Antwerp - Sint-Carolus Borromeuskerk

Two Jesuit priests named d'Aguillon and Huyssens were the architects of Sint-Carolus Borromeuskerk, built between 1614 and 1621 on Hendrik Conscienceplein, a couple of minutes walk northeast of the cathedral. A devastating fire in 1718 largely destroyed the church, after which it was rebuilt in a less opulent style. Among the decorations lost forever were ceiling paintings, 39 in all, by artists from Rubens' workshop and also by van Dyck. The full Baroque splendor of the original church can now only be glimpsed, primarily in the magnificent, clearly articulated main facade the design of which is attributed to Rubens himself. The 58m/190ft bell tower is considered one of the loveliest in Belgium.