The Cathedral itself is a metaphor of the eventual return of the Faith to this part of the world. Back in 1794, the French revolutionaries - the same ones who murdered nuns and destroyed cathedrals -- plundered Our Lady's Cathedral in Antwerp and left it seriously damaged.
Four years later, the French government sought to completely demolish the building in 1798. At last, in 1816, many priceless works of art were finally restored from Paris when the French liberal government disbanded and the Bourbon Kings were restored to the Throne of France. (During this time, three Peter Paul Rubens masterpieces were restored to their rightful place in the Cathedral.)
The Cathedral itself cannot be over emphasized. No visit to northern Europe would be complete with this awe-inspiring and art-rich destination. In fact, of all the museums and cathedrals I have visited, only the Louvre, religious art museum in Florence, and the Vatican Museum had in my opinion a more impressive art collection.
Antwerp is a fascinating town and well worth a short stop. After roughly 4 hours in the city, I took a train which passed through Ghent before arriving in my next Belgian stop: Bruges.
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