St. Carolus Borromeus Church, Antwerp
The Jesuit Church of St. Carolus Borromeus. Photo under GFDL.
Closer view of the Baroque facade. Photo by William Helsen.
Detail of the facade. Photo by Andrea Kirkby.
Interior ceiling. Photo by Andrea Kirkby.
St. Carolus Borromeus Church is a Baroque church with a spectacular facade in Antwerp. Rubens contributed to this spectacular facade of St. Carolus Borromeus Church. The church was built by the Jesuits between 1615 and 1621.
Peter Paul Rubens contributed to the façade, the tower, and much of the interior. The interior was designed to look like a Baroque banqueting hall, providing a foretaste of the banquet with God in heaven. The opulent interior decoration led to the church being known as "the marble temple."
Sadly, on July 18, 1718, lightning struck and 39 ceiling paintings by Rubens were tragically lost in the subsequent fire. Most of the original marble was also destroyed. However, the apse of the main altar and the Mary Chapel were spared and they provide visitors with an idea of the church's former splendor.
One of the church's most unique features is the interchangeable painting above the altar, which uses an original mechanism which is still in working order.
Quick Facts
| Names: | St. Carolus Borromeus Church; Church of St. Charles Borromeo; Jesuit Church |
| Type of site: | Parish church |
| Faith: | Roman Catholic (Jesuit order) |
| Dates: | 1615-21 |
| Architecture: | Baroque |
| Address: | Hendrik Conscienceplein 6 - 2000 Antwerp |
| Phone: | +32 (0)3 231 37 51 |
| Hours: | Monday-Friday: 10-12:30 and 2-5 Saturday: 10-6 Sunday: Artists' mass with musical accompaniment on Sundays at 11:30am Lace room: Wednesdays 10-12 and 2-4 |
| Cost: | Church free; Lace museum €1.25 adults |
| Tram: | 2, 3, 4, 8, 15 (Groenplaats); 10, 11 (Melkmarkt); 7 (Meirbrug) |
| Bus: | 6, 34 (Steenplein); 9 (Meirbrug); 18, 25, 26 (Groenplaats) |
Map
Location map and satellite view of the St. Carolus Borromeus Church. Using the buttons on the left, zoom in for a closer look or zoom out to get your bearings. Click and drag the map to move around. For a larger view, see our Antwerp Map or get our Google Earth download.
Sources
- Description St. Charles Borromeo's Church - Diocese of Antwerpen
