Ghent in Belgium

[Thos]

My wife and I are going to Ghent in Belgium for a few days next week. Anyone been there or know anything about the place firsthand?

And no jokes about famous Belgians, please.

Thos. :D

[dadyassa]

Neverbeen there but click here

PS I lurvvvve the buns :lol:

[Redhat]

I believe there is an "egghead café" with murder mystery evenings :lol:

[expertec]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghent

[andsome]

Belgian beer is good, and nothing like so called continental lager in this country

[Redhat]

Belgian beer is good, and nothing like so called continental lager in this country

Too true. Leffe is the nicest beer I've ever tasted.

[Gagaman]

I live in Belgium... more or less 100 km. from Gent ( I leave near Antwerp).

I can assure you that Ghent is definitevely worth a visit. Its one of the nicer Belgian city's.

Ghent online

Here is some info, I used Babel fish to translate... so sorry for the inperfect English.

In the middle ages was Ghent the largest clothing producer in Europe and the largest city after Paris. Today is find there in Ghent grachten still a lot of and rivers. Ghent has particular monuments and bldg., of which zo’n 900 bldg. on its monument list stand, the largest number of all Flemish cities. Saint Bavo’s cathedral has the largest organ in very the benelux. Town clothing hall and househouse houses on the water side is historical jewels.

This picturesque city remains onontdekt at many tourists who make citytrip. Most of the tourists go to brugge or to Brussels and leave this superb city in nothing falls. Ghent is a young city with large studentenpopulatie because of the university of Ghent. The students ensure sparkling uitgaansleven in the city. The city also flower city is called, with Europa’s largest flower show which is kept by five years of age.

There its many shops housed in lieflijke straatjes of Ghent. The winkeltjes sell clothing, juwelen, chocolate especially to stylist and square. There is also a vlooienmarkt in the city where you buy the best souvenirs. The market is at Saint find Jacobs and is open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday morning.

Do you want see something particular in Ghent? Admire of Eyck’s paintings in Saint Bavo’s cathedral. This painting is one of the first oil paintings ever (1432) and has been painted in 20 panels as winged altaarstuk.

Something particular is also 14e the eeuwse bell klokkentoren and clothing hall. The bell klokkentoren has no less than 43 bels! The bell on fourth deepening is the senior of Flanders, the bell comes kick from 1670. after as lot of to run has you a spectacular view concerning the complete city.

The large flesh hall was used in the middle ages as covered flesh market. This hall is Vlaanders’ dear example if you look at to Gothic architecture.

The Ghent museums are perfectly for a cultural spending of your afternoon in Ghent. MyTravel can advise the museum for clean arts most. In this museum you see work of among other things: Bosch, Rubens, neck and is there both moquette art and visit beeldhouwkunst.

In Ghent, like almost each city with grachten, several excursionexcursion excursions are organised. The rondvaarten last generally approximately 35 minutes and of April to by the end of October are kept. Ghent has moreover own Kroegentocht also its, where you come along all stern of Ghent. A horse with carriage is also a possibility of examining the city without for having run. This way you see everything of Ghent and imagine yourself you in the middle ages in an excursion by the old city.

Do you love, however, modern art? Go then to the S.M.A.K. museum. Here you find all kinds of modern artists. Both starting, boasted Belgian and international artists are exhibited here. You see here among other things work of Andy Warhol and David Hockney.

In July in Ghent Ghent Festivals which is very sociable, is kept. There is much music and a air theatre, parades and fire work. Also festivals and banquets are then kept and everywhere in Ghent kraampjes stand.

Also once an evening will make a nice walk by the old city and along the grachten. Much historical bldg. are nicely lighted as from sun perdition up to middernacht.

A walk the househouse houses in the grass slate and Korenlei are also a nice idea. The houses tribes from 1300 to 1800. the smallest maisonnette are the toll maisonnette, what is built in the Flemish Renaissance style. Walk by the city is very attractive and beautiful. The old bldg. of Ghent create a medieval environment in the city.

Eating in Ghent is delicious. The restaurants have frequently established in superb houses or separate bldg.. At the medieval Patershol, at north of the centre, sit a number of complete good restaurants. Generally its these restaurants contemporary arranged and serve nice eat.

The serialserial serial package house sits in zo’n separate bldg.: an old iron factory. You get the feeling as if you are present still real in an old factory, but then with minimalistische modern elements. The superb glazen roof is only already a complete good reason here will with. This superb roof makes the restaurant attractive and cosy. The more so if it is a clear evening, this a complete romantic spot is spend the evening.

The large flesh house has been lain perfectly in the centre. The flesh house is 600 years old, of which you encounter an unique mix of old and new elements. In the large bldg. the restaurant with partitions of glass has been made. Because of this you still see the bldg. in the beautiful old style. The restaurant serves regional beers, a large choice to regional snacks and of course delicious meals. It is also possible take away meals.

Ghent has approximately 300 cafés where you can drink nicely. Around the Friday market and the vegetable market sits most of the cafés. The bar pink flamingos has been decorated in the vijftiger and zestiger years kitsch style. The interieur of the bar changes regularly as a result of which the bar always trendy have environment. Of the most extravagant accessories a candlestick has been made of barbiepoppen. The bar generally twists rockmuziek and has a separate interieur.

’t Velootje are present in 500 years old bldg. where also a bicycle museum in zit. The old bldg. gives ’t Velootje a cosy and valid interieur. Ancient cycling and other old things hang against the wall and this is dé spot for the most unknown Belgian beers.

Belgians stand moreover confessed for their vriendelijkheid and gezelligheid. Belgians love much kroegjes and these is find thus much in the cities. Most of the belgians tie up this way a chat with you and can you tell everything concerning the city. They are who also those know the leuke adresjes in the city. Vlamingen speak Dutch therefore you have language problems also no.

And if you like to try the Belgian beers... (Leffe is fine, but also try some trappist :wub: ...) Click here for a complete list of all the pubs in Ghent: Pubs In Ghent

[Thos]

Thank you everyone. Especially gagaman, for all the trouble you took.

I went to Antwerp last year to visit the Reubenshuis and thoroughly enjoyed all aspects of the visit, except the weather.

Living in Kent makes it relatively easy to travel to the Continent and I always enjoy Belgium (Brussels, Bruges, Antwerp Ostende and now Ghent) for short visits.

Thanks again.

Thos. :flowers:

[andsome]

I too loved Bruges