Time away for some festive relaxation
When choosing somewhere to go to for a house exchange at this time of year, there can be no better destination than one of the many European cities that celebrate Christmas in a big way. Belgium, the heart of the European community, offers the chance to get away from it all and relax whilst taking away the pre-Christmas stress. Do your car hire comparison before you travel to ensure you get the best deal for your travel from Brussels Airport to take you off to Antwerp.
Located 40 mintees drive north of Brussels, Antwerp is a district that has much to offer and can be explored in a variety of ways. Once you’ve arrived and settled in, begin by exploring the city you’re staying in. Antwerp has a rich cultural background and so has a wide range of museums and galleries for you to visit. Make sure you take in a trip to Rubens House, where the world famous painter once lived and which has been renovated back to its original style and opened up as a museum dedicated to his life and work. Antwerp is famous for its architecture with a mix of Gothic, Baroque and Rococo styles across the city. However, there is a thriving modern art and architecture scene in the city and in nowhere is this more prevalent than at the newly opened Museum aan de Stroom, which is certainly worth the visit just to see it’s unique modern building. For more classical architecture, visit the Cathedral of Our Lady, a simply stunning building which dominates the Antwerp skyline.
If you’ve come to sample a European Christmas then Antwerp is perfect for this. There are a number of Christmas markets you can visit, including one at the Grote Markt in the heart of the old city. Here you can shop to your heart’s content and stock up on traditional decorations whilst getting a little bit tipsy on mulled wine. The Grote Markt is transformed into a winter wonderland and from the minute you step foot inside it, you’ll feel full of the festive spirit. It’s the perfect place to take the stress out of your Christmas shopping. Once you’ve finished shopping, take to the ice rink and try your best to stay upright, although that might just depend on how much mulled wine you’ve indulged in!
Once you’re done with shopping and want to venture out and explore the province further, take to the roads! The Antwerp Campine is a fantastic place to relax and take in the beauty of Belgium. Park your car up and then hire a bike to explore along the Campine’s many car-free roads. Take in the vast woods, sand-dunes, purple moors and lakes and let your eyes feast on the visual wonder of it all. If you feel like being even more adventurous, then take a drive to the Land van Stille. Here you can hike and discover the land which was the source of inspiration to many an artist over the years.
Natalie Likness’ love of travel was introduced to her from an early age due to a trip abroad before she was even born! Having close family and making friends across the world, she has continued to travel ever since.
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