Travelled:34km
Visit/Stay:Ghent- free parking 4.5km from city centre, no facilities GPS N51.037651 E3.766380
On our way to Ghent we stopped to ask at a petrol station if we could get some water with some success, so we gave him €2 and got some petrol too. We found the aire which has lots of spots but is unfortunately next to a major road (luckily we packed the earplugs!). As the parking is about 4km out of town we hopped on the bikes, although there is a tram stop right here that will go to the centre. It was an easy ride but we did use a navigation aid to help us find our way. 25 mins later we had locked up the bikes and we're ready to explore.
We firstly went to get a map at the tourist office and followed their suggested walking tour that would take us to all the highlights of the historic centre.
Just opposite is the Castle of the Counts built in 1180 and was a military stronghold until the 14th century. Then it became a jail until the 1700's. Later it was a cotton mill.
We crossed over the Lieve, which was the first artificial link between the city and the North Sea.
We made our way to the very picturesque first trade port in the 11 century. The two embankments of Graslei and Korenlei had guild houses with various facades creating a lovely scene along with St.Michael's Church next to the bridge.
We visited the Gothic St Nicholas' Church with its extravagantly Baroque alter.
On the Masons' Guild Hall there were 6 little devils dancing on the facade!
Walked past the theatre.
Ghent's Belfry is 91m high. The lovely decorated tower with a 54 bell carillon is topped by a dragon.
The third tower in the square belongs to the gothic St. Bravo Cathedral. It has a beautiful interior including the choir and small chapels. We were able to visit the large crypt with many religious artifacts and relics.
We passed the unusual Town Hall which has 2 different facades RHS -Flamboyant Gothic, LHS-Italian Renaissance.
In the centre of Vrijdagmarkt stands Jacob van Artevelde pointing towards England. In the 14th century he had supported the English king resulting in Ghent's remaining neutral and being prosperous during the Hundred Years' War.
One of the many street around here.
Whilst we had a bite to eat we sat along the river bank next to Mad Meg, a giant cannon that has been in the same spot for 425 years but has never fired a single shot of cannonballs the size of beachballs.
Over the river was an area that originally belonged to the count so was not part of the city. There was a building with an interesting facade with reliefs of the Six Works of Mercy.
We next popped into the courtyard of the House of Alijn with its pretty whitewashed almshouses.
As it was getting late we slowly made our way back to the bikes and then rode back to Bluey.
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