Ghent is the capital of Flanders, one of the national regions of Belgium. This charming town has preserved its medieval atmosphere. At every step in Ghent you can see a landmark – the old Gothic cathedrals and houses with elegant facades.
Ghent in the 17th century had already become the center of trade and industry throughout Flanders. Although walking around the city, does not let go the feeling that you’re in a fairy tale place with fairies and dragonflies. Every few years the whole of Europe comes here for the flower festival.
Top 10 attractions in Ghent
We offer you a brief description of the sights of Ghent in Belgium with photos and hope that very soon you will visit this wonderful city to personally touch its ancient monuments. So, what can I see in Ghent?
Friday Market Square
It is one of the oldest squares in the city and has witnessed many events. It was here that coronations of monarchs and executions of criminals took place, guilds quarreled with each other over the rules of trade, personal dramas occurred.
The Friday market on this square has been gathering since the 12th century, and it has become an immutable tradition. The sky is more likely to fall to the ground than the market will not gather on Friday. The square is surrounded by beautiful buildings of the Late Middle Ages and the New Ages.
Ghent Town Hall
The local town hall was built in the first half of the 16th century. Over the centuries it has changed several architectural styles: Northern Gothic, Renaissance, Empire and Baroque. They are all separately perfectly visible on separate parts of the building.
Earlier on the site of the City Hall there was a house of one of the trading guilds of Ghent. In the 19th century, the Town Hall was completely reconstructed and restored, its interior was renewed. As it should be, the mayor and his staff still work in the City Hall today.
Ghent Post
It is a monument of early 20th century architecture, in which neo-Gothic and neo-Renaissance are beautifully combined. On the facade of the post office there are three sculptures symbolizing Belgium, Flanders and Wallonia. This facade is a must-see in Ghent.
A clock tower with a high Gothic spire, the local Big Ben, rises harmoniously above the building. It is important to note that the post office moved out of here a long time ago; the building houses the local structure of local businesses.
Beffroix Tower
Centuries ago, when the enemy approached the city or a fire or other disaster occurred, the tower would immediately start ringing the bell, simply beating the alarm, alerting the population to big trouble in the near future.
The Beffroix Tower was built in the 14th century. During the Late Middle Ages it became for most Ghent residents a symbol of freedom and independence from Belgium. It is no secret that relations between Flanders and Wallonia are very complicated.
Castle of the Counts of Flanders
It is one of the most important historical sites of Ghent and the whole of Flanders. The powerful castle, built in the 12th century, is today the most beloved and visited by tourists. The spirit of the Middle Ages is stronger here than anywhere else.
The Castle of the counts and today is in excellent condition, it survived to this day almost without major destruction. Here were the residence of the counts, mint, fortifications, armory, etc. Today there is a museum.
The Castle of Gerard the Devil
This stern and gloomy castle, built in the 13th century, once belonged to the son of the Count of Flanders, who murdered several wives in a row and was nicknamed the “Devil”. Probably one of the prototypes of the Bluebeard, of which there were many in the Middle Ages.
The castle was built in the Romanesque style, but as the centuries passed its architectural style has changed several times. The castle now has a late Gothic style. It formerly housed a monastery, a prison, the Ghent archives, a house of the insane, etc.
The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist. Bavona
This cathedral belongs to the Catholic diocese of Ghent. It was built in the 13th century in the Romanesque style. Strictly following architectural fashion, the cathedral was rebuilt in the 14th century and acquired its modern Gothic style.
The most important value of this cathedral is the altar. It was painted in the Flemish Renaissance style by the Van Eyck brothers, world-famous artists from the Netherlands, who painted great paintings on religious and everyday subjects.
Museum of Fine Arts
This museum in Ghent has a huge and very diverse collection of paintings. There are many worthy art galleries in Belgium, but the one in Ghent is one of the best. The museum opened in the early 20th century, and has truly countless artistic treasures.
In the 18th century, the Jesuit order was outlawed in Europe. Therefore, confiscated paintings belonging to the Jesuits formed the basis of the museum’s collection. Later, some of them were stolen and sent to Paris. Ghent has not yet been able to get them back.
Ghent Station
There used to be a small railroad station on the site of this station. And the current station was built for the Expo-1913 in Ghent. Thus, on the eve of World War I, little Flanders welcomed almost the entire world.
Today, the Kent station is the 2nd largest in terms of the number of passengers carried. Trains from it run to all domestic destinations and most EU countries. A decade ago the station underwent a major restoration.
Pieta Becarta Garden
This garden reflects the genius of its creator. Bekaert built the house to his own architectural design for his family. And around the house planted a beautiful garden, which, thanks to the glazing, became one with the house.
Beckart likes boxwoods and quite simple plants, which made the garden not pompous, but rather a very refined and elegant landscape. The plant compositions are backlit by the sun and wonderfully shaded.
There is an artificial pond dug around the house, which gives the viewer the impression that the house stands on the surface of the lake. There are beautifully trimmed boxwoods, lilies, peltifillum, etc. around.
Video overview of the sights of Ghent
Ghent is one of the European tourist centers, where people come from all over the world to observe the remnants of traditional European identity, to feel the chivalrous spirit of the Middle Ages, to see the real northern Gothic.
