Ghent
根特 · Ghent, Belgium
In the city centre you can walk the walls of Gravensteen, the Castle of the Counts, for views over the old town; the guild houses of the Graslei and Korenlei are reflected in the Leie, and St Bavo's Cathedral holds the Van Eyck brothers' Ghent Altarpiece.
Know before you go
- Using flash in the altarpiece gallery
- pushing or running on the castle walls
- stepping backwards near the edge of waterside steps to frame a shot
This article is Not yet verified. Please check official announcements for prices, opening hours and dates.
Stories & people
Stories & people
History
The noose bearers
After the failed Revolt of Ghent in 1539, Charles V, himself a native of the city, punished it severely: its nobles had to walk barefoot before him with nooses around their necks. The people of Ghent were nicknamed "Stroppendragers" (noose bearers). St Bavo's Abbey was also torn down and replaced with a fortress for Spanish troops.
Source: Wikipedia: Ghent
History
The students who stormed the castle
On 16 November 1949, 138 Ghent University students stormed Gravensteen in protest at a new beer tax, lowering the portcullis, barricading the gate and "capturing" a guard. They were eventually removed, and thanks to public sympathy none was prosecuted; the episode is popularly known as the "Battle of Gravensteen".
Source: Wikipedia: Gravensteen
Culture
Culture & customs
Background
Ghent lies in East Flanders, Belgium, where the Leie meets the Scheldt. Gravensteen, the Castle of the Counts in the city centre, was built in 1180 by Philip of Alsace, Count of Flanders, on the site of an older fortification, both as the count's residence and to overawe the townspeople who often challenged his authority. It later served as a court, a prison and a mint, and in the 19th century even as a cotton mill; from 1893 the city restored it extensively to an imagined medieval appearance, and today it is a museum. The medieval guild houses of the Graslei and Korenlei are reflected in the Leie, and St Bavo's Cathedral holds the Van Eyck brothers' Ghent Altarpiece, unveiled in 1432. Ghent grew from the settlements around two abbeys, St Peter's and St Bavo's, founded around the 7th century. In the 13th century it became Europe's leading cloth centre, with wool coming mainly from England and Scotland, and was for a time the largest city north of the Alps after Paris. The Holy Roman Emperor Charles V was born in Ghent in 1500. Ghent University was founded in 1816, and the city's many students give it a youthful atmosphere.
Local customs
Walk the walls of Gravensteen to see the belfry, the spire of St Bavo's and the canal network. Take a boat along the Leie past the Graslei and Korenlei. Go into St Bavo's Cathedral to see the Ghent Altarpiece. The city's restaurants offer plenty of vegetarian choices, and you can try Ghent's local sweets and beers.
Etiquette & taboos
Etiquette & taboos
Don’t DON'T
- Using flash in the altarpiece gallery
- pushing or running on the castle walls
- stepping backwards near the edge of waterside steps to frame a shot
Locals appreciate DO
- Keep quiet in churches and the altarpiece gallery
- hold the handrails on the castle stairs
- watch your footing and passing boats when taking photos by the canals
Plan your visit
Practical info
Travel tips
- The castle uses timed entry
- check ticket prices and opening hours on official information. Its stone stairs are steep and uneven and there is no lift, so take care if you have limited mobility
- summer weekends and midday are busiest, and it is quieter soon after opening. The old town is walkable, but many streets are cobbled, so wear flat shoes
- the altarpiece has its own visiting arrangements, so confirm before you go.
- Trains from Brussels take about half an hour to Gent-Sint-Pieters station, then a tram of about 20 minutes or a walk brings you into the old town. Walking and cycling are both easy in the old town, and canal boats depart from the Graslei area. The city can be visited all year: in spring and summer the canal banks are at their liveliest, good for boat trips and open-air dining
- autumn and winter are quieter, and the old town's Christmas lights and markets are worth seeing.
Photos
Photos
Julian Lupyan · CC0
Zairon · CC BY-SA 4.0
