Ghent, Belgium has been a rich port city since the middle ages. In the 1600s and 1700s wealthy people of the town and church leaders built spectacular buildings, many of which are still being used and visited every day. Located halfway between Antwerp and Bruges, Ghent shares with those cities scenes of great interest and beauty. Here are a few images of Ghent.

The city bell tower and a bit of the “stadhuis” (the town hall). (The tower doesn’t lean — the camera just makes it appear to do so.)

Buildings from many ages line the canals of Ghent.

The 17th century building and the cobblestone streets are typical of Ghent.

The bicycle is the vehicle of choice. They sneak up behind you silently and make old ladies duck for cover!

More buildings, another church tower and another biker. The glass building in the lower corner is an addition to another gothic church.

A very beautiful city!

Ghent may be best known for its cathedral, Saint Bavo’s, and for one particular work of art that resides there. The tall gothic cathedral was begun in the 13th century. The bell tower that stands at its entrance is 89 meters tall (292 feet).

This is the grandest pulpit anywhere, I’m sure!

It is one work of art from the 1400s that makes this cathedral a destination for visitors from all over the world.  It’s sometimes called the Ghent Altarpiece but it’s better known as the “Adoration of the Lamb of God.”

This painting was begun in 1423 by Hubert Van Eyck and completed by 1432 by his brother, Jan Van Eyck. It is a folding altarpiece and more paintings are on the reverse side.

Learn more about this magnificent work of art and its recent restoration at the cathedral’s website: https://www.sintbaafskathedraal.be/en/art/the-mystic-lamb.html

Click on the image above to enlarge it.

To be continued…  (The great buildings of Ghent deserve a post of their own.)