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Ghent is one of the most sociable and
convivial art cities of Flanders. Not a city-museum like Brugge, although she
presents exceptional historical and artistic treasures. These treasures only
make it worth a trip! Some monuments possess a heritage of universal stature
like the “adoration of the lamb” polyptic in the St.Baafs cathedral. Thanks
to its geographical situation in the heart of Flanders, and her economic
dynamism, Ghent organizes every three years THE display-window of advanced
technology, all the know-how of the Flemish industrialists: “Flanders
Technology”.
But, let's make it clear at once. Ghent
is not a town, which will only charm you, and you could leave like a nice girl
without further interest. No, she will, as a beautiful woman sure of her baits,
seduce you by her ardor, her flaming intensity, and will leave you full of
regrets when you will set off for other horizons.
It's a living town, proud of her past,
which didn't confine in a role of city-museum. It’s true that the 19th
century industrial revolution left her with scars difficult to hide, but instead
of proceeding like so many other cities did, with evident demolitions, the
people of Ghent worked on a slow rehabilitation of the rotten areas, restoring
it with delicious taste, attractive and original. It is indefinable but it is
beautiful and full of charm.
Happy mixture of medieval constructions,
luxurious commercial streets lined with " hotels de maitre", imposing
civilian and religious constructions showing ten centuries of architecture,
places black with crowds sitting at the terraces when the evenings are smooth,
piers with troubled waters when the nights decorate them with phantasmagoric
illuminations, small gardens adjacent to the canal.
Ghent " vibrating" is not
visible in one day, of course. If you want to see the main sights, maybe you
can, but briefly. Ghent has to imbue progressively. Three days (and 2 nights!!)
will not be to much, on the contrary.
The best time to visit is during the
"Gentse Feesten" (third week of July) when many celebrations, balls
and street merchants, stands and stalls give the shakes to the city of Charles
the Great, but where the crowds will give you some headaches about parking and
hotel reservations. You’ve been warned!!!
Bibliography:
Gian Giuseppe
Simeone, "Les Nouvelles du Patrimoine « Ghent »" (ed.Casterman),
Omer Vandeputte "Gids voor Vlaanderen ", (ed.Lannoo), Guides du
Routard 1999 (ed.Hachette)
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