Church of St. Carl Borromeo
Hendrik Conscienceplein Square
Description:
A Baroque church with a magnificent facade, built in Antwerp by the Jesuit Order between 1615 and 1621. It is noteworthy that the famous painter Peter Paul Rubens had a hand in the design of its facade and a large part of the interior.
On July 18, 1718, lightning struck the church. This sparked a massive fire that killed 39 of Rubens' priceless masterpieces. Most of the original marbles were also destroyed. Only the apses of the main altar and the chapel of Mary have survived in their original form. You can still see them now.
An interesting detail and attraction of the temple is the original mechanism that changes the paintings behind the altar. Since the XVII century, it has been preserved in working condition and is still in operation, which is very impressive for tourists and visitors to the temple.