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More about Ghent
The abbey was founded in the 7th century by Amandus, a missionary from Aquitania who came to christianize the region. The abbey would grow to one of the most powerful in Flanders. Some years after the founding, a nobleman entered the "Gandacloister" and took the name Bavo. In the 9th century the abbey was called after him.
Apart from the abbey buildings that evoke
the monastic life and the museum collection that reminds of the Ghent patrimony, this
site also has its importance in the field of ecology. During the last 20 years, not less
than 15O different wild plants were classified. This spontaneous vegetation in an
urban setting is unique.
Behind the Saint Bavo Cathedral one can see the 'Geeraard de Duivel Steen', or the castle of Gerald the Devil.
This little castle was one of the first houses to be build in stone. According to an ancient legend, a man called Gerald lived here. He was nicknamed 'the devil' because he married five times. Each time, however, he killed his wife to marry the next one. Hence, the devil !
It is now used by the city administration of Ghent for storage of the archives.
A true medieval castle in the middle of the city! The original castle was built around 868 by Count Baldwin I, rebuilt and expanded by the Count of Flanders around 1180. The
Gravensteen was the seat of the Council of Flanders. Inside, you can visit the torture
chambers (complete with thumbscrews, a rack, executioners swords etc). Throw a penny
in the oubliette..
When visiting Ghent, one should always go to this beautiful area of the city: the Graslei and the Koornlei. These are the names of two streets which lie along the banks of the
old harbor of Ghent, right in the middle of the city. Graslei means 'street of the herbs and
vegetables'. Koornlei stands for 'street of the wheat'. Both names indicate that these
specific products where traded or stocked in that area.
The Belfry tower of Gent is perhaps one of the most impressive ones in Flanders. It dominates, together with the St-Nicholas tower and the cathedral tower the medieval
center of the city.
The tower was completed in 1338, when the bells were rung for the English king Edward II. At the top corners of the towers a stone soldier on watch was placed. The only remaining original stone soldier was placed in the treasury room in 1870 to preserve the sculpture from further decay. Copies now adorn the four corners of the tower.
Right in the center of town lies the Saint Michael's bridge. This is the spot from which to admire the architectural wealth of Ghent.
On the right side stands the medieval St.Michael's church. From here you also have the best view over the famous 'panorama of the three towers' (St. Nicholas church, the Belfry and St Bavo cathedral). On the left side of the bridge are the 'Graslei' and 'Koornlei', two streets alongside the Leie river. Some of the most beautiful medieval houses in Belgium can be spotted from here. On the corner of the bridge all attention is drawn to the Post-Office of Gent.
The neo-gothic building was only constructed at the beginning of the 20th century, but the style does not clash with the existing beauties of the city.
