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ANTWERP-Cogels Osylei architectural splendour (2)

Antwerp Zoological garden

Antwerp by foot, its insolent and secret treasures

Introducing the walk Keyserley-Leysstraat-Meir

Meir shopping, slowly loitering to Rubens house

Rubens, his life and his house

Bird market-Bourla theatre - more shopping

Shopping streets to Groenplaats

Area around Antwerp Cathedral     

Cathedral of Our-Lady

Grote Markt and Town hall

Guild houses Vlaaykensgang 

Hoogstraat and Grote Pieter Potstraat

Printers museum Plantin-Moretus

Museum Mayer van den Bergh-Maagdenhuis

Strolling to the Carolus Borromeus church

Rockoxhuis- Rubens tomb at St.Jacobskerk

Cogels Osylei area, unique in the world (1)

Cogels Osy area, unique in the world! (2)

Other stunning construction in the Cogels-Osylei: the houses at nos. 67-69 (Scaldis), reminding the famous “Ca d’Oro “ palace alongside the Grand Canale in Venice, arches, symmetric columns, iron wrought balconies…. And don’t miss no. 80, a superb Art Nouveau façade: refinements, finishing touch.
At the end of the Cogels-Osylei, notice the new post offices of sorting out, turn right in the Gulden Vliesstraat, take the first to the right again in the Waterloostraat. 

Twaalf apostelen

The house at no. 63-55, symbolizes the time like its plaques remind us: evening, night, morning and daylight. Look at the floral motives on no. 49, the facade of no. 39 (Les mouettes), and genuine example of Art Nouveau. The house at no.30 has a beautiful façade, enhanced by a mosaic representing Napoleon.

At the crossroad of the Van Merlenstraat, have a good look at the four corner houses: All with mosaics representing the four seasons: spring, summer, fall and winter. They are represented by busts, zodiacal signs, fruits or flowers. At no.11, a battle field ambience! A house, white façade, mosaics and little turret, called “Waterloo battle”. Indeed, you can see the effigies of Bonaparte and Wellington at the window of the first floor.

End of this tour will be in the Transvaalstraat. Make a left at the end of the Waterloostraat. The street is dominated by a big villa “De Twaalf Apostelen” (the twelve apostles) at no.15. Genuine Greek temples, with their statues of scientists and philosophers, are still inhabited today, like it was at the Belle Epoque. The only difference is, that they are divided nowadays in several condominiums, and not by one and only family like it used to be. At no.32 another Art Nouveau house (architect De Weerdt) Admire the Lotus flower (Egyptian model), at no.52 and the façade of the house “Boreas” at no.56. And to finish this incredible walk, let’s stop at no.59-61 “De Duivelkes” (Small devils). At least 12 or 13 devils  (the pendant of the twelve apostles), sustain a heavy balcony, which would collapse, without the devilish force of its columns.
Crossing the ring, or taking bus 17 or 27, you ca stop at the Nachtegalenpark, walk through the park to the Middelheim, where a world class open air sculpture museum sculptures is open all year. It will give you the opportunity to loiter between beautiful trees and bushes, among works of Henry Moore, Rodin and Panamarenko.