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If you ask a Belgian where they
like to travel within their own country, many
will tell you about the friendly city of Ghent.
With most of the town center closed to cars, they
will probably also tell you that Belgium’s
third largest city is best explored on two
wheels or by boat
along the elegant canals.
Ghent is an unassuming,
un-touristy city filled with university students,
linger-as-long-as-you-like cafes, well priced
restaurants and vibrant energy. It’s a city
with great mustard, Stropke beer
(which is Flemish for noose), and the ten day
Ghent Celebrations held every year in July where
the inhabitants go all out with theater performances,
concerts, singing, dancing, and drinking.
Under
the watchful eye of Gravensteen Castle
or Castle of the Counts, the city boasts
an Opera House, 18 museums, 100 churches and over
400 historical buildings. The most visited site
in Ghent is the famous & beautiful polyptych,
Adoration of the Mystic Lamb painted
by the brothers Jan and Hubert van Eyck in 1432.
For the most notable sites see Ghent
Highlights below.
| Ghent Highlights |
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Gravensteen
Castle
Also known as the Castle of the Counts, this
forbidding, gray fortress was built
by the count of Flanders, Philip of Alsace,
in 1180. The castle contains a crypt,
a dungeon a court museum and an exhibition
of historical weapons and armor. |
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St.
Bavo Cathedral & Ghent Altarpiece
This
beautiful cathedral combines Romanesque,
high Gothic and late Gothic architectural
styles but is best known for housing the
15th century polyptych, Adoration
of the Mystic Lamb. |
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The
Mustard Store
Offering
more of a bite than its Dijon cousins,
the mustard of Ghent at Tierenteyn has
lured gourmets since 1790. Locals swear
by it! |
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Stadhuis
(City Hall)
Built
partly in flamboyant Gothic style and
partly in Renaissance style, it is a witness
of the architectural development in Ghent
during the 16th century. Each of the magnificent
halls has its own identity. |
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St Peter's Abbey
Organizes cultural & historical exhibitions in the Abbey of St. Peter, one of the most beautiful monuments in Ghent. |
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Groot
Vleeshuis
Formerly
the city’s meat house, it has been
converted into a one-stop showcase for
the region’s most delectable specialties.
Country hams hang from the rafters slowly
curing in the cool air while raw-milk
cheeses, gift boxes of pralines, and six
packs of living beers tempt your palate. |
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The
Graslei and Korenlei Rivers
The
elegant facades along these waterways
reflect different periods in history through
architectural style. Both open and covered
boats are available for sightseeing tours
day or night. |
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