Ghent City Guide

Ghent is a beautiful medieval city, once the biggest city in western Europe due to its cloth trade. Ghent is now the fourth biggest city in Belgium, offering fantastic gothic architecture, a wide range of bars, restaurants and cafés to relax in, and the Ghent flower show every 5 years.

What to do and see in and around Ghent

St Bavo's Cathedral
The gothic Cathedral is famous for "The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb" an altarpiece by Hubert and Jan van Eyck painted in 1432. Rubens' "St Baaf entering the Abbey of Ghent" is also in the Cathedral in the north transept. The crypt of the cathedral has a collection of collection of paintings and church utensils.

Lakenhalle & Belfry
The Lakenhalle (Drapers' Hall) was built in the 15th century, to mark the height of the cloth trade in Ghent. However just before it could be completed the cloth industry collapsed, the Lakenhalle was finally finished in 1903. Soaring above Lakenhalle is the 90 metre belfry offering views across Ghent, a glass lift provides easy access to the top of the tower.

Grass Quay and Corn Quay
Grass and Corn Quays run alongside the river Leie, and were the old harbour of Ghent, where men would unload their wheat, vegetables, herbs and other goods. The original late medieval gabled guildhouses still remain. The oldest house is the Spijker which dates from 12 century.

Gravensteen
The Gravensteen means the castle of the Counts of Flanders, built in the 12th century as an imposing and sinister reminder of the count's control over his subjects in Ghent. You can now take a tour around the Castle including the Courtyard, the Count's residence and the dungeon.

Museum of Contemporary Art (SMAK)
The Museum of Contemporary Art is one of Belgium's most prestigous museums. It contains art from World War II until the present day, including works from movements such as pop art or surrealism. Artists represented in the collection include Francis Bacon, Joseph Beuys and Magritte.

Town Hall
The Town Hall is in the center of Ghent, close to the Lakenhalle. There has been a town hall on this site since 1482, although the current Town Hall was built between the 16th and 18th centuries, leading to a mish-mash of architectural styles from Gothic to Renaissance. Visit the Courts of Justice within, or blue and white tiled floor maze.

Museum of Fine Arts
The Museum of Fine Arts is home to works of art from 14th century to 1940. The collection is mostly paintings including works by Heironymus Bosch, Rubens, Rodin, and many important works by Belgian artists. In the entrance are 2 tapestries, The history of Darius, and The glorification of the Gods - which originally hung in Ghent's Gavensteen.

Friday Market
The Vridjdagmarkt literally means Friday Market Square - as a market is held in the square every Friday! It was the political heart of Ghent where public meetings and executions were held. In the centre of the square is a statue of Ghent's hero Jacob van Artevelde. The square is surrounded by medieval houses.

Design Museum
The Design Museum was founded in 1903 and is collection of Belgian decorative and applied arts. An extension was added to the building in 1992 to house works from 1970 onwards, but the older section of the building includes 17th and 18th century collections, displayed in the original buildings interiors (built in 1755). There is an art nouveau section including works by Henry van der Velde, and Victor Horta.