Ghent Walking tour 1h10 and 19 audio reviews

As beautiful in the natural day as it is lit at night, Saint-Michel Church appears on more than one postcard of the city. However, behind this indisputable photogenic appearance, one would almost forget that the monument has had a turbulent history.

To discover Ghent in a very relaxed atmosphere, you will see that there is nothing better than to meet at the edge of its canals. Judged as one of the most beautiful places in the city, the Korenlei quay and its counterpart on the opposite bank, the Graslei quay, together formed the port of Ghent in the Middle Ages.

The large building built all along that you have in front of you, is the former Great Butchery of Ghent. It was designed by the city architect, to replace the old wooden meat hall, which was in very bad condition.

If Brussels can be proud to have a well-known Manneken Pis, Ghent is even more so, with no less than four. Above the front door that stands in front of you, you can notice three small statuettes in their simplest device.

It is more than obvious that your visit to Ghent could not be complete without an obligatory passage through the castle of the counts. Proud and somewhat rebellious, this fortress was built in 1180, by Count Philip of Alsace, on the ruins of an old wooden fortification of the ninth century, built at the time of the Norman invasions.

It is here, at the gates of the castle, that the whole medieval soul of Ghent is so well concentrated. In a way a city in the city, the district of Patershol gives us the effect of a trip back in time with its narrow streets, covered with cobblestones, where charming houses designed in the Middle Ages are available.

City on the water, Ghent stands at the confluence of two rivers: the Scheldt and the Lys. As a result, the Flemish city is crossed in every way by several canals, as is its big sister Bruges.

Recognizable by its cylindrical turret that occupies the corner, the Toreken is the oldest building in this square called the Vrijdagmarkt. Its name comes from Dutch “toren”, meaning “tower”. It appeared in the 15th century as the home of the Corporation of Tanners, for the sale of leather.

Each city has its own religious buildings that content their history through their robust walls. Here we would like your attention to be focused on the Church of Saint James.

If, as you approach this impressive building, you find a few grains of rice or a few petals of crushed roses on the ground, that is normal. It is the City Inn that deploys on your right. Rice grains and rose petals are often associated with important and joyful events, such as weddings.

By far one of the undisputed symbols of Ghent, St. Bavon’s Cathedral looks great and does not go unnoticed. In the Middle Ages, the Flemish city, relatively flourishing and influential, engaged in the construction of ever larger and more expensive religious buildings.

Caught between two major points of interest of the city, the Royal Theatre of Ghent makes us an eye with its beautiful colorful facade where sits Apollo, god of arts, song and music, accompanied by his muses. It was built in the 19th century, and was inaugurated in 1827, on the very spot where the city would have been born.

Over 90 meters, it is obvious that the Belfry appears in the skyline of the historic center of Ghent. It stands out and is defined by many residents as THE most imposing building in the city. It's up to you. Built in two stages in the 14th century, this gothic tower was at once a symbol of freedom, prosperity, power, but also of communal independence.

The Stadshal is probably one of the most intriguing places to know in the city of Ghent. And why would you ask us? It is a kind of contemporary hall, where you will find exclusively, hidden in its basement, a park that can hold up to at least 200 bicycles, as well as a brewery.

Whether for its old age or for its imposing blue-grey stone look of Tournai, the church of St. Nicholas commands respect. In the past, it is said that a wooden chapel was present in this place, during the 12th century. Romanesque in style, it was soon considered too small.

Built on the occasion of the 1913 World’s Fair, the former post office building is a real Ghent jewel that could not be ignored. In the past, it served as a terminal for the very first horse trams and postillions.

Affectionately known as “the vibrant heart of Ghent”, this square is the meeting point of the two busiest shopping streets. Called Korenmarkt, it is a very famous tourist site in the city.

Little favorite of romantics at heart, the Pont Saint-Michel is known to offer a moment of mindfulness. While its history is quickly summed up in a flat swing bridge, replaced by another in stone at the beginning of the 20th century, its panoramas of the Ghent landscapes can be enjoyed for hours.

During your visit to Ghent, there is a good chance that street art will appear to you everywhere. And if there’s one thing street art impresses with, it’s its ability to transform a place that’s completely banal into a real work of art, in which the viewer is an actor, and therefore an integral part of the landscape.