Ghent, Belgium — Bella Via Travels
Belgium
Ghent
The city that refused to be quaint
Ghent is the Belgian city that most visitors overlook — and the one that most rewards those who find it. A medieval city with a modern soul, it combines the architectural beauty of Bruges with an energy and a food culture that are entirely its own.
The Graslei and the Korenlei are the twin quays of the old port — a row of medieval guild houses reflected in the Leie river, with the Gravensteen castle rising above. The view from the Sint-Michielsbrug bridge, taking in the three towers of the Sint-Baafskathedraal, the Sint-Niklaaskerk and the Belfry, is one of the finest in Belgium.
The Ghent Altarpiece — the Adoration of the Mystic Lamb by Jan and Hubert van Eyck, completed in 1432 — is the most important painting in Belgium and one of the most important in the world. Restored to its original state after decades of conservation work, it is now displayed in the Sint-Baafskathedraal in a purpose-built viewing room.
The food and nightlife of Ghent are the most vibrant in Belgium — the Vrijdagmarkt, the Patershol neighbourhood and the restaurants of the Graslei are all expressions of a city that has always been more interested in living well than in being picturesque. Bella Via designs Ghent itineraries that combine the art with the food and the particular pleasure of a city that has not yet been discovered by the crowds.
“The Graslei at dusk, with the guild houses reflected in the Leie and the Gravensteen above — it is the Belgium that most visitors never find.”
What to Expect
The Bella Via Experience in Ghent
The Ghent Altarpiece
The most important painting in Belgium — Jan and Hubert van Eyck's Adoration of the Mystic Lamb, completed in 1432 and recently restored.
The Graslei & Korenlei
Twin quays of medieval guild houses reflected in the Leie river — the most beautiful streetscape in Ghent.
The Gravensteen
A twelfth-century castle in the heart of the city — one of the best-preserved medieval fortresses in Belgium.
The Patershol
A neighbourhood of cobbled streets and excellent restaurants — the most atmospheric part of Ghent and the best place to eat in Belgium.
Ghent rewards those who arrive without expectations and leave with a new understanding of what Belgium can be when it is not trying to be Bruges.