Belgium > East Flanders > Ghent
Ghent
N 51°3.215', E 3°43.475'
2014-10-04
http://www.visitgent.be
Our rating: 8.60
Overall rating: - Rate this place - 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Ghent is situated at the crossroads between Brussels, Antwerp and Bruges, and therefore is often visited by tourists. Old Town is small. We walked here using the folowing map, it is easy and convenient.
Tourist route in Ghent ©@
Route description can be downloaded here (first click Download, then Detailed travel directions). We started as usual from the observation deck on the central square. Belfry in Ghent (XIII-XIV century) is also the city's main attraction. The tower has an elevator that stops at several floors, and it makes sense to view all of them. Entrance is through the secret room, below ground level. During the war Germans made their headquarters here.
Secret room in the Belfry ©Yuriy Buriak
At the top of the tower stands a dragon and one more, the old one, can be found inside the Belfry. Judging by the design, the dragon was a "fire-breathing".
Dragon in the Belfry ©Yuriy Buriak
On the top floor is a unique musical device, operating on the principle of punch cards and managing 40-bells.
Musical device in the Belfry ©Yuriy Buriak
The observation deck offers great views of Ghent. It is definitely one of the best observation decks in Belgium.
View of the Botermarkt from Belfry ©Yuriy Buriak
Cathedral of St. Nicholas (founded in 1038) ©Yuriy Buriak
Emily Brown square ©Yuriy Buriak
Going down from the tower, we went for a walk along the tourist route.
The theater building (the former Royal Dutch Theatre, the end of the XIX century) ©Yuriy Buriak
Stopped near one building and started to read description in the guidebook: "It is as if a hidden musician were playing the soundtrack for your walk, but in reality it will be a student at the academy of music". At this moment we really heard the music somewhere nearby.
Academy of Music ©Yuriy Buriak
Town hall
Town Hall of Ghent ©Yuriy Buriak
Friday Market square
Vrijdagmarkt square (Friday Market) ©Yuriy Buriak
Vrijdagmarkt square (Friday Market) ©Yuriy Buriak
Ghent ©Yuriy Buriak
Next we come to the most interesting part of the old city. This district was once owned by the Count of Flanders. Here stand the castle, built in 1180, but like most castles located in the city center it is not so interesting.
The Gravensteen ©Yuriy Buriak
Cozy squares around it are much better. This district is called Patershol, it has retained its medieval layout, most of the houses were built in the XVII-XVIII centuries. Here lived lawyers and officials, the area was prestigious, but since the beginning of XIX century fell into disrepair and until the Second World War here was a "red-light district".
Ghent ©Yuriy Buriak
Antique doors
Ghent ©Yuriy Buriak
Ghent has canals and canals always increase the tourist attraction of the city.
Ghent ©Yuriy Buriak
Ghent ©Yuriy Buriak
Ghent ©Yuriy Buriak
Bridge Sint-Michielsbrug offers the best views of the city.
Ghent ©Yuriy Buriak
Ghent ©Yuriy Buriak
Самое живописное место в старом городе Гента ©Alamy
By the way, one of the tram routes of Ghent lead to a Moscow district. This area has received the name, because Russian army was there during the Napoleonic Wars.
Tourist Map of Ghent ©visitgent.be
Getting to Ghent: city is ideally located between the major Belgian cities. The best way is to go by train, travel time from Brussels 0:40, from Antwerpen 1:00, from Bruges 0:20. Central Station of Ghent is located 2.5 km from the old town which can be reached by tram number 1 to stop Korenmarkt. Buy tickets from the machine at the tram stop.
Tags, Belgium: city Tags, all countries: city
- Rate this place -
Location : ------------ 1 - Far beyond the settlements, you must spend minimum a day 2 - Near the small town, you need to walk long distance 3 - Can be reached only by car 4 - A small town with a poor public transport 5 - Outside the settlements, but with excellent transport links 6 - A small town with excellent transport links 7 - Medium-size city 8 - Suburb of the capital or major city, the ability to reach by public transport 9 - Big city 10 - Capital
Impressions : ------------ 1 - No point in visiting 2 - Boring, wasted time 3 - You can visit, if you have a lot of free time and nothing better to do 4 - A lot of things, but not so interesting 5 - It seems to be interesting, but hard way to spoil the impression 6 - There is something interesting, but the rest is not worth the attention 7 - Probably interesting, but for everybody 8 - Very cool, but difficult to see everything and long-distance trails 9 - Very cool, but there are similar facilities in other locations 10 - Very cool, this is not anywhere else
Number of tourists (weekend afternoon) : ------------ 1 - Crowds, impossible to see everything normally 2 - A lot of tourists, a long wait 3 - A lot of tourists, the organization is lame 4 - A lot of tourists, but good organization 5 - There are many tourists, but they are concentrated in one place and you can walk freely 6 - Many tourists everywhere, but the large space is compensated 7 - The average number of tourists. To photograph, you must wait 8 - Tourists are, but they do not interfere 9 - There are few tourists 10 - You are alone
State : ------------ 1 - Only title left 2 - Dull ruins 3 - On restoration 4 - The picturesque ruins 5 - Have not been restored, the state is poor 6 - Partially destroyed, but the rest of the normal state 7 - Have not been restored, good condition 8 - OK, but it is possible to make better 9 - Looks good from the outside, partial repair inside or without repair 10 - In excellent condition, well-groomed area
Picturesque (for the photographer) : ------------ 1 - - 2 - - 3 - Horrible background, normal pictures only from the top 4 - wires and cars do not allow make normal photo 5 - Interfere with foreign objects 6 - In the city, but more or less normal photo can be made 7 - Beautiful, but you can take pictures with just one point 8 - Very nice, but you can only shoot at a certain time 9 - Very nice, but hard to get to the good weather or permanently interfere with tourists 10 - Very nice, but occasionally interferes with the weather or tourists
* - Note: Description of the evaluation is not always appropriate for a particular object, it's just a little help
Our rating - 8.60
Location : ------------ 1 - Far beyond the settlements, you must spend minimum a day 2 - Near the small town, you need to walk long distance 3 - Can be reached only by car 4 - A small town with a poor public transport 5 - Outside the settlements, but with excellent transport links 6 - A small town with excellent transport links 7 - Medium-size city 8 - Suburb of the capital or major city, the ability to reach by public transport 9 - Big city 10 - Capital
Impressions : ------------ 1 - No point in visiting 2 - Boring, wasted time 3 - You can visit, if you have a lot of free time and nothing better to do 4 - A lot of things, but not so interesting 5 - It seems to be interesting, but hard way to spoil the impression 6 - There is something interesting, but the rest is not worth the attention 7 - Probably interesting, but for everybody 8 - Very cool, but difficult to see everything and long-distance trails 9 - Very cool, but there are similar facilities in other locations 10 - Very cool, this is not anywhere else
Number of tourists (weekend afternoon) : ------------ 1 - Crowds, impossible to see everything normally 2 - A lot of tourists, a long wait 3 - A lot of tourists, the organization is lame 4 - A lot of tourists, but good organization 5 - There are many tourists, but they are concentrated in one place and you can walk freely 6 - Many tourists everywhere, but the large space is compensated 7 - The average number of tourists. To photograph, you must wait 8 - Tourists are, but they do not interfere 9 - There are few tourists 10 - You are alone
State : ------------ 1 - Only title left 2 - Dull ruins 3 - On restoration 4 - The picturesque ruins 5 - Have not been restored, the state is poor 6 - Partially destroyed, but the rest of the normal state 7 - Have not been restored, good condition 8 - OK, but it is possible to make better 9 - Looks good from the outside, partial repair inside or without repair 10 - In excellent condition, well-groomed area
Picturesque (for the photographer) : ------------ 1 - - 2 - - 3 - Horrible background, normal pictures only from the top 4 - wires and cars do not allow make normal photo 5 - Interfere with foreign objects 6 - In the city, but more or less normal photo can be made 7 - Beautiful, but you can take pictures with just one point 8 - Very nice, but you can only shoot at a certain time 9 - Very nice, but hard to get to the good weather or permanently interfere with tourists 10 - Very nice, but occasionally interferes with the weather or tourists
* - Note: Description of the evaluation is not always appropriate for a particular object, it's just a little help
Visitor's rating - 0.00
Location : ------------ 1 - Far beyond the settlements, you must spend minimum a day 2 - Near the small town, you need to walk long distance 3 - Can be reached only by car 4 - A small town with a poor public transport 5 - Outside the settlements, but with excellent transport links 6 - A small town with excellent transport links 7 - Medium-size city 8 - Suburb of the capital or major city, the ability to reach by public transport 9 - Big city 10 - Capital
Impressions : ------------ 1 - No point in visiting 2 - Boring, wasted time 3 - You can visit, if you have a lot of free time and nothing better to do 4 - A lot of things, but not so interesting 5 - It seems to be interesting, but hard way to spoil the impression 6 - There is something interesting, but the rest is not worth the attention 7 - Probably interesting, but for everybody 8 - Very cool, but difficult to see everything and long-distance trails 9 - Very cool, but there are similar facilities in other locations 10 - Very cool, this is not anywhere else
Number of tourists (weekend afternoon) : ------------ 1 - Crowds, impossible to see everything normally 2 - A lot of tourists, a long wait 3 - A lot of tourists, the organization is lame 4 - A lot of tourists, but good organization 5 - There are many tourists, but they are concentrated in one place and you can walk freely 6 - Many tourists everywhere, but the large space is compensated 7 - The average number of tourists. To photograph, you must wait 8 - Tourists are, but they do not interfere 9 - There are few tourists 10 - You are alone
State : ------------ 1 - Only title left 2 - Dull ruins 3 - On restoration 4 - The picturesque ruins 5 - Have not been restored, the state is poor 6 - Partially destroyed, but the rest of the normal state 7 - Have not been restored, good condition 8 - OK, but it is possible to make better 9 - Looks good from the outside, partial repair inside or without repair 10 - In excellent condition, well-groomed area
Picturesque (for the photographer) : ------------ 1 - - 2 - - 3 - Horrible background, normal pictures only from the top 4 - wires and cars do not allow make normal photo 5 - Interfere with foreign objects 6 - In the city, but more or less normal photo can be made 7 - Beautiful, but you can take pictures with just one point 8 - Very nice, but you can only shoot at a certain time 9 - Very nice, but hard to get to the good weather or permanently interfere with tourists 10 - Very nice, but occasionally interferes with the weather or tourists
* - Note: Description of the evaluation is not always appropriate for a particular object, it's just a little help