 With Antwerp Central Station I begin a series of articles regarding old european train stations, some of them abandoned, others reliving their initial glory. In this age of speed and technology railway stations and trains in general have became sort of old fashioned, but I find them, as many of you, hopefully, do, quite charming.
Back to Antwerp Central Station. It is one of the most beautiful station buildings in Europe, a turist must see if you are planning a trip to Belgium. Dubbed the 'Railway Cathedral', it is one of the main landmarks in Antwerp. It was built between 1895 and 1905 and replaced a wooden train station built in 1854 by engineer Auguste Lambeau. The complex consists of 3 parts: the station building, the metal and glass vault and the elevated rail track.
he monumental main building was designed by the Bruges architect L. Delacenserie. It has a huge dome and used to have 8 smaller towers of which 6 have been demolished. The colorful interior is lavishly decorated with more than 20 different kinds of marble and stone. The main hall and the railway cafeteria can match the interiors of many palaces. Not a single square meter either inside or outside the building is not decorated, therefore the Railway Cathedral is not at all an inappropriate term. It is more than a simple train station, it has a unique atmosphere and makes every traveller who enters its gates feel like a royalty entering a fairytale palace.Labels: antwerp central station, belgium, old train stations, palace, railway station, train station |
