Belgium - Ghent

From Paris, we flew to Brussels, then to Ghent for work. Ghent is a city and a municipality located in the Flemish region of Belgium. In a unique way, the beautiful Ghent has managed to preserve its medieval power while keeping up with the times.

Ghent has a string of superb Gothic buildings and a bevy of delightful, intimate streetscapes, where antique brick houses are woven around a skein of narrow canals.

The hotel (Harmony Hotel) where we stayed is situated in the heart of Ghent,  in a neighbourhood called 't Patershol, the oldest neighbourhood of Ghent. It has the perfect view of the canal. There are boat rides to see Ghent which I'm sure is a relaxing way to take in Ghent's beauty. Unfortunately, I did not have the time to do so :(

Castle of the Counts

Not far from the Graslei arises the Castle of the Counts, once the medieval fortress of the Count of Flanders.

Castle of the Count was built by Count Philip of Alsace at the point when he found himself at war with Picardy in northern France. It was built based on the ideas of the castles he had seen of his fellow crusaders.

St. Bavo's Cathedral

St. Bavo’s Cathedral houses an impressive number of art treasures: the baroque high altar in white, black and red flamed marble, the rococo pulpit in oak, gilded wood and marble, a major work by Rubens, the ‘Calvary Triptych’, attributed to Joos van Wassenhove, alias Justus van Gent, tombs of the Ghent bishops, and much more. However, one work stands out head and shoulders above the rest: the world-famous Adoration of the Mystic Lamb painted by Hubert and Jan van Eyck around 1432.

Saint Nicholas' Chruch, The Belfry
 & St. Bavo's Cathedral

The Belfry is the proudest symbol of the city’s independence. In a euphoric Brabant Gothic style, this monument glorifies the industry to which the city owes so much. At the corner of the Cloth Hall is an old jailer’s lodge.

The Belfry is the middle of the famous three-tower row, together with the Saint Bavo’s Cathedral and the Saint Nicholas’ Church.

The visit to Ghent is for work and did not really have the time to do the tourist thingy. Only had the opportunity to see these attractions from the outside, late in the evening. Am really glad, the visit was in summer when it's still very bright past 9pm. I'm sure I'll have the opportunity to visit Ghent again and have more time to be a "tourist" :)