Today was an immediate excursion to a Flemish city, destination : Ghent. I was quite excited to see this city as it is well known for its historic and economic status. In fact “ many Flemish consider Ghent, with its unrivaled cultural facilities and superb architecture, the best place to live in Belgium.” (pg.70) When we arrived to the city it had a very quaint feeling, even though its a considerably large city. Old churches were on just about every major square. This was due to the high population of 64,000 people in the middle ages. Churches were a high priority for the citizens. Nowadays, Ghent’s people, “the Gentenaars, are very much aware of their history and take great pride in the city, where the absence of skyscrapers and modern buildings in the center does much to keep its historic atmosphere intact.” (pg.70)
I really enjoyed walking around the city and seeing so many old buildings, dating as far back as the 10th century. Buildings such as the old fish market, meat hall, and the free-boatmen’s guild were among my favorites. The architecture and age of the structures were so unbelievable. Just knowing that they have been around for almost 800 years is spectacular. Another great moment was seeing the majestic work of Jan Van Eyck and his masterpiece of the Ghent Altarpiece, also known as the Adoration of the mystic lamb. It was located in the Saint Bavo Cathedral in a special room guarded by glass. The piece is a 15th century polyptych. This piece is a treasure to the world of art as it resembles Van Eyck’s work in a nutshell. It is as detailed as a photograph and one of the most realistic paintings of humans I have ever seen, especially from such an early age. The St. Bavo Cathedral itself is quite special. It is about 89 meters tall and the seat of the diocese of Ghent. It began construction in 1274. In the summer of 1566, bands of Calvinist iconoclasts visited Catholic churches in the Netherlands, shattering stained-glass windows, smashing statues, and destroying paintings and other artworks they perceived as idolatrous.[2] However, the altarpiece by Van Eyck was saved. Consequently, the art piece and the cathedral have quite a lot of history together.
Amsterdam to Brussels 