Friday, June 12, 2009

Ghent

Ghent in English. Gent in Dutch. Gand or Gant in French. Formerly Gaunt in English (before spell check technology). All the same town. An old bugger of a Belgium city, founded on the confluence of the Lys and Scheldt rivers as a grain trading and mercantile center. It quickly became one of the wealthiest cities in Europe. Today, it is a shipping port and university town. It is a great town to see old, Flemish-style business buildings.

This is the historic post office. At this time, it is under renovation. Half of Europe is under renovation at this time. 

This is the Gravensteen Castle, which is the only surviving one of a bunch of castles built by the counts of Flanders for maintaining law and order. It's pretty durn old.

Town square. Well, one side of it.

Saint Bavo Cathedral, which houses the famous alter painting Lamb of God. Wow! You gotta see that!

River Lys, Flemish-style buildings and blue sky. 


No comments :

Post a Comment