St. James' Church, Antwerp

Saint James' Church in Antwerp is a historical architectural gem renowned for its Brabantine Gothic style. Originally established on the site of a hostel for pilgrims heading to Santiago de Compostela, the church began as a chapel in 1431, serving as a pivotal stop for those on their way to the burial place of Saint James the Great. The chapel was transformed into a parish church in 1476 to meet expanding religious and communal demands, leading to the construction of a larger building in 1491. Although it took 165 years to finish, the church retained its Gothic style, even though Baroque architecture became popular by its completion in 1656.

The interior of Saint James' Church is adorned in Baroque style, a transformation largely preserved due to the strategic actions of a priest during the French revolutionary invasion, saving it from plunder. The church houses exquisite Baroque elements such as the intricately carved wooden choir stalls, the lavish main altar, and the finely crafted communion rails. The central pulpit, completed in 1675 by Lodewijk Willemsens, adds to the church鈥檚 rich Baroque character.

Saint James' Church also played an important musical role; its organs attracted numerous renowned musicians, including Henry Bredemers. The grand organ, built in 1884 by Anneesens in a Romantic style, and the choir organ from 1727 by J.B. Forceville, still maintain their original mechanical action.

The church is notably the final resting place of several of Antwerp's elite, including the illustrious painter Peter Paul Rubens, whose tomb features a painting by Rubens himself, completed five years posthumously in 1640. Today, Saint James' Church stands as a monument to Antwerp's historical, artistic, and architectural heritage, attracting visitors not only for its religious significance but also for its cultural and historical riches, preserving over 1300 graves and the memories of more than 4500 individuals.

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Sight Name: St. James' Church
Sight Location: Antwerp, Belgium (See walking tours in Antwerp)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Antwerp's Historical Churches Tour

Walking Tours in Antwerp, Belgium

Create Your Own Walk in Antwerp

Creating your own self-guided walk in Antwerp is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.

Antwerp's Historical Churches Tour

Antwerp, a city steeped in history and culture, boasts an array of historical churches that stand as testaments to its past.

Reigning supreme among them is the Cathedral of Our Lady, a stunning 14th-century Gothic masterpiece. Its towering spire dominates the city skyline and houses invaluable artworks by renowned artists such as Peter Paul Rubens, Otto van Veen, Jacob de Backer, and Marten de... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.6 Km or 2.2 Miles

Antwerp Historic Center Walk

Antwerp is a bustling metropolis, replete with modern entertainment, yet it is the centuries-old city center that fuels tourists' interest the most. Indeed, downtown Antwerp is steeped in history. So much so, in fact, that to see all that it has to offer, you'll need way more than one day.

Here history awaits you practically round every corner 鈥� seen in the ancient building-fronts... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.9 Km or 2.4 Miles

Antwerp Introduction Walking Tour

A major city-port on the River Scheldt in Belgium, Antwerp is known primarily as the diamond capital of Europe. For centuries, Antwerp's Diamond District has been the center of diamond trade, with thousands of dealers, cutters and polishers processing 85% of the world's rough diamonds each year.

Historical Antwerp has its origins in a Gallo-Roman settlement, first mentioned in the 4th... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.5 Km or 2.2 Miles

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