GHENT
Area: Belgium


Location:
In NW Belgium. 36 mls NW of Brussels and its airport. 42 mls E of Ostend and ferry port.

Telephone code from UK:
32

Website:
http://www.gent.be/gent/english/index.htm

Position:
In the flatlands, dotted with a few small hills. Built around 3 rivers, serving as important transport arteries, and cut through by several canals.

Description:
With its modern development and main roads, at first glance Ghent can feel more like a provincial town than a centre of tourist interest, but it in fact boasts a wide range of historic buildings, including a striking Gothic cathedral, several interesting churches and a medieval castle. Add to this 7 major museums, pleasant pedestrianised streets, waterways and old Flemish houses, and there is enough to fill a visit of several days. Although the greater Ghent area covers 98 sq mls, most of interest lies within a central area of around 1­ mls across, with St Bavo's cathedral at its heart. The cathedral houses a number of treasures, including "The Mystic Lamb" by Van Eyck, and its belfry offers fine views of the city. The town's various towers and belfries can also be admired from nearby Saint Michael's Bridge. Also worth visiting is the Castle of the Counts (1180) _ formerly a mint and a jail but now housing a museum, crypt and display of instruments of torture _ and the old port of Graslei, which is lined with lovely old buildings.

Suitability:
As a university town, Ghent has a certain liveliness and its historic sites will attract those interested in history and culture. Most visitors are from neighbouring countries, with a steady trickle from the rest of the world. Some business visitors, largely attending exhibitions at the Expo centre.

Accommodation:
Liberally scattered through town; the few larger hotels in centre are all modern. All categories represented, even a boat hotel. Accommodation can get booked up during holiday season.

Shopping:
Veldstraat is the main shopping street. Flower market all week at Kouter; flea markets at Bij Sint Jacobs on Fri and at Beverhoutplein on Sat and Sun.

Entertainments:
Daytime: guided walking tour (leaflets from tourist office, charge), bus tour, boat excursion or short carriage ride (weekends and holidays). International exhibitions at Expo centre. Nightlife: choice of nightclubs, discos and live music, mainly in Zuid (South) quarter and also in area around the 3 towers. Best buildings in central area are lit up at night in summer and at weekends.

Eating:
Many good restaurants serving mostly French food to traditionally high standard and with generous portions. Historic Patershol district has highest concentration of eating places. Inexpensive snacks are available from bars and taverns, of which there are plenty around the cathedral. International food also available.

Public-transport:
Sint Pieters railway station sits on S edge of central area. Good bus and tram networks radiate outwards from terminal in front of main post office.

Local-excursions:
Full day: boat trips; 15th-century belfry in Aalst; museum of renowned mapmaker Gerard Mercator in Sint Niklaas; Bruges, Antwerp and Brussels, more or less equidistant.