Download Report

Why Ghent?
Lonely Planet has called our city
“Europe’s best kept secret” and a must see
destination for 2011
Because
Mirror in the Lys river
From the bridge you can also see the unique row of
houses mirrored in the Lys, on both sides of the river.
With the Castle of the Counts in the distance.
Noah Charney, art historian
Greetings from Ghent!
National Geographic Traveler
Magazine has listed this city as the most
authentic historic city in the world and full of
life
Because
Five photos? In our day and age, with digital photography? Patershol; the new City Museum, STAM; the
interior garden at the House of Alijn; the Cloud Measurer at S.M.A.K., Ghent’s Municipal Museum of Con-
Because
you must witness with your own
eyes what Napoleon and the mysterious
thief of The Just Judges panel already
knew: The Mystic Lamb really is key to
European art history
Because
“The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb is
without a doubt world’s most besieged
and coveted work of art. In Paris it
would easily knock the Mona Lisa off
the throne”
temporary Art; the Sunday flower market… They’re all
worth a shot… or two!
the city comes to life again after
sunset
And
of course because you like to get off the
beaten track!
…that’s why!
Tourist Office
Inquiry desk
Sint-Veerleplein 5 – 9000 Gent.
T. +32 9 266 56 60
www.visitgent.be.
Ghent in
five photos
Only stopping by for a
short visit? Then make
sure you see these
highlights (and capture
them on camera!).
“Smack in the middle of Brussels,
Bruges and Antwerp, Ghent distils their
greatest attributes into one engaging
and enchanting city”
Lonely Planet
Through the eyes of the Count
From the keep of the Castle of the Counts the city lies at
your feet. Experience the Counts of Flanders’ sense of
power.
Publisher: Lieven Decaluwe, alderman for Culture, Tourism and Festivities.
Stadhuis, Botermarkt 1, 9000 Gent.
Lay-OUT: Thirtythree
text: conception
Small Town,
Big City
Ghent is a cosy, well organised city with countless tourist
attractions within walking distance from one another.
1,000 years of history have left their mark.
Whatever you see during the day is even more magical at
night thanks to the ingenious lighting plan. The city loves
light – the annual Light Festival in January is proof of that.
That’s when the city is at its best – light and bright!
Follow visitgent on:
In a different light
After sunset Ghent takes on a new dimension. Its
pretigious and award-winning lighting plan creates a
magical, shimmering sight!
Medieval Manhattan
Only from or just next to St Michael’s Bridge can you
see the three towers that formed our medieval skyline
in a nice straight line.
You hear music all over the place in this UNESCO City of
Music. Dozens of events and festivals turn every visit into
a unique experience. The highlight? The ten-day Ghent
Festivities!
Flemings love good food and drink, and there’s ample proof
of that in Ghent. Patershol, a medieval neighbourhood with
a great atmosphere, is the city’s culinary hotspot.
A pedestrianized shopping area covers a large part of the
city centre. Below it there are large underground car parks,
but most hotels have their own parking facilities.
Work up your appetite on the water! You’ve watched them pass
by all morning, now it’s your turn to hop on a boat! After all,
that’s the best way to see Ghent from a different perspective.
The captain will give you a taste of history laced with juicy little
anecdotes, in a language of your choice.
Friday, 5 p.m. | Grab a beer
Saturday 2.30 p.m. | The art of choosing
Find yourself a spot along the Graslei and enjoy the impressive row of medieval houses (on both sides of the river)
and the cosy atmosphere. This is where the people of Ghent
grab a beer. Start with a Gruut, the only beer that is brewed
here in the city using traditional methods.
The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb is the absolute masterpiece of medieval art. Grand with overwhelming detail. This altarpiece by the Van Eyck brothers is an absolute must-see, but there’s
plenty more: Flemish (and other) masters at the Museum of Fine
Arts , modern art at the Municipal Museum of Contemporary Art (S.M.A.K.) and an interactive overview of Ghent’s history and its people at the new City Museum (STAM).
TRA
T
MS
TR
E
D
DAS
TRA
TRA
AT
AT
TRA
ROMMEL
WATER
PARK
T
AR
AA
H
DE
TR
RS
VA
M
RD
-S
NOO
DOK
STR
AA
T
N
AT
POO
R
IN
PLE
T
PEL
AA
LAA
RA
IKA
ST
S TA
TR
AFR
IJ
M
LAA
D
N
ORT
AT
ER
IKA
ZUI
T
RAA
AND
R
WA R
R ST
ES
TR
HA
M
STIE
AN
AL
HE
ER
ME
HA
STR
T
TTE
T
S PA A
KAS NSE
TEEL
P L E IN
AT
ENS
STR
RDE
PA A
ILA
AI
AN
AA
ISS
AA
LA
From Brussels Airport and Brussels South station
(Bruxelles-Midi,
where the Eurostar arrives) you can catch
R
a direct train to Ghent. Train travel between Brussels South
and Ghent takes half an hour and costs about ten euros.
SST
AT
LLA
HU
TR
TR
A AT
INS
KA
EMA
TS
SST
ZO N
DER
-NA
IJ
CHT
HS
RA
TEE
TR
OL
ST
AI
KAZ
OS
AN
AAR
AM
SEL
RAA
R
ST
US
RI
HA
AC
-M
VO
VE
O
ST
DS
SER
VIS
RIJ
SLA
OO
NLA
A AT
M
HA
AAI
UTK
ER
OR
KA
HO
AR
DER
OK
AFR
G ST R
NBRU
G RO E
S T- J O R I S K A A I
AI
GKA
U
AI
E S TR
SER
KEY
P. D
E
RT KAAI
ISSERIJ
JA
NIC
PIJN
KAS
RG
ENBE
Z I LV ER
POO
IZEN
LHU
OS
TE
PR
HO
KA
DE
LO G
EN
RK
TE
ET
EV
ID
HU
RO
T R A AT
S M
U
GAN
PU
TTE
MET
ES
DOK
TR
SS
EK
DE
LI
JV
TICHE
A
AGEL
T
AA
TR
AN
R
P
AT
RENSTRA
E S ST
O Z I J N TJ
ER
TR
SP
R
KOE
TR
SS
UI
KR
E
NG
LA
VLAANDE
KARELS
ST RA
ST
VE
RG
BE
TE
AT
PL
KEIZER
AT
ESTR
KA L A ND
EN
E
LR
R.
ST
ST
EE
MAGE
L E IN
-G
H.
R A AT
G
TEE
AGS
TED
KOR
TR
RTS
POO
ST
CA
RT
ND
UI
SI
AT
RA
TST
RIE
RG
MA
R
ST
N
RE
KO
AT
RA
ST
AS
LA
IK
ST
-N
R
EE
AL
STR
RD
INA
GU
CK
LU
LA
M
NT
AT
S T-
T
UN
DM
GEL
I
LE
AS
GR
AT
A
A AT
ST
LL
TE
W.
TRA
RSS
AA
MO
AUGUSTIJNENKAAI
AA
T
AI
EY DE L
J. B
R
EI
NL
RE
HE
IK
ED
PR
A AT
ST R
PEL
LLE
RA
AT
PO
RK
DE
NE
T
POTSTR
STR
AM
RK
PE
KO
EI
NL
RE
EN
RG
R
OU
TE
I
LE
DE
LIN
I
A
A AT
F E R D I N A N D LOUS
B
AA
KO E S T
RE
M
EI
CO
DS
AR
TI NN EN
STR
TEN
I FA N
BON
T
AA
EN
TS
TR
M EN
RA
BE
R.
ST
IF
RU
ST
NL
TE
ET
T
AA
TR
LL
EN
IEP
LIEVEKA
OTS
RAB
IN
GE
L
HO
DE
OU
AT
RA
ST
NS
TE
AR
AA
T
ST
-M
T
AA
TR
LS
STR
PE
OP
EG
LEN
TRA
TR
AS
NN
HA
.J
O
GR
T
AA
TR
RS
I
UT
LE
TR
LS
O
H
GA
LG
EN
BE
RG
ST
TE
GE
SC
R
OO
BU I TE N
NS
ST
MP
HA
R
EY
LD
AI
ST
PE
PO
KA
EN
IE
EO
DA
EN
OL
EG
GA
NST
NG
GA
RS
IE
AT
AT
RA
ST
EN
AK
N
VA
S.
T
AA
ST
RG
BE
EL
SP
WI
AT
DE W
I N N E ST
RA
PE
D
AN
AL
RI
MA
AT
RA
CO
PE
HT
E R
EC
UR
UR
UP
CO
STR
T
AA
TR
SS
EN
M
M
S
E L
INK
S
R
AAN
AEL
SP
N
RL
OR
LM
TE
AT
RODET
VO
N
A
AT
T
IZE
N
AN
From Amsterdam, London, Paris and Cologne you can be in
Flanders – the northern part of Belgium – in less than two
hours. Ghent lies right in the midst of the other top tourist
destinations in Belgium. In a nutshell, it is the perfect base
for visiting the region!
T
RA
RD
R
ST
ER
KE
N
LA
Always
close
ST
IJ
E
EV
A
ER
RO
FI
EK
BLEKERSDIJK
ST
NS
RAA
RE
AI
DE
D.
D
LOKA
EE
RO
W
M
UP
AT
MST
LOE
ENB
KO R
I
EU
EL
ST
O
U
IJ
D
BL
BAUDE
NA
N
LA
T
NZ
B
IE
W
RS
R
DO
H
JN
GI
BE
LA
H.
RAAT
ST RA
IC K X
N
N
LA
F
SPI EGE LHO FST
RAA
E
HO
D IE R
YST
EE
KM
AT
K .L .
MIR
W
EI
More information?
Go to www.visitgent.be.
Or contact the tourist office at the
number +32 9 266 56 60.
DO
OR
EM
IJ
RA
AT
AA
T
ST
AM
ST
STRA
TR
S
HUIS
SS
R
R
TR
ST
IU
ST
U
GAST
ES
NT
ER
K RI J G S
GO
R
PS
VE
R
SINT
ANNAPLEIN
MEK
DE
LIJNST
OU
ST-KATE
Z U I D S TAT I O N S T R
AM
D.
V.
ST
LA
ND
AI
EEG
T
ZUID
N
NIEUWB R
. V
A
AA
T
AA
ISH
H.
NS
ST R .
R ST
ER
LV T
KA ARK
M
TR
VO O RUIT
W. WIL
SO
PLEIN N
ND
OR
ACKERMANS
T
RE
UW
CO P P INS
SKA
BEE
T
FR.
TR
BR
OR
M
AA
ER
LI
SS
ER
DE
AA
L
S C H E PE N E NV IJ VE R S
EF
RE
A
TR
T OVAN MA
J.
K O N GO S T
B AU D E LO
PA R K
R
EE
IE
I
T
SD
A AT
K
S T R A AT
ST R A A
SHU
R A AT
BR
KU
ABEEL
AN
UT
STR
AA
T
O
ST
PO
ER
R
PE
D
BELGRA
E K ST
UK
‘ T ST
LA
MM
AI
LA
THE
W
W
A
SK
EU
R
NI
E R ST
T
E
A AT
US
HO
AA
AT
E V E T T ERS
D S T R A AT
TD
EA
HUID
G
ANSTR
AT
OT E
IAND
N
OOMGAAR
PEIKAA
RA
KO R
TR
EP
ZI
GR
EB
N
GR
RO
ST
S
ES
EN
T- J A N
RI
TT
SIN
A
ER
R
PL
AT
B
VE
IJZ
ST
F
RA
A
O
S T- K W I N T
AN
L
BIJ
A
K
KE
ST
R
T
ZE
AN
T
AA
NLA
JO
400 m
T
B
ST
GA
AA
AA
E
TR
KO
BA
TR
A
TR
SS
IZE
OK
EN
MS
B
SS
OR
LE
A
GE
RI
RL
ZA
BR
K
R
AT
T
LIO
-J
ST
OUDE
BEE STE N
MAR K T
DO
DUIVELSTEEN
TA
VE
ST
RA
VA
ES
M
EK
EN
JL
SK
BI
UY
HE
ST
RU
LV
A
KL
OT
UT
JE
SA
TE
AA
T
D
F
R
KE
TR
T
ZE
AP
EG
NS
N
JO
S
TE
DE
DO
ESTR
P
REE
NO
OF
TS
A AT
B A U D E LO S T
O L I E ST R
ER
JO
BIS
NA
BA
UV
ST
T
GILD
I
MKAA
MI
EH
HO
T
PI
ST
GO
N
ER
EM
EN
RA
AT
HAM
SE
VO
M A RG E L
KT
ST-BAAFSKATHEDRAAL
IS
CO T
AN EN
FR AUR EIN
L L
P
OK
GODSHU
ZO
L
AA
AT
ER
JL
T IE
RA
OT TO G R AC H T
TST
K WA A D
EG
W ST R A AT
TEI
TE
ER PE LS
OBSNIEU
UT
RSI
N
AT
EE G
AT
IVE
EK
HE
TRA
T
RA A
T
T
IN G S
B AA IST
RA
KO
STR
N IN
O P K L IJ
ER
A KE
AA
KO N
RG
N ST
OR
TR
HO
AT
PO
UN
E
G S T R A AT
BI
AA
T
RT
RA
TEL
R
ST
KE
ST
KO
RG
KO
RG
R
EN
BU
ST
TR
BE
TR
UW
NT
G
SS
EEG
SINT
BAAFS
PLEIN
JE
ES
HO
ME
ER
NE ST
DBE
B E LFORT
W
SC
RA
EE
LD
ZAN
AN
OUD JUSTITIEPALEIS
ES
ST
UW
KT
T
BARR E ST
G
NN
U IT
EE
AR
V L AS
M AR KT
J. PA L F I J
ZO
ND
EL
RM
R
IN
CO
NT
VO
BEN
TE
BO
DE
H A KO
O
PL NDE P
EI LS
N
BO
AC
R
LH
EN
M
T
ST-JACOBSKE R K
TRAA
LIMBUR
AR
EL
V
H .S
T
DS
EMILE
B RA U N
PLEIN
ORTS
OL
TR
G
OR
ET
A
TR
EE
BELF
GOD
M I NN
A AT
G E LU K S T R
BIB
HO
EN
P
R
RP
RG
ST
OU
GN
ON
BE
HE
ST
DE
TS
R
EI
EK
AD
ST U I S
H
EG
LH
OR
DE
L
BO
SC
H
EN
ST- NIKLAASKE RK
EN
KE
PO
ER
IN
HU
AD
ST
G
EE
ST
IS
S
UI
NE
ND
ES
JU
K
T U LEIN
RK
IJE
R
EN
UR SULINENSTR
TR
D
N
L
O
WE
AR
S I N T- JA C
TR
TR
G
RE
AT
RS
TR
ING
ISS
A
STR
IE
ES
TR
LL
HU
MER
EM
TT
ST-MICHIELS
KERK
AT
HE
DD
G A ST
-A
SS
SS
MA
RA
A
TR
ES
ER
W
M
ER S
RN
ST
OU
ST
LS
PA
K
PA
PE
PU
VR
OS
HIE
STR
OND
EE
G E B R . VA N D E V E L D
ZA
WIJN
ZU
NK
RO
MIC
DELOSTR
KAM
TE
JO
DE
ST-
T
ST
W IL
AT
T
RK
AA
AR
DG
BAU
G
J DA
VRI RKT
MA
T
PO
AN
S I N TMICHIELS
PLEIN
U
GEM
TR
ZW
A
T
AA
LAN
GROENTEN
MARKT
NT
RS
T
T
T
TR
6
RD
WA L E
ED SEE N
AN LEI
P
G O UD ST R
DE
AA
TE
WA
R
RG
R
ST
AF
WA
R
EI
KRAANL
OR
RS
V EE RLE
PL EI N
PO
OG
PE
T
DB
OU
GRAVENSTEEN
G
UR
WOLF
ST
SLUIZEKEN
PAT E R S H O L
OG
AA
TR
EL
BS T R A A
H U I DE V E T
ON
GS
DRA
F.
R
K.
AT
TRA
EPS
SLE
L A N G E ST E E N S T R A AT
HO
AA
TR
KO
AT
EG
STE
ER
NK
DO
TR
RS
F
HO
PEL
RD
IN
GE
TEM
ME
VE
NS
BO
KLEI N RAAM
HOF
I
ENSTR
UW
IES
TR
PENITENT
HO
RA A
T
OM
PO
DE
LE
TR
D W E ERST
AA
LL
DS
IA
EL
RA
OI
TR
ST
HO
ES
NC
O
RG
AC
AD
EM
I
S T- W
R
NO
KR
GD
R
GS
M
AN
L I E V E ST R A AT
BRADERIJSTR
ST
AA
ST
AT
UR
TER
BR
SE
SC
AA T
UU
M
AN
N
RS
MB
J. B O
AT
AA
T
KR
T
T
RE
WE
XE
RA
Saturday,
6 p.m. | Rock ’n’ roll cuisine
ST
R
TH
AN
AT
LU
OU
ST
S
AA
BR
A
MS T R
G E WA D
TR
R
BU
AT
S
IU
NS
BR
RA
R
E R C AT O R S
T R A AT
N
NE
P LU I
RHOF
A B R A H A M S T R A AT
ST
ST
BER
O
TO
IA
Z ILV E
F
HT
JN
RS
PL
A AT
AN
N
T
MI
AA
SA
A
ES
KO
EN
G. M
T-
OS TR
A NST R
ES
AA
C
IN
E L
E
E R
COUPUR
T
N
U IZ
L . Q UET EL
ET ST R
A AT
N
AC
BE LL
HO
ST
M ME N
ES
AN
L . PA S T E U R L A A
KL
Feeling adventurous? Try the rock ‘n’ roll cuisine of the
FlemN
G O
AA
ENE
L
ish Foodies, threeRadventurous
chefs
who
have
chosen
Ghent
BRI
IS
EL
HU
K as their home base. Restaurant C-Jean
L
was hailed ‘Best S T R
A
A
TO
F R ATE R S
I
EM
P L EIN
KARTU
H
DO B BE L S Lby
OT the local newspaper.
restaurant in Ghent’
R
IZERL
AAN
EE
SI
AA
RI
DE MI
RA
EN
GR
FD
SI M ON
WE
EL
UU
R
ME
COUPUR
EV
LA
S
HO
TR
ES
GR
ST
TS
EN
JN
SS
RI
ME
PRINS
T
OK
RS
K
H
FD
AR
LE
ER
E
LIEV
STR
HO
L
N
VE
AL
AA
JL
LAA
ELS
TR
SI NT- T R
EL SS
TR
BI
MARTE
KER
KA
NS
M IC HI
ES
N
RO
YE
NW
ER
AA
LF
JN
ER
OG
AV
TL
T
GI
ST
HO
G
ES
AA
ER
AT
N
I
Soup is the new fast food! Plenty of choice, always tasty and
of course healthy! The Souplounge near Vrijdagmarkt
offers delicious soups with a view of the Lys. And a free apple, because an apple a day…
S T R AA
AI
JN
R
VA
N
Ghent’s oldest building is the Castle of the Counts , the
impressive medieval fortress in the city centre. Go back in
time and shiver at the sight of armour, weapons and torture
instruments.
Saturday 12.30 p.m. | Easy as duck soup
H
RASP
TH
GA
NI
BE
GI
R A AT
ST
WE
PE
TW
BE
Taste and buy typical products from Ghent and East Flanders under the impressive vaults of the Great Butchers
Hall . RoomeR is the ideal aperitif. If you have a sweet
tooth, buy cuberdons. For a spicier touch try Tierenteyn
mustard on the other side of the square.
S
UI
CA
S
PL INO
EIN
PA
BE
TRA
AT
AS
TO
that at the flea market near St James’ Church . At Bar
Dépot you can buy anything, even a yummy breakfast!
GI
ST
PRO
A
T
PE
KO
TE
EN
R
T
RAA
U
Browsing vinyl records, snapping up a second-hand
jacket
S
T
R OZE M A
or scoring the perfect souvenir? Early birds can doR IpreciselyR I J N ST R A AT
Saturday, 10 a.m. | Castle of the Counts
RTS
ST
RAA
DST
RS
CH
ON
VE
POO
ER
BOO
RA
AN
Saturday, 8 a.m. onwards | Early risers’ opportunities
Saturday, 11.30 a.m. | Ghent delicacies
BO
GSE
KK
UIS
K A DI E RSTR
LO E
VE
ERGH ESTR
E.
BRU
A
KR
BRAN
IG -B
250 m
GST
RE
EINDE WE
H E IL
BE
Lonely planet
G E VA N G E N I S
Friday night at Vrijdagmarkt ? Good idea! Start off with
PIJ
LST
R AA
T
a Kwak at beer bar De Dulle Griet. You’ll have to leave
W IN
TER
T U IN
ST R
your shoe in a hanging basket as a deposit for the amazing
glass. A stone’s throw away you’ll enjoy the hustle and busE K K E R till
tle of the Vlasmarkt, with its rock music and DJs playing
G E M S T R A AT
early morning.
N
“Ghent is Europe’s
D UI ZE ND
best
secret”
EN
V URkept
DELING
N I E U W E WA N
EKKERGEMKERK
JA
H.V.WIT TENB
Lights out, spots on! Hidden gems during the day are suddenly put in the spotlight at dusk. To enjoy Ghent by night
to the full try the Ghent Illuminated walk. Get your map at
the Ghent Tourist Office or download it from
BA
NEUSE
VO GE L Z hidden gems in Gthe
E U Z Eside
at the Veldstraat
! Or discover
AN
NBERG
TR
PAR K G
SS
R
streets, typical Aproducts
at the Koestraat, Bennesteeg, Jan
A
EN
OL
Breydelstraat
and Serpentstraat. Bag a bargain from 1 to 31 A N
M
LA
GE
RS
TST
January
and from 1 to 31 July!
IS
RA
U
T
FR
OFLAAN
EST
BEROUW
R A B OT
Sundays in Ghent start at the flower market with a coffee, a chat and a walk along the colourful stalls. To top it off:
oysters and champagne at the blue kiosk, while discussing
what to do next.
G
T
AA
EN
I S TShop
EË
OPG
Sunday, 10 a.m. | Flower power
J.
LAA
Friday, 9 p.m. | Enlightening
KOOLK APPE RSTRAAT
ANTV
A few more
hours (and euros)V Oto
G E spend?
LZAN
N
© Phile Deprez
www.visitgent.be
BLAIS
Saturday, 4.30 p.m. |
JOZ E F VAN C R OMBR
UG G H E STR
What used to be a poor man’s dinner is now a speciality.
Gentse Waterzooi with chicken, fish or even vegetarian –
after all, Ghent is the Veggie Capital of Europe! At Bij den
Wijzen en den Zot at Patershol a culinary jury tasted the
best waterzooi made from a traditional recipe.
Time for a nightcap. At Dreupelkot you can choose from
over 200 (!) types of ‘jenever’. Vanilla jenever has conquered
the world, though the chicory version isn’t likely to. The adventurous leave through the back entrance to discover the narrowest street in Ghent. Want to bet you won’t feel like heading
home or to your hotel?
TO
Friday, 7 p.m. | Poor man’s dinner
Saturday, 10 p.m. | Take a shot
EST
A weekend in Ghent
Friday, 11 p.m. | The night is still young
Its chef now cooks at J.E.F. Trendy Volta is housed in a
former warehouse and De Vitrine offers top cuisine in an
old butchery.
Saturday, 1 p.m. | Don’t miss the boat
DAM
Ghent: more than a
one night stay!