So much Ghent

We took the train to Ghent today, expecting a sort of not so pretty Bruges, well we are loving Ghent, it is amazing, so much to see!
Our hotel is in the old town and all we have to do is walk through the alleyway on the corner and we are in an amazing square, the next street on is the canal, lined with grand turreted buildings, castles and churches. On repeat.
Ghent is an ancient city at the confluence of two rivers, there have been remains of settlements found here from the Iron and stone ages. The city was plundered by Vikings 851 and 879. After this the city recovered and became one of the largest and richest cities Northern Europe with a healthy textile industry. Ghent is now a University town, and is very vibrant and lively.
We went for a walk around when we arrived about lunchtime, through the main square and along canals, took heaps of photos and visited a couple of churches and the Castle of Gerard the Devil then we recuperated in a couple of bars to sample the local Belgium beers.Read more