Being a city with many old buildings, you will have things to see. Take a giant escape game to discover the main sites while having fun. Visit the city\'s castles and gothic churches of the city, like the oldest church of the town, Saint-Nicolas, built from the 13th to the 15th century with blue stones ►
Being a city with many old buildings, you will have things to see. Take a giant escape game to discover the main sites while having fun. Visit the city\'s castles and gothic churches of the city, like the oldest church of the town, Saint-Nicolas, built from the 13th to the 15th century with blue stones of Tournai, or the castle of the Counts of Flanders, built in the 12th century. In front of this castle, you will find the massive gate of the old fish market, flanked by the Lys (woman) and the Scheldt (man). In its center is Neptune, the god of the seas. You can also discover the castle of Gerard the Devil, which bears the name of the knight Geeraard Vilain, nicknamed the Devil because of his dark skin, and the 91-meter high belfry, classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. With its gothic architecture, it is the symbol of freedom, prosperity, and power. To enter, you must pass by the cloth market, a Gothic building built in the 15th century but finished in the 20th century.
Walk or cycle along the river Lys and admire the old houses of Graslei and Korenlei. You can also discover the city by taking a boat trip. On the quay of Korenlei, you can see two swans on the façade of the Marriott Hotel. The one swimming to the left represents a woman, and the one floats to the right means drink! Wander through the medieval streets of Patershol, a neighborhood known for its restaurants, cafes, bars, and period houses. Refresh yourself with an excellent local beer called Gruut. Take a culinary world tour. Italian, Indonesian, or Spanish restaurants, there is something for everyone! But remember to taste the local cuisine at the Grande Boucherie, a medieval covered market in Gothic style. Flemish Carbonnade, waterzooï, Ganda ham... There are so many dishes to discover.
Want to learn more about the city? Visit the STAM to discover the history of Ghent from the Middle Ages to the present day. Visit the oldest museum in Belgium, the Museum of Fine Arts. And to keep with the theme, watch The Mystic Lamb by the Van Eyck brothers. Painted on oak panels and completed in 1432, it is considered a masterpiece of Flemish Primitive painting. To view it, head to the former baptistery of St. Bavo\'s Cathedral, a Gothic church with a rich history.
Take advantage of the festival of light, which takes place every 3 years for 5 days. You will see a sublime show.
Before leaving, look at the city from the Saint-Michel Bridge. In addition to a breathtaking panorama of the city, you will be able to see, in the center of the arch, a lamp post on which is a bronze statue of the archangel Michael with a dragon at his feet. This biblical reference was when he chased a demon-ridden dragon out of heaven. And above all, leave with your jar of Tierenteyn-Verlent mustard and chocolates.
◄
