More Ghent

Last night we went out to look at the city lights, it looked beautiful and there were a lot of people out and about. The sustainable lighting plan was installed to highlight architectural features, statues, monuments and squares and starts at sunset and ends at Midnight.

This morning we had some time before we took the bus to Aachen, Germany. We first went to see the Ghent Cathedral St Bavo, it has a very famous altarpiece (also known as the adoration of the Mystic Lamb) which is a very sought after oil painting with 12 panels. The altarpiece has previously been stolen, and there is still a panel missing and there is a copy on display instead, there are also some very spectacular sculptures, marblework and chapels.

We then toured Gravensteen, the Castle of the Counts, that dates from 1180and was built by Philip of Alsace on the site of an older fortification, it has a moat fed by a river. After it ceased to be the residence of the Counts of Flanders it fell into disrepair but has subsequently been bought and restored by the city of Ghent. The audiotour that guides you through the castle was filled with stories that bought the history to life.Read more