Ghent, Belgium

Ghent is a city and a municipality located in the Flemish region of Belgium. It is the capital and biggest city of the East Flanders province. The city started as a settlement at the confluence of the Rivers Scheldt and Lys and in the Middle Ages became one of the largest and richest cities of northern Europe. Today it is a busy city with a port and a university. Although many of Belgium's visitors overlook Ghent, its beauty is often compared to the more well-known Bruges.

Ghent boasts many historic buildings, including three abbeys. Attractions include St Bavo's Cathedral, place of Charles V's baptism and home to The Adoration of the Mystical Lamb, the Van Eyck brothers' masterpiece; the Town Hall, where the Treaty of Ghent was signed in 1576; the Castle of the Counts, a medieval castle surrounded by the Lieve canal; the 15th-century Cloth Hall; the medieval town centre with its old guild houses; the Museum of Fine Arts, and the newly renovated Museum of Industrial Archaeology. The Sunday morning Flower Market is worth a visit.

Things to See & Do

* Belfort en Lakenhalle - Belfry and Cloth Hall
* St. Bavo's Cathedral
* Castle of the Counts
* Canal Cruise
* Historic buildings

General Information

Cruise Season - March to Dec
Currency - Euro (€) (EUR)
Language - German, Dutch, French
Land Area - 156.18 km²
Population - 243,366 approx.
Electricity - 2 round pins European style
Time - GMT/UTC plus one hour
International Country Telephone Code - + 32

Travel Links - Ghent is only a 30-minute train ride away from Brussels and is on the line from Brussels to Bruges and the coast. If you're planning to visit Bruges and Brussels, definitely stop over in Ghent as well. There are also direct trains to Brussels Airport, Antwerp, Lille and Paris.