Ghent is an enchanting and vibrant city in the heart of Flanders. According to National Geographic Traveler Magazine, Ghent is the most lively and authentic of Europe’s historic cities. The Lonely Planet travel guides agree, listing Ghent as one of their top 10 destinations for 2011. The historical center of town is gorgeous, with beautiful churches, béguinages and museums to visit. The Ghent Cathedral is home to the world-famous Ghent Altarpiece – the World’s first major oil painting is a key piece of art history, with a fascinating history of theft and forgery.
For more information on visiting Ghent, please visit Ghent’s tourist information site.
Ghent’s location in the heart of Flanders also makes it a good hub from which to visit cities like Ypres (45 mins by train), home to the Menin Gate with its daily The Last Post ceremony and the impressive Flanders Fields Museum; beautiful Bruges with its picturesque canals (20 mins by train); or Rubenesque Antwerp (50 mins by train).
What’s on?
Gent Jazz Festival 10-19 July 2015.
The Restoration of the Adoration of the Lamb.
Photo Gallery – A few of the sights to see
The famous “three towers,” as seen from Saint Michael’s Bridge.
The old Meat Market along the banks of the Lys.