Last weekend with a valid time, I take the opportunity to go to Ghent.
We thought it was almost in summer so the world was present (much to my disarray !) and the temperatures not really in season.
Former capital of the County of Flanders, the city that saw the birth of Charles V has an incomparable historical heritage.
A day to go around is far from enough.
The rise to the belfry will remain a "great" moment : lugging my equipment in a maze of narrow stairs, I braked the progress
of tourists behind me. I must say that I appreciated that ! They didn't have to come to Ghent at the same time as me. Seriously !
Ghent's coat of arms
After running like crazy in the Flemish city, I'll be well prepared to face a new week wildly exciting...
Saint-Michael slaying the dragon.
The neo-Gothic post office from the Saint-Michel bridge.
The church Saint-Michael. Closed and in restoration.
Facades of Graslei.
Old main route for the Ghent trade, the Leie serves today to the pleasure of the tourists.
The famous enfilade of Ghent Towers.
Close up on the steeple of Saint-Nicholas.
Then comes the belfry...
... and the cathedral.
Near the demolition in the 19th century, the old church Saint-Nicholas has since been restored.
Here, a part of wall in full decadence. Before, it was the whole building that was in this state.
Inside, too, heavy work was needed.
Today, only the nave is still under restoration.
The influence of the Tournaisian architecture is very present in this church.
The back of the high altar.
Remains of the polychromic of the vaults.
At the foot of the belfry. It's gone for the climb of the 257 steps.
One of the rooms of the belfry.
The big drone Roland. Obviously, here we have his third version.
The beast weighs 5,6 tons !
Roland as a whole. This is the only bell on the floor.
One of the stairs is less than one meter wide.
Close-up of the unfinished spire of the cathedral.
The only view of the carillon, the room being closed by a window.
To go down again, we will prefer the lift !
The cloth hall, contiguous to the belfry.
Interior of Saint-Bavo. Photos are prohibited, you will only have two small images.
If the exterior isn't exceptional, the interior is quite different. This is one of the most beautiful churches I have visited.
The episcopal palace.
Castle of Gerard the Devil. Dating from the 13th century, it was the property of a Ghent knight, before passing into the hands of the City.
City Hall. Built in two stages, we see the confrontation between Gothic and Renaissance style.
The Gothic part, well blackened by pollution.
The Groot Vleeshuis, or meat market. Completed in 1419, along the Leie.
The Gravensteen, or Castle of the Counts.
Founded in the 9th century, it also nearly disappeared in the 19th century.
Finally, it has been restored and its appearance will be somewhat modified. It remains nevertheless one of the most beautiful medieval castles of Belgium.
Lacking time (and energy), I'll not visit it.
Some places have nothing to envy to the romanticism of Bruges.
Waiting for the return train.
End of the weekend !
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