Attraction 28 / 29
Quick Info
Location
St. Paulusstraat 20-22
Rating
1 vote 1 vote
Hotels
landmarkLooking for a hotel near the St. Paul's Church?Compare hotels and locate them on a map.Start booking here

St. Paul's Church

Sint-Paulus Kerk
The gothic Saint Paul's Church with baroque spire is located north of the old city center and is one of the finest Antwerp churches.
The church was built in 1571 by a Dominican order as a replacement for a previous small church, which was built in 1276. That church, which was part
St. Paul's Church, Antwerp
St. Paul's Church
of a large cloister, was regularly flooded, and the new church had to become larger and had a higher floor. It was named after the Dominican order's patron saint, Paulus.

Fires
The St. Paul's Church has an eventful history. In 1679, fire destroyed much of the church and the tower was rebuilt. During the French revolution, the church's many paintings were stolen by the French, but were returned after the revolution in 1815.

The church was damaged again during the Belgian revolution in 1830 and the last disaster
View from across
the river
struck in 1968, when a fire destroyed the roof of the church and much of the interior. Fortunately much of the interior was saved by passers-by or people living nearby.
Before even firemen were at the site, they had taken many paintings and sculptures outside, risking their own lives. It took almost 20 years to restore the building's roof, but currently the church is back in good shape.

Calvary Mountain
Today the church still houses a very rich collection on 17 century paintings of Flemish masters, but it is best known for the hundreds of sculptures. And unique in the world is the Calvary Mountain adjacent to the church. It comprises 63 statues depicting the last days of Christ. The St. Paul's church also houses one of the most important organs in Flanders.

157
Nearby Attractions
Nearby Hotels
Area Map
© 2009 www.aviewoncities.com