Ghent, Belgium

Just as Karen wanted to be sure and pay a visit to Leiden, I wanted to visit Ghent, or Gent, using the Flemish spelling. I lived here for a total of nine months, six months in the summer and fall of 1978 and then for three more months in the winter and spring of 1980. I served here as a missionary for my church. Gent is the place in Belgium where I stayed the longest, and feel the most at home.

The Heart of the Old City

Although it is not as well known, or as frequently visited by tourists as the neighboring city of Brugge (Bruges), Gent has a rich history and beautiful architecture.

St. Michael's Bridge

 

This is the view, as seen while crossing the St. Michelsbrug, or St. Micheal's Bridge. The three towers in the background are the St. Niklaaskerk, Belfort, and St. Baafs Cathedral (left to right.) These three towers are the most well-known features of the skyline in old Gent.
 
  

Atop one of the lamp posts, near the center of the bridge, is the a wrought iron statue of St. Michael, slaying the dragon.
 
   The view from next to the St. Michael statute shows the Leie River, the Guild houses, and Gravensteen, the Count's Castle.

The Koorenmarkt and St. Baafsplein

Once across St. Michael's Bridge you find yourself near two central squares which which are located in close proximity to one another, The Koorenmarkt (Grain Market) and St. Baafsplein (St. Baaf's Square). These squares are surrounded on all sides by ancient buildings.

 
The Koorenmarkt, lined with old buildings, was once the center of commerce of the city. The flags of Ghent (black) and Flanders (yellow) are seen flying.
 
The Belfort is the city's bell tower. Below it is the Lakenhalle, or Cloth Hall, where the members of the once-powerful weaver's guild met.
 
 
A variety of interesting gables rise above St. Baafsplein.
 
St. Baaf's Cathedral is the foremost church in Ghent.
 
 

 
The massive altar inside St. Baaf's Cathedral.
 

  

Detail photo showing just some of the statuary inside of the Cathedral. The entire Cathedral is filled with very beautiful and ornate pieces of artistic work, such as this.
 

 

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This page was created February 11,1999

This page was last updated October 12, 1999