6 Alluring Buildings to See in Ghent, Belgium

Welcome to one of the most amazing towns of Flanders! When you arrive in Ghent, the fourth largest city in Belgium (somewhere between Antwerp and Bruges), you should know that it is only 55 kilometers away from Brussels. Its natural scenery sprinkled with imposing monuments gives you a good hint of what you’re about to see during your visit. The town lies at the confluence of two rivers (Schledt and Lys), which divide it into countless smaller islands. When you say Ghent, you say port city, cultural hub, and university town – needless to say, there’s no chance you’ll getting bored too soon!

OliBac

Get yourself ready, because I am here to show you 6 buildings that will leave you speechless. Churches, museums, castles, towers, town halls – each of them has its own dazzle to exhibit, its own story to tell.

With all of this being said, let’s start reading another page from your traveling book.

1. Gravensteen Castle

The Gravensteen Castle is located right in the heart of the city. Half of its walls are bathed by the Leie River’s waters which also protect the beautiful monument. It’s been said that this is the only place around Belgium where people can visualise the exact style of living adopted during the Middle Ages.

Also known as the Castle of the Counts, the Gravensteen imposing castle dates from the late 12^th century and features plenty of medieval elements. These include a quite nice trench, turrets, a lot of small, narrow slits and a grand entrance.

Dennis Jarvis

It was built by Count Philip of Alsace, inspired by the Knights of Palestine and their charming castles. The visit will be quite delightful; there are numerous explanation boards inside, written in several languages, that will guide you through the entire place. Keep in mind that most of the walls were built nine hundred years ago!

History and adventure, wars and defences – these are the ingredients that make Gravensteen Castle a special spot for tourists from all over the world.

Oh, and make sure that you allow sufficient time to explore the neighboring district, Patershol, where you’ll find even more medieval sights and monuments.

Coy!