Castle (Steen), fot. Marc straits

Castle (Steen) - the oldest building in Antwerp, it lies on the banks of the Scheldt, near the former peninsula called De Werf (shipyard). The castle stands on the site from the ninth century. Fortifications, which were beginning of the rest of the city. Of course, over the centuries Steen was rebuilt several times. The only thing it has survived to our times, the gate and the front part.

The 1302, the castle lost the function of the military and from the 1823 year was used as a prison. Then it housed a sawmill, and storage of fish. From 1862, the castle served as a museum. Initially, as the Museum of Antiquities, and then, in the 1952 - 2008 as the National Maritime Museum.

It is easy to notice a difference in colors between the medieval gray stone, and the sixteenth century sandstone, which is the result of multiple rebuild the castle. Walking towards the castle marks a big statue of a giant called Lange Wapper. It is a remarkable folk hero, as proclaimed by legenda- half impostor, half voyeur, who despite sympathy for the children - used his size to look into someone else's bedroom.

Address

Steenplein 1 Antwerpen

Opening hours:

Wednesday - Sunday 12.00 - 18.00

Ticket price:

Free entrance

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