double or triple beer. The white beer is self explanatory while the lambic beer is a naturally fermented strong drink having a fruity flavor. A unique type of soup filled with cream called waterzooi, non vegetarian food like chicken and fish, paling in’t groen (eels with vegetables and herbs) and vegetarian food are the other favourites. Antwerp is an inexpensive place for eating out. The food consists of customary Flemish dish with French and Mediterranean cuisine. The cafes open at around 9 am in the morning and work till late at night. T Fornuis is one of the popular restaurants in the city as it has the rich French cuisine in a traditional Flemish milieu. Another notable restaurant is La Rade – haute. Food is served in a mansion-like place, close to the river Ernest Van Dijckkaai.

Hotel and Accommodation:

Radisson SAS Park Lane Hotel
Minotel Colombus
Best Western Classic Hotel Villa Mozart
Miauw Suites
Theater Hotel
New International Youth Hotel
Hotel Scheldezicht
Tourist Hotel
Golden Tulip Hotel Carlton
Tulip Inn Hotel Astoria
Alfa Empire Hotel
Fletcher Hotel-Restaurant Antwerpen
Fletcher Hotel Keyserlei
Plaza Hotel
Hotel Eden
Alfa De Keyser
Hotel Cammerpoorte
Hotel Ibis Antwerpen Centrum
Express by Holiday Inn Antwerp City North
Hotel Florida
Hotel Residence
Docklands Hotel
Arass Suite Hotel
Campanile Antwerpen / Anvers
Hotel Industrie
Hotel Antigone
Corinthia Antwerp Hotel
Prinse
Hyllit Hotel
Hotel Antverpia HR
Crowne Plaza Antwerp
Entertainment:

The meaning of entertainment can be summed up in the fantastic night life Antwerp enjoys and revels in offering its visitors. There are a whole range of zany bars and restaurants which can give any other city in Northern Europe a run for its money. If you are in Belgium and want to get the best night life entertainment, head to Antwerp, no questions asked! The best times to enjoy nightlife are Friday or Saturday nights. The liveliest and the most fashionable city of Belgium, Antwerp has found a unique place on the style map of the world thanks to the work of some brilliant fashion designers.

Belgians love their drink and so it comes across as no surprise that this passion has translated into setting up of many bars and pubs across the city. These bars work any time of the day or night offering choicest of Belgian beer, cocktails, drinks, and wines. Plus you get to enjoy thumping or mellifluous music (according to the public demand) in these bars. Dan Engel is known as Antwerp’s most famous bar facing the Grote Markt. You can stop by the bar at any time of the day or night for a sip of refreshing beer.

Antwerp makes everyone happy, be they adults or kids. The Zoo which is close to the station is the oldest and the largest zoo in Belgium. Children are head over heels in love with the dolphinarium. Other attractions include the lions, giraffes, monkeys and the snake house. Though the zoo is old fashioned, it still remains a craze with children.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/a-tourists-guide-to-antwerp-2416463.html

About the Author

Information on 17th birthday ideas can be found at the Birthday Celebration Ideas site.

Cheap London Hotels

Author: Soul Patel

For holidaymakers on a strict budget, it’s wise to do some research on the affordable hotels in London and look for the many London hotels special offers. A number of Cheap London Hotels are conveniently located near the major attractions; these often require advance reservations and, due to their already low rates, are usually resistant to negotiating at a lower price. Therefore, places offering accommodation for less are considered cheap hotels in London. It’s often best to start by looking for one-star, two-star or three-star hotels in London.

The trick in finding London hotels special offers is scouting around in the off-season. Here are some good quality hotels that are below £150 (nightly rate) during the off-season.

Comfort Inn Harrow – This hotel is a 3 star inn and is located in Harrow which is a suburb of London. The Comfort Inn is located 13 miles from Heathrow airport. The hotel has 73 modern rooms with private bathrooms, satellite television, and hospitality trays. Nightly rates start at £68 per night. Children aged 14 and below can stay free with 2 paying adults.

Easy Hotel – This hotel offers rooms which are clean and modern in Kensington, west London. Rates start at £35 per night. Daily housekeeping, TV and windows cost extra.

Rubens At The Palace – Just across from Buckingham Palace, this elegant hotel is reputed for its high-quality service. All rooms are air-conditioned and some come with breakfast. The Rubens is situated near Westminster and the Royal Parks and Victoria Station and is available for nightly rates from £109;.

Darlington Hyde Park – The location of the hotel is near Hyde Park and Paddington Station. This 40-room hotel offers special security and comfort for solo female travelers. The hotel has been awarded the RAC Sparkling Diamond Award, for high levels of cleanliness and hygiene in their establishment. Rates start from £85 per night.

Ambassadors Hotel – The hotel is located a short distance from the famous West End theatre in a residential area in South Kensington. The hotel gives very easy access to some of the main London attactions, like the famous Harrods store, Victoria and Albert Museum, and Royal Albert Hall. Heathrow Airport is just 10 miles from the hotel. The hotel provides Internet access, safe-deposit boxes at the front desk as well as dry cleaning services. Pets are not allowed. The rates for standard double room start from £68; per night.

It’s essential that London holidaymakers investigate all their options. Almost all cheap London Hotels provide all the basic needs such as your own bathroom, soap, bedding and towels. But make sure to check what’s provided with the specific London hotels special offers when you book, in case you do need to bring some of your own kit.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/cheap-london-hotels-2315588.html

About the Author

Looking for London Hotels Special Offers? Click here to get the best offers now

Kate and William Royal Wedding views hot property in London, UK

Author: RebeccaJK

Excitement surrounding the UK Royal Wedding between Prince William and Kate Middleton on April 29th has reached fever pitch, with prime vantage points for the wedding procession selling for up to £100,000 (US$ 160,000).

Owners of property between Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace are cashing in on the event by selling space on rooftops, balconies, in banqueting suites and offices, where onlookers can watch Kate and William’s horse drawn carriage leading the procession.

Religious groups, charities and Government departments are all attempting to bolster their coffers by offering viewing spots along the route.

Amongst the top spots is Sanctuary House Hotel which is located close to Westminster Abbey on Victoria Street and has a bird’s eye view of the Abbey’s west entrance. A room at the nine bedroom, four balcony, nineteenth century gothic building will set you back a mere £100,000 (US$ 160,000).

Also getting in on the act is the British-Iranian Chamber of Commerce on Westminster’s Victoria Street; the Chamber are renting out two of their offices on the second and third floors with rooftop views of Westminster Abbey for £100,000 (US$ 160,000) per office.

Probably the best value available is at the windowless Methodist Central Hall, which will cost you £60 (US$ 100) including a champagne breakfast. The attraction; the roof overlooks Westminster Abbey’s west entrance.

The Abbey’s Great Hall will also hold 1,000 people free of charge, but you’ll be lucky to get in unless you camp outside.

Plans to erect a twenty foot high scaffold on Victoria Street, next to Westminster Abbey, are almost complete. The platform will hold thirty three TV and Radio staff and paparazzi from around the world.

Once complete, the twenty four tonne steel scaffold, covered in plywood and painted with a Cumberland stone finish to match surrounding buildings, will broadcast the event to an estimated 2.5 billion people worldwide. An even larger structure is being built near Buckingham Palace.

Cities across the UK will be televising the event outdoors on large screens and many street parties are planned; a British tradition during a royal event.

In fact, Prime Minister David Cameron’s wife, Samantha Cameron, will be holding one in Downing Street. Just as long as her Government application to hold a street party is approved!

Article source…

Rebecca Smith
Ocean Villas Group

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/marriage-articles/kate-and-william-royal-wedding-views-hot-property-in-london-uk-4531350.html

About the Author

Rebecca Smith is property journalist and sales director for Ocean Villas Group, based in Singapore.

For more investment news… http://blog.oceanvillasgroup.com

Paris Hotels And Tourist Attractions

Author: Jenny Franklin

One of the most beautiful cities in Europe, Paris is also world’s fashion center and a treasury of art masterpieces. The soft tinkling of wine glasses and images of ‘Haute Couture’ grasps one’s mind, as one thinks of searching for Paris hotels. Paris attracts millions of tourists every year; over 1500 hotels – more than anywhere in the world – open their doors, giving their guests a hearty welcome. Leading hotel booking websites offer great opportunities to business and leisure travelers worldwide to find and book the best of Discount Paris hotels in an efficient and cost-effective way.

They keep a tab of all the quality hotels in Paris and update them regularly to provide you the best possible and latest information on different Paris hotels and their facilities. Relevant information on Cheap Hotels in Paris provided by such websites ensures you a smooth ride to this fashionable French city that you will cherish lifelong.

Paris, the French capital, is divided in two by the majestic River Seine. It is the place that dictates the fashion trend in personal wardrobes worldwide. With plenty cheap Paris hotels around, this city is an eternal tourist attraction. The multi-faceted reputation of Paris trudges past the revered title of ‘Fashion Capital of Europe’ to attract modern tourists. To keep at par with the growth in tourism, the number of Discount Paris hotels has also increased.

Politically and commercially, Paris is buzzing with global trade and commerce and nestles the headquarters of OECD and the UNESCO among others. In fact, economically, Paris and its metropolitan suburbs boast of a prosperity level that can overcast the financial status of a nation. In this regard, it can be said that the growing demand for cheap Paris hotels is helping in bolstering the national economy, further.

The commercial success of Paris is solidified by the existence of about 30% of France’s government employees and 40% of the headquarters of French companies inside the city territories. It enjoys the reputation of being the third largest metropolitan of Europe with an internationally recognized manufacturing industry. However, above all this commercial nitty-gritty, this illuminated ‘City of Lights’ can be best relished from the comforts of the luxurious Paris hotels. Paris indicates city of joy, with lavishness flowing in from simply everywhere.

The grandeur of the ultimate French landmark the 300 meters high Eiffel tower, the unparalleled collections at Louver museum, and Saint Sulpice Church (Da Vinci Code)- all have been attracting tourists to its doorsteps over the centuries. Nevertheless, it is said that a stroll through the fashion, art and culture-splashed streets of Paris is the ultimate experience of a déjà vu and gives you the feel of the pinnacle of luxury.

To make your trip to perfect, all you just need to know is where the best Discount Hotels in Paris are. It is at this point, online hotel booking websites working at the global level can help you. With contacts in the hotel and tourism industry, direct negotiations with some of the best hotels in Paris, and availing the benefit of discount offers available to wholesale hotel dealers for bulk bookings, these websites offer you best Paris hotels at best rates and extend you great deals. On your next visit to Paris, compare discount hotel offers available online before booking a hotel and feel the bliss of free information highway.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/hotels-articles/paris-hotels-and-tourist-attractions-2186183.html

About the Author

Get the best deals and online booking in Discount Hotels, Hotels booking in Paris and Last Minute Hotels Explore – go4hotels.com

For more information about booking rooms and availability for Paris Hotels

Click Here to check for room availability.