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Stepping Into WWII History at Bastogne Barracks in Belgium

11/29/2014

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As Christmas approaches, we are publishing this last article from our “Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg Road Trip”.  We saved the story of our trip to Bastogne Barracks in Belgium, for this appropriate season of the year, since the tale of this strategic WWII command center and its important role in the victory of the “The Battle of the Bulge”, the largest land battle of WWII, began at Christmas time, December 19th, 1944.
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 On December 16th, the Germans launched their last major offensive of WWII in Western Europe. Taking advantage of the cold and the fog, the German artillery started the conflict by attacking the sparsely deployed American troops around Bastogne, Belgium.

The Germans had engulfed the whole of the Ardennes region and the city of Bastogne sat at the center of the occupied region.  The German army’s goal was to advance to Antwerp, to cut off the supply route and separate British from American troops, so Bastogne was a prize the Allies wanted to defend at all costs.  


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On December 19th, Brigadier General Anthony McAuliffe, acting commander of the 101st Airborne Division arrived in Bastogne along with his division to mount a counter-attack.  He established the Headquarters for the U.S. forces at the Sous-Lieutenant Heintz Barracks (now known as Bastogne Barracks).

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After heavy fighting, the U.S. forces at Bastogne were surrounded and On December 22, German emissaries asked for the American surrender.

These military barracks are now remembered in history for the place where the decisive strategic decisions were made leading to the turning point in the Battle of the Bulge.  It was from this headquarters that the US Commander, General McAuliffe, issued the now famous reply of 'Nuts' to the German surrender ultimatum.  Four days later, General George C. Patton broke the siege and three weeks later, the Americans had won the battle.


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The Bastogne Barracks Museum is a Belgian National Army Museum and the free tour is guided by members of the Belgian National Army who are incredibly informative and dedicated to the preservation of the memories of this WWII battle. The tour is so interesting and there is so much to see that it can stretch out to 2 hours or more.  The tour is worth every minute!

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Outside, before you enter the barracks, archive photos are positioned around the site where the photos were actually taken way back in 1944.  Examples of steel and concrete “caltrops” or “hedgehogs” which look like large burrs and were used to block the paths of tanks dot the paths and alleys.  

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The tour includes buildings which once housed the underground Command Center during the battle.  The rooms depict scenes which have been reconstructed on the basis of veterans’ recollections and photos from the period.  The rooms include communications rooms, first-aid surgery rooms, the mess (kitchen), officer’s quarters and command operations.  Our guide, Bruno, took the time to enter the scenes and explain details regarding the use of many of the artifacts and weapons.

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The exhibition rooms house hundreds of artifacts including artillery, small arms, radio and medical equipment, from the U.S. and other allied forces.  Many of the artifacts in the museum are on loan from the personal collections of the Belgian National Army Museum personnel and some have been generously donated by WWII veterans, collectors and enthusiasts.

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A walk to the other side of the barracks site brings you to two large hangers where they house and restore the excellent military vehicle collection.  There are all types of tanks, mortars, jeeps, motorcycles, trucks and red-cross vans among the assemblage.  This is the largest collection of war machines we had ever seen.  The huge hangers also have WWII photos set up to help interpret how the vehicles would have been used during war and vignettes of maintenance operations provide a view into how difficult it would have been to service these vehicles in a war zone.

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One of the best parts of the museum is the room where photos of WWII veterans of the Battle of the Bulge are displayed.  It’s so poignant to view the faces of those who fought during those freezing winter days to liberate Europe so many decades ago. Even though dwindling in numbers, these veterans continue to visit the museum.  They are welcomed back warmly and have become close friends with the museum personnel.

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The Bastogne Barracks Museum is one of the most interesting museums we have ever visited.  Even if you are not a devotee of WWII history, there is so much to see, you might turn into one! 

Rue De La Roche,40 | 6600, Bastogne, Belgium  Tel.+32 (0) 61.24.21.24
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Chateau de Modave: Exploring a Fabulous 17th Century French Country House in Belgium! 

9/25/2014

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Chateau de Modave, or as it is known, The Chateau of the Counts of Marchin, is an elegant 17th century country home located on a steep rocky spur with views over the River Hoyaux, near the village of Modave  in the province of Liege, Belgium.

The Chateau was not always the splendid palace you see today.  It began life in the 13th century as a medieval castle perfectly situated for fortification on its rocky promontory. 

The Modave family, who were a prominent family in the area, owned the castle from the 13th century until the middle of the 16th century.
In the 16th century the castle and the estate of Modave became the property of the Haultepenne and de Saint-Fontaine families and by the time the Count Jean de Marchin bought the Castle for his son Jean-Gaspard, much of the original medieval architecture had either been destroyed by war or fallen to ruin. 

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photo above courtesy of www.chateauxofbelgium.be

Between 1655 and 1673, Jean-Gaspard Ferdinand de Marchin transformed what had been a medieval fortress, into a grand country residence.  The portions of the castle that could be saved were restored, but a new facade was constructed for the exterior and out-buildings like the stable were harmonized to the house facade. 

While the restoration was begun during what is considered the Flemish Baroque period it was inspired by the grand French architecture of Louis XIV.  17th-century European art is generally referred to as Baroque, but from the mid to late 17th century, French art shows a classical adherence to certain rules of proportion and moderation.  Under Louis XIV, the Baroque as it was practiced in Italy was not in French taste and the Chateau de Modave was to be in the style of a refined French palace.

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above Entrance, Courtyard and Stables
below Stable Interior
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Expansion and beautification continued to take place even after the chateau changed hands in 1682.  Two years later the chateau came into the possession of Guillaume-Egon, the Prince of Furstenberg and the refurbishment was completed under the notable influence of Francoise Mansart, the French architect credited with introducing classicism into the Baroque architecture of France. 

The dignified symmetry of the façade with its triangular pediments over the front entrance and windows, the geometrical design of the brick and stone, the mansard roofs, and contrast between the center portion of the mansion in proportion to the side wings is typical of a country house designed by Mansart. 


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Inside the house, luxurious rooms were decorated and furnished in the sumptuous, refined French fashion.  During the 17th century, the chateau included six large, opulently decorated apartments.  Four were private and two apartments were reserved for public rooms and the reception of distinguished guests.

The Guard Room  - This is the Grand Hall of the house.  It has a ceiling that is unique in Europe.  It displays the noble family tree of the count of Marchin.  The ceiling was created by stucco worker, Jean-Christian Hansche around 1666-1667.

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The Salon of the Goblins – This was originally a formal stateroom.  Stuccos of the exploits of Hercules are on the ceiling and above the doors.  They were created by Jean-Cristian Hansche around 1666-1667.  The Brussels tapestries are from the 17th century, and illustrate the life of Julius Cesar.

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The Salon of Hercules – This was a formal stateroom.  As with the salon of the Goblins, this room is decorated with stuccos illustrating the life of Hercules.  Medallions portraying the profiles of Roman Emperors were added to the walls in the 18th century.  The room is now furnished as a dining room and the table is set with the  Modave service and Val-Saint-Lambert crystal glasses.

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The Small Hall – This hall was also decorated in stucco by Jean-Christian Hansche in the 17th century.  This ceiling illustrates the lineage of Count Marchin’s wife, Marie de Balzac d’Entragues daughter of an advisor of the King of France.  The niche houses a fountain made of red marble with a stucco Triton above it.

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The Family Salon – This room was originally an antechamber to the private apartments of the Countess of Marchin.  In the 18th and 19th century, during the time the Duke and Duchess of Montmorency and their heirs owned the chateau (1772 – 1817), the salon was used as a dining room and tapestries that originally hung on the wall were replaced with painted canvases representing ancient landscapes.

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The Duke’s Room – Originally part of the apartments of the Countess of Marchin, this room is named "The Dukes Room" because the current decor dates to the 18th century; during a time when the chateau was owned by the Dukes of Montmorency.  The alcove is separated by a low decorative railing according to court etiquette in that time.   The furniture are rare pieces by the renowned Parisian cabinet maker Chevigny.  The bronze and Baccarat crystal chandelier is from the end of the 19th century.

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The Salon of the Paintings – This room has retained its original 17th century paneling decorated with foliage and figures.  The landscape and flower bouquet paintings were installed in the 18th century, replacing the original paintings.

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The Bathroom – This room is paneled in the Liege Regency style and has an unusual bathtub.  The bathtub and its stairs were carved into the floor out of solid rock and lined with zinc.  A water tank was hidden under the beautiful parquet floor.   The toilet was installed behind a discreet door matching the paneling.

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The Mistress’s Room – This room was originally a cloak room which was changed to a bedroom in the 19th century.  It is delicately decorated, painted all white with golden stucco scrolls on the ceiling and gold-leaf highlighting the panels on the wall.  These panels hide large cupboards and define the bed alcove.

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The second private apartment on the ground floor was that of the son of the Jean-Gaspard-Ferdinand de Marchin who gave his son the title of Count of Graville. 
It originally consisted of an antechamber, bedroom and cloak-room, but the rooms have been greatly reconfigured over time.
The Louis XV Salon (also called the Smoking Salon) – The wood paneling in this room is from the 18th century while the gilded stucco baskets adorning the panels were added in the 19th century, but the highlight of the room is the 17th century ceiling which is painted in faux burled walnut and covered with curving stucco vines and coats of arms.

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The Donjon Room - The bedroom occupied the ground floor of the tower (the donjon) located on the valley-side of the chateau. The black marable fireplace and stucco ceiling are original, while the rest of the room has been restored in the 17th and 18th century style.

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The Stairway of Honor – These ceremonial stairs built at the end of the 17th century, lead only to the first floor and are not in the center of the house.  They are located in one of the pavilions off the grand entrance room.  The handrail is one of the first of its kind in the province of Liege.  The steps are shallow and wide to allow an elegant procession up or down the stairs. The gilded bronze and Baccarat crystal chandelier is from the end of the 19th century.

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The Grand Salon Louis XIV – This room originally served as a gallery and led to the apartments on the first floor.  In the 19th century, it was downsized and turned into a salon. The Herz rosewood piano is from the 1870’s and 16th century, Audenaerde tapestries, decorate the walls.

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The Duchess’s Room – This elegant room is named for the portrait of the Duchess of Montmorency located to the left of the fireplace, the walls are covered in floral printed cloth and decorated in the Louis XVI style with an neo-classical bed, painted and gilded wood and cheval glass mirror.

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The Library – Used as a connecting room, the library houses a large Armoire with four marquetry doors made from sycamore, ebony, burr walnut and thuya root and is designed in the Liege and Louis XIV style.  This Armoire served to preserve precious books.

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The Chapel – The original chapel was destroyed during the French Revolution.  In the 19th century, one of the later owners of the chateau, Gilles-Antoine Lamarche, restored the private chapel in the neo-classical style.

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This spiraling oak staircase located in The Round Tower, leads to the four levels of the chateau.  The base of the tower dates back to the medieval period and was updated in the 17th century.

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For the next 240 years, the chateau was passed through several influential families who made additional modernizing changes over time.  Later owners were successively:
  • Maximilian Henry of Bavaria, Elector of Cologne and Prince-Bishop of Liège (1682–1684);
  • Cardinal William Egon of Furstenberg, and his heirs (1684–1706);
  • Baron Arnold de Ville (1706–1772); and
  • Anne-Léon, Duke of Montmorency, and his heirs (1772–1817).
In the 19th century it was owned by the non-noble families of Lamarche, Braconier and Van Hoegaerden.

The Basement – A number of the ancient castle spaces were restored in the basement of the chateau.  Some rooms were literally rock caves and were used for storage and other purposes. 
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The Kitchens - The large 17th century basement kitchen was abandoned after 200 years for a more modern functional space.  The old kitchen is now an interactive area for school-visits. 

When the new kitchen was built in the 1900's, a large stove-top and oven was installed. This oven is still in place in the kitchen.


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In 1944, the chateau was taken over by Vivaqua, the Brussels intermunicipal water company.  They have pledged to preserve and maintain the historic property for the heritage of Wallonia and opened it to the public. 

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The Chateau de Modave is a fabulously beautiful and well worth a visit!
 
There is also a Hotel and Restaurant on the property! 
Be sure to check them out HERE! 
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Information for this post was provided by Chateau de Modave ASBL publication and Wikipedia
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St Paul's Church Antwerp - Beautiful Blend of Brabantine Gothic & Flemish Baroque

9/2/2014

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St Paul’s Church in Antwerp is a fabulous symphony of Flemish Baroque embellishment and décor layered onto the bones of the original Gothic architecture.    

The current church which is located near the banks of the Scheldt River was built to replace a small church built by the Dominican order in 1276 to serve the sea faring community and its sailors.  The church was named after the patron saint of the Dominicans, St. Paul.


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Design for the new church was begun in the early 16th century and was completed in 1571 when an attached monastery was also built.

The exterior was designed in the Brabantine Gothic style, which was the High Gothic style of the Low Countries of Flanders and was characterized by austere architecture with little exterior decoration, but it was not destined to retain its austere presence. 

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Over the centuries, the church sustained great damage from the Dutch Calvinist revolts in 1578 when the Catholics lost control of the church, and a Spanish siege in 1584, when transept and choir materials were used as ballast in fire-ships. 

When the church came back under Catholic control after the Fall of Antwerp in 1584, a great campaign of rebuilding was begun.  It took many decades from 1605-1662 to complete the restoration, but the exuberant Flemish Baroque Interior is flamboyant and fabulous.

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The tower was rebuilt in the late 17th century with a Baroque top. The baroque portal on the angled corner of the front of the church dates from 1734.

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In the arch above the door is a tympanum sculpture by Jan Claudius de Cock (1734) depicting Our Lady of the Rosary giving the rosary to Saint Dominic and Catherine of Siena, the reformer of the Dominican Order.

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Sadly, this was not the end of troubles for St Paul’s Church.  During the French Revolution, 1796, all Dominican monasteries in the Southern Netherlands were closed down on the order of the French occupiers. Fortunately, the church was sold publicly and bought by Dominican Prior Peltiers who saved the contents of the church.  You can see many of the church treasures in the Treasury just off the choir area.

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In the 19th century, the church again sustained damage and lost all its original stained glass from bombardment during the Belgian Revolution.  In 1968 a fire again destroyed much of the church and monastery.  Local lore recounts the tale of local citizens risking their lives to save the priceless interior artwork. When I think about all this ruin and devastation over the centuries, I am amazed and so thankful that those who loved the beautiful art in this church saved and restored it for us to see today.

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(Above) Altar of the Rosary - lower part by Sebastiaen de Neve, 1650,
upper part by Jean Pierre van Baurscheit I, 1650


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(Above)The confessionals were executed around 1659 by Pieter Verbrugghen I,
with the assistance of his workshop and other sculptors.

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(Above) High Altar 1670, Designed by Franciscus van Sterbeecke,
painting Descent from the Cross, 1807,by Cornelius Cels


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Tomb of family de Vries-Van Elsacker - 1868
by Jean Baptiste de Boeck and Jean Baptiste van Wint


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My favorite part of the church is actually on the outside in a courtyard area and consists of a group of statues referred to as a Calvary.  The courtyard is filled with statues of Apostles and Saints leading up to the crucified Jesus and a rock grotto.  It was created on the location of an ancient Dominican cemetery by two brothers named Van Ketwigh who were Dominican friars and its design dates from 1697.  In 1734 construction of the Calvary was completed but further additional statues were added up to 1747.

This Calvary statuary garden is a beautiful and thoughtful place to finish your visit to this fabulous St. Paul's Parish Church.


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The Hilton Antwerp Old Town Hotel - Fab Luxury and Location! 

8/19/2014

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The Hilton Antwerp Old Town hotel is perfectly located on a tree-line square called Groenplats, in the center of the historic district, a two minute walk in one direction to a shopping street filled with modern shops selling the latest styles and a two minute walk in the opposite direction to the Medieval Center, where tall narrow guild-houses tower over the beautiful Grote-Markt (Market Square) where you can relax with a beer or try out Belgian cuisine. 

Best of all, the parking area was right underneath the hotel.  On a road-trip, parking like this is fabulous!


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The Lobby and Reception area is a welcoming, peaceful, marble floored space and as we walked toward the elevator, we couldn’t help but gaze at the up-scale shop windows and drool over the fabulous items on display.

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We had decided to splurge and booked a Junior Suite high up on the Executive Level.   Our room was spacious and the bathroom designed with modern luxury.   Everything was sparkling clean and the Wi-Fi worked great (high priority for me!).

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We had access to a private lounge for breakfast and also a cocktail hour serving wine and beer.  Right outside the Executive Lounge is a large terrace where we sipped our wine and took in the view over the rooftops to the Cathedral which was lit up in a golden glow.

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photo above courtesy of Hilton Antwerp Old Town Website
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When we got back, worn out from a day full of exploring Antwerp, we settled in at the hotel bar for a night-cap and soon found ourselves engaged in animated conversations with other hotel patrons.  It was so fun we still found ourselves there over an hour later!  Visitors from all over the world stay at this Hilton hotel, so you can imagine the conversations that flowed during the evening. 

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We loved our stay at The Antwerp Hilton Old Town and would highly recommend it to anyone planning to visit Antwerp.

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Antwerp - A Photo Journey in the Historic Center

8/17/2014

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Antwerp is an exciting mix of old and new, and sometimes these two worlds seem to clash, but don’t let the occasional jarring intrusion of modern architecture into the medieval scene put you off. As Belgium’s “second city”, it is a fun place with plenty to discover as you wander historic center.

The city of Antwerp was settled in the 2nd century A.D.; became the main port of the Duchy of Brabant in 1106, and was the hub of a thriving cloth industry for the next 200 years.  The city saw its Golden-Age during the 16th and very early 17th century when the city became a center of art and culture and the remains of those golden days are preserved for visitors today.

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But…. just minutes from the beautiful Medieval core is a modern shopping street filled with the latest cutting-edge styles.  Straight lined contemporary storefronts sit side-by-side with decorative 18th century buildings.

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When you have fulfilled all your shopping desires, you can turn off this cosmopolitan street and one block later, you are back in the past and in front of the house of Peter Paul Rubens, the late 16th–early 17th century Baroque painting master. 

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Small and large squares dot the historic center of Antwerp, some filled with flower markets while others host cafes and market stands.  Our hotel, The Hilton Antwerp Hotel, was on the Groenplaats (Green Square). 

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The two cathedrals, Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekathedraal (largest cathedral in Belgium) and St. Pauluskerk are simply magnificent. 

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The Grote Markt where the huge market square is surrounded by tall narrow guild-houses; some sporting golden statues on their gables, is a relaxing place to people-watch while drinking a refreshing beer. 

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The Stadhuis (town-hall) frames the Brabo Fountain which depicts a Roman soldier throwing the severed hand of a mythical giant, an ancient story of the founding of Antwerp. 

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The narrow medieval era streets lead you to the Vleehuis where the Butcher’s Guild met in 1504 and then on to the banks of the Scheldt River where Antwerp’s Het Steen Castle (14th – 16th century) protected the town and controlled shipping hundreds of years ago.

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Antwerp’s historic center is filled with beautiful sights and smells and
we loved exploring it!


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Antwerp Home of a Baroque Master Artist - Rubenshuis

8/15/2014

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Antwerp was added as a destination on our Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, road-trip for two reasons.  Firstly, we hadn’t had time to go there during our Belgium trip a couple years earlier and most importantly, I absolutely had to make a pilgrimage to "Rubenshuis", the house of the great painting master, Peter Paul Rubens (1577 - 1630)


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Peter Paul Rubens was actually born in the German city of Siegen, Westphalia to Jan Rubens and Maria Pypelincks. His father was a Calvinist, so after increased religious turmoil and persecution of Protestants in the Spanish Netherlands, he and Rubens’ mother fled Antwerp for Cologne in 1568.

Jan Rubens became the legal advisor (and lover) of Anna of Saxony, the second wife of William I of Orange, and served at her court in Siegen in 1570.  Needless to say, the affair was discovered and Rubens’ father was imprisoned for a time.


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Anna of Saxony
photo above by Abraham de Bruyn (worldroots.com) courtesy of Wikimedia


Peter Paul Rubens was born in 1577 and the family returned to Cologne the next year.  Jan Rubens died ten years later and in 1589, Rubens moved with his mother, back to Antwerp and was raised as a Catholic.  Religion figured prominently in much of Rubens’ work and he later became one of the leading voices of the Catholic Counter-Reformation style of painting. 

In Antwerp, Rubens received a humanist education, studying Latin and classical literature and at fourteen began his artistic apprenticeship.  When he completed his education in 1598, he entered the Guild of St. Luke as an independent master.   Two years later, he headed off to Italy where he could study the art of the Italian Masters, particularly Michelangelo, Raphael and Leonardo da Vinci.  He also carefully studied works by Titian, Veronese, Tintoretto and Caravaggio while he was very successful painting important personal and religious portraits of wealthy prominent people.   


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Rubens returned to Antwerp in 1608.  His return coincided with a period of renewed prosperity in the city with the signing of the Treaty of Antwerp in April 1609.  Rubens also married Isabella Brant and started a family.

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The Honeysuckle Bower (Alte Pinakothek, Munich)
photo by The Yorck Project, Direct Media Publ. courtesy of Wikimedia



In September 1609 Rubens was appointed as court painter to Albert VII, Archduke of Austria and Infanta Isabella Clara Eugenia of Spain.  He received special permission to base his studio in Antwerp instead of at their court in Brussels.  He was also allowed to work for other clients. As his painting style matured, he painted magnificent mythological, allegorical tableaux and religious altarpieces that emphasized movement, color, and sensuality and sometimes used such perspective that the scene seemed about to tumble out of the canvas at times. 

photos above courtesy of Wikimedia
top left to right Descent From The Cross (Hermitage Museum) & The Fall of Phaeton (Nat Gallery of Art Washington D.C.)     bottom left to right Family of Jan Brueghel the Elder (Courtauld Institute of Art) & The Rape of the Daughters of Leucippus (Alte Pinakothek Munich)

Thanks to Rubens and his circle, Antwerp again became a cultural center.  During a time when painter and sculptors were still frequently seen as craftsmen and artisans, Rubens was the epitome of a gentleman-painter.  He was wealthy, celebrated and often traveled on diplomatic missions to the royal courts of Europe.

In 1610, Rubens bought a house which he remodeled into a magnificent, Italian-style mansion.   The artist lived with his wife and children, and worked in the house for almost 30 years. 

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He hosted royalty and the luminaries of the day at his home and worked, along with his apprentices; in his large light-filled studio to create his extravagant Baroque works. He also had an impressive personal art gallery and library, where he collected his favorite works.

As with many historic homes, the Rubens house went through many changes and experienced quite a bit of destruction during its long existence. 
The house has been carefully restored to what historians and restoration experts believe is a close approximation to how it would have appeared when Rubens lived and worked in the home.  The present layout is based on a floor plan drawn from memory by an eighteenth-century visitor.

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No one has ever been able to locate the inventory from the time of Rubens’ death, so the interior décor and personal items are those that would have been in the home of a wealthy family from the period when Rubens would have occupied the residence.

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Only two parts of Rubens original design and construction for his house survive substantially intact; the screen and triumphal arch which forms the passageway from the house to the garden, and the garden pavilion. 

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This is the “Rubenshuis” house museum you can visit today and we loved every minute of the visit!

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A Craving So Satisfied at Allerlei Bistro - Restaurant in Den Bosch Netherlands

8/4/2014

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Sometimes you just need a hamburger!  Most of us travelers have been at that place where you just don’t want any more regional food and long for a good old-fashioned hamburger.  Well Jim and I were at that point when we finally reached the beautiful town of  ‘s-Hertogenbosch in the Netherlands, about three-quarters through our Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg road trip.

Fortunately for us, we found Allerlei Bistro/Restaurant just a few streets away from our hotel (Bossche Suites) in ‘s-Hertogenbosch. 
We chose to sit outside at one of the many busy tables along the festive restaurant lined street, Korte Putstraat.

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I have to admit, we were tempted by the many fabulous items offered on the menu, such as oysters and sashimi, and especially the tender new asparagus which were in season or the mussels for which both Jim and I have a weakness, but we remained true to our hamburger search.
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What we didn’t expect, was that this hamburger would be one of the best we ever had in all our travels!  A fresh twisted bun, perfectly cooked Angus beef, and wonderful local fresh-made dressing made our mouths water.  While we were a little intimidated to ask for it, we did ask for the addition of those American staples, tomato, lettuce and onion and the server was so friendly and kind to immediately agree to our request.  I can still remember the taste of that burger! 

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I took a peek inside and the interior of the restaurant is cozy and oh-so-charming.  I could easily picture sitting at the bar or one of the tables on a cold wintery day enjoying a delicious meal. 

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As it was, we enjoyed the sunny early summer afternoon sitting in the lovely pedestrian street filled with hungry diners.  If you ever have the pleasure to spend time in Den Bosch, be sure to stop by Allerlei Bistro/Restaurant because you won’t be disappointed! 

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    A Dark Cool Spiritual Beauty - Eglise St Martin In Colmar France
    A Day At The Getty Center In Los Angeles
    A Day Of Art In Washington D.C.
    A Day Trip South From Dublin: Windswept Wicklow Mountains & The Monastery Of Glendalough
    A Drive On Dingle Peninsula: Photo-Montage
    A Drive Through Luxembourg's Mosel Valley
    A Few Favorite Sculptures From Flagler Museum In Palm Beach
    Alaska
    Alaskan Cruise Excursions? Our Recommendation: Take A Bush-Plane To Taku Glacier Lodge!
    Alligator Adventures In Myrtle Beach - South Carolina
    Almost Christmas In Scotland! Edinburgh & Glasgow Christmas Markets
    Almost Time To Leave For The Netherlands - Belgium & Luxembourg!
    Alone In The Catacombs Of Paris
    Amsterdam - A Photo Tour Of Bikes
    An Ancient Steamy Realm - The Roman Baths In Bath England
    A Netherlands-Belgium-Luxembourg Road Trip Series Kickoff!
    A Never To Be Forgotten Visit To Auschwitz-Birkenau
    Antwerp - A Photo Journey In The Historic Core
    Antwerp Home Of A Baroque Master Artist - Rubenshuis
    Antwerp's Cathedral Of Our Lady - Surviving The Centuries
    Apostles Whales & Shipwrecks: The Great Ocean Road
    A Secret
    A Secret House Church In Amsterdam
    A Spectacular View - Up Among The Spires And Statuary Of The Milan Duomo
    A Stone Fort In The Center Of River Suir: Cahir Castle
    Australia
    Australian Trek Long Trip Getting There But Oh That First Vbef1bdb2bf2
    A Visit To Amsterdam's 18th And 19th Century At The Willet-Holthuysen House Museum
    A Walking Tour -Milan Cathedral-Galleria-La Scala-Sforza Castle And DaVinci's Last Supper
    Back In Sydney! Darling Harbor & A Riverboat Cruise
    Beautiful Baroque Solothurn - A City Steeped In Switzerland's History
    Beautiful Vienna: The Whole City Is A Waltz!
    Belgium
    Berlin
    Berliner Dom - In Search Of Berlin's Historic Churches
    Berlin Impressions - A Peek At The Fab City
    Berlin's Magnificent Neptunbrunnen
    Blowing Off Winter Blues In Alexandria Va
    Blue Mountains & A Turn Of The Century Health Retreat
    Bossche Suites Hotel - Our European Apartment Fantasy In Historic 's-Hertogenbosch
    Bracka 6 - A Lovely Luxury Apartment In The Center Of Krakow
    Bringing Back Greek Wine Memories At Tarpon Springs Fl
    Brisbane Australia & Holding A Koala At The Lone Pine Sanctuary
    California
    Camel Rides & Sacred Caves: The Magic Of Uluru
    Canada
    Canals And The Old City
    Changing Of The Guard Video
    Chateau De Bourscheid - Imagining A Castle Life In A Beautiful Ruin
    Chateau De Chillon - Lake Geneva's Swiss Fairytale Castle
    Chateau De Modave: Exploring A Fabulous 17th Century French Country House
    Chateau Vianden - A Fairy-Tale Hilltop Castle
    Chateaux Hours Road Signs & Rossetta Stone
    Chilly Edinburgh Nights: A Photo Journey
    Christ Church - Dublin's Other Ancient Cathedral
    Cigars & Creole Food - A Fine Time At The Bayou Room & 219 Restaurant Alexandria VA
    Climbing For A Birds Eye View At Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse
    Colmar France - Most Beautiful Medieval City In Alsace!
    Columbia - California's Best Preserved Historic Mining Town
    Cow Puddle
    Craigmillar Castle: A Refuge For Mary Queen Of Scots
    Cruising
    Cruising To Hawaii - An Easy Way To Travel And Spend Time With Family
    Delicious Schnitzel By The Spree River At Brecht's In Berlin
    Delving Into German History At Berlin's Deutsches Historisches Museum
    Delving Into The Most Famous Historic Close In Edinburgh
    Dining With A View Of Windmills At 5 D' Vijf Broers Bar And Restaurant
    Downtown Disney District - A Street Filled With Fun!
    Driving Through Luxembourg's Little Switzerland
    Dublin
    Edinburgh - A City Full Of Noble Statuary!
    England
    Enjoy A Private Drive Along The Danube Bend
    Evening In Rynek Glowny - A Photo Portrait Of Krakow's Market Square
    Excursion To Historic Kauai - Grove Farm & Kauai Plantation Railway
    Exploring A Scottish Royal Dynasty At Stirling Castle
    Exploring Hungary - Budapest To Vienna: Sometimes You Just Need A Private Car & Driver!
    Exploring The Grand History Of Paris At The Musee Carnavalet
    Exploring Wieliczka Krakow's Medieval Royal Salt Mine
    Fabulous Color And Storybook Beauty In Wroklaw Poland's Medieval Market Square
    Festive Days In 's-Hertogenbosch - Pilgrims Celebrate
    Finding Dutch Masters At The Rijksmuseum In Amsterdam
    Finding The Matterhorn - An Out-of-Bounds Drive To Zermatt!
    Find Yourself In Killarney Ireland? Take A Carriage Ride Along Muckross Lake!
    Fl
    Florida
    Following The Pilgrims To Saint Servaas Basilica In Maastricht
    Fort De Soto Park -Terre Verde Florida: Our Pilgrimage Place
    France
    France And Switzerland Road Trip!
    Fun And Gaming At Harrahs Cherokee Casino Resort
    Gemaldegalerie Berlin - Everything I Dreamed A World-Class Collection Of Old Master Paintings Would Be
    Georgetown: History Walk
    Georgetown: National Cathedral
    Germany
    Getting Ready For The Amazing Italy
    Glacier Bay: You Won't Have To Even Leave The Ship To Visit These Glaciers!
    Going To Dublin? Don't Miss THE TEMPLE BAR In Temple Bar!
    Goldmines & Sheep & Kangaroos: Driving The Heart Of Victoria
    Grand Cafe Au Mouton Blanc In Maastricht - Our Rainy Day Refuge!
    Gravestones And Georgetown Univ.
    Greece
    Gruyeres Is Not Just For Cheese - The Chateau De Gruyeres
    H10 Berlin Ku'damm Hotel - Stylish Comfort In The Heart Of Berlin
    Hanging With Pirates And The Gilded Age
    Haus Am Checkpoint Charlie - Learning About The History Of The Berlin Wall
    Have You Been To The Top Of The Arc De Triomphe In Paris?
    Have You Peered Over The Edge Of The Cliffs Of Moher?
    Hawaii
    Helicoptering In For A Sunset Dinner In The Grand Canyon!
    Hieronymus Bosch - Painter Of Nightmares And Dreams In 's-Hertogenbosch
    Holyrood Abbey: A Graceful & Evocative Ruin
    Home In The Foothills Of L.A. - I Have Missed This Beautiful Place!
    Home Sweet Ship - A Few Pics Around A Beautiful Ship
    Hotel Britannique - A Small Gem In Maastricht Netherlands
    Hotel Freienhof - Modern Swiss Comfort And Fabulous Views!
    Hotel Monaco - Our Favorite Hotel In Alexandria VA
    Hotel & Spa Internazionale Bellinzona -Modern Comfort-Relaxing Spa And UNESCO Heritage!
    How We Tried To Cross The Swiss Alps In May And Mother Nature Smacked Us Down!
    Http://apartamenty-bracka-6.hotel-krakow.net/#mobile-accordion
    Hungary
    I Finally Made It To The Pantheon In Paris To Visit Some Of The Greatest French Citizens
    Impressions Of Milan
    Indulging Our Inner Child At Lion Country Safari In Florida
    Inside The Milan Cathedral!
    Into The Ireland Of Old At Bunratty Castle & Folk Park
    Ireland
    Is There Anything More English Than Fog?
    Just Being Big Kids At The National Museum Of Scotland
    Ka De We - Berlin's Iconic Shopping And Food Hall
    Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church - In Search Of Berlin's Historic Churches
    Kensington Palace - A Royal Home Since The 17th Century
    Kilkenny: Beautiful Medieval City & Home To Smithwick's Beer!
    Kilts And All Manner Of Things!
    Krakow
    Krakow At Night - A Photo Portrait
    La Krutenau Wistub -Alsatian Food And Wine In Colmar's Little Venice
    Last Cruise Port Ensenada Mexico Does Bad Press Make Us Fear Going Ashorefb179e6751
    Learning About Native Culture & History Of Southeastern Alaska: Saxman Native Village - Ketchikan
    Learning About Poland's Jewish History In The Kazimierz District Of Krakow
    Learning About Southeastern Florida Habitats At Macarthur Beach State Park
    Le Colombier Hotel And Suites A Blend Of Renaissance History And Modern Style5be4ede7f5
    Le Petite Trianon - A Queen's Private Domain And Escape
    Looking For Bog People At The National Museum Of Ireland Archeology In Dublin
    Looking Up In London And Paris
    Luxembourg
    Luxembourg City's Ancient Defenses - The Bock - Casemates
    Marienkirche - In Search Of Berlin's Historic Churches
    Marriott Renaissance Amsterdam Hotel - Great Location - Great Comfort
    Melbourne: Too Little Time In A Beautiful City
    Mexico
    Musee Rodin - Soaking Up Sculpture On A Rainy Day In Paris
    My Dream Of Masterpieces At Musee Unterlinden
    Mystical Romanesque Beauty: Basilica Of Our Lady In Maastricht
    National Gallery Of Scotland: A Rainy Day Delight
    Netherlands
    Nikolaikirche - In Search Of Berlins Historic Churches
    Not In The Mood For A Guided Tour? Wandering In Kona Hawaii
    Notre-Dame Cathedral In Luxembourg - The Only Cathedral In The Duchy!
    Oahu - Ditching Our Tour Of The Arizona For Waikiki Beach!
    One Blustery Day In Maastricht Netherlands
    Ornate And Fabulous: The Chateau De Versailles Is A Royal Gem
    Our Last Day In Australia: A Bridge-A Botanical Garden-A House Museum & Just Walking
    Our Private Driver Takes Us From Budapest To Vienna
    Parc Beaux-Arts Hotel - A Historic Beauty With Modern Luxury
    Pics From Vilano Beach
    Pierogi Love In Krakow Poland!
    Planning A Trip To France
    Playing Hide & Seek With Gnomes In Wroclaw Poland!
    Poland
    Protecting Ancient World Artifacts At The British Museum
    Rejuvenating Our Souls In St. Giles Kirk: Edinburgh
    Rossilyn Chapel: A Sculptural Gem And Knight Templar Mystery
    Sacred Ruins At The Rock Of Cashel
    Sainte Chapelle: The Jewel Chapel Of Paris
    San Maurizio Al Monastero Maggiore And Museo Archeologico- Two Museums In One Monastery
    Schloss Thun - Watching Over The Medieval Town Of Thun For Centuries
    Scotland
    Searching For Ruthven Ancestors At Huntingtower Castle In Perth Scotland
    Searching For The Illuminati Of Paris In Cimetiere Du Pere Lachaise
    Seeing Berlin From A Horse And Carriage
    Sharing Our New Favorite Travel Tip - Fighting Flight Exhaustion!
    Skagway: Up To The White Pass On A Vintage Gold Rush Railway
    Spring Blooms Early At The Old Town Alexandria Farmers Market
    Stary Ratusz - The Beautiful Gothic Town Hall Of Wroclaw Poland
    St. Augustine
    St Augustine Arrival In A Hot Paradisee192da77d7
    St Augustine Cathedral Basilica9e49e63f83
    Staying In Yorkey's Knob? Visit The Kuranda Rainforest & Great Barrier Reef!
    Stepping Into Wwii History At Bastogne Barracks In Belgium
    St Mary's Basilica In Krakow - A Sacred Space Filled With Golden Stars
    St Paul's Church Antwerp - Beautiful Blend Of Brabantine Gothic & Flemish Baroque
    Sunday In Delft - A Photo Journey
    Switzerland
    Tapas Or Italian? Both Are Great Choices In Alexandria VA
    The Anne Frank House - Most Moving Museum We Have Ever Visited
    The California Science Museum - Family Fun While Learning!
    The Cathedral That Grew From A Well: St. Patrick's Cathedral Dublin
    The Church Of Saints Peter And Paul And St Andrew's Apostle Church - Holy Neighbors In Krakow Poland
    The Grand Trianon - Even A French King Needs To Get Away Sometimes!
    The Hilton Antwerp Old Town Hotel - Fab Luxury And Location!
    The Hungarian's Mediterranean: Lake Balaton
    The Huntington - Museum And Gardens Of My Heart
    The Mandala Hotel In Berlin - An Oasis Of Peace In A Busy City!
    The National Museum In Wroclaw - A World-Class Collection Of Polish Art-History
    The Oude Kerk - Oldest Church In Amsterdam
    The Pergamon Museum - Fabulous Even Without The Altar Of Pergamon
    Three Castles In Belinzona Switzerland - A UNESCO World Heritage Site - Part 2 - Castello Di Sasso Corbaro
    Three Castles In Bellinzona - A UNESCO World Heritage Site - Part 1 - Castelgrande
    Three Castles In Bellinzona Switzerland - A UNESCO World Heritage Site - Part 3 - Castello Di Montebello
    Three Girls And A Boy Berlin's Spree River Bronzes
    Thun Switzerland - Historic Market Town And Holiday Resort On The Thunersee
    Top Of Our Budapest List! Buda: The Royal Hill
    Touring The Boyne Valley: Finding Braveheart At Trim Castle
    Touring The Boyne Valley In Ireland: Monasterboice
    Touring The Boyne Valley In Ireland: Newgrange (Bru Na Boinne)
    Touring The Boyne Valley In Ireland: The Hill Of Slane
    Traditional Dutch Food Beside One Of Amsterdam's Oldest Canals At Restaurant Haven Van Texel
    Travel Tip Alert Rental Car Manuals Arent In English406f0b53a4
    Travel Tips
    Two 19th Century Icons You Must See Before Leaving Budapest
    UNA Maison Milano - Modern Italian Luxury In The Historic Center Of Milan
    Victoria British Columbia A Visit To Butchart Gardens One Of Canadas Premier Gardens5e89ce6cc0
    Virginia
    Visiting Berlin's Royal Past At Schloss Charlottenburg
    Visiting Protected Ancient Artifacts At The British Museum
    Walking Through Lahainas Past Presenta2dd8c0225
    Want To Drive A Speed Boat Cruise Tampa Bay With Speed Boat Adventures2d001d3258
    Washington Dc
    Water Toilets Two Great Travel Challenges917c974757
    Wawel Royal Castle - Home To Poland's Kings And Queens For Centuries
    We're Back! The Amazing Italy France & Switzerland Road-Trip!
    What To Do When Your Gps Gives You The Choice Of
    Where Do They Make Kumquat Liqueur In Greece? CORFU!
    Where Do They Make Queen Victoria's Porcelain? Herend Porcelain Factory In Hungary!
    Where The High Kings Of Tara Rest: Clonmacnoise
    Where To Find The Best Sour Cherry Liqueur? Pannonhalma Archabbey In Hungary!
    Whitehall - A Gilded Age Estate Built For A Bride
    Who Doesn't Love LEGOS?
    Who Knew The Eiffel Tower Could Be So Moody?
    Wicklow Mountains & Glendalough
    Wroclaw
    Zaanse Schans - A Dutch Living History Village And Its Windmills

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