THese 6 Stops in Gorgeous Ghent, Belgium are fantastic. Most visitors to Belgium head straight for vibrant Brussels or charming Brugges. I am telling you all, don’t sleep on Ghent. The city is small but mighty in eats, history, art, and magic.
Ghent boasts a well-preserved medieval city center with impressive architecture. The Gravensteen Castle, St. Bavo’s Cathedral, and the Belfry of Ghent are just a few examples of the city’s historic buildings.
Graslei and Korenlei are picturesque streets along the river lined with medieval guild houses and warehouses, creating a beautiful waterfront setting. It’s a great place for a stroll and to soak in the atmosphere.
Ghent by night takes on a whole other ambiance. After dinner take some time to wander around and soak up the magic.
Here are my favorite 6 Stops in Gorgeous Ghent:
- Himschoot Bakery
- The Stunning Ghent Altarpiece
- Tierenteyn Verlent Mustard Factory
- Graffiti Street (Werregarenstraat):
- Gravensteen – Castle of the Counts
- Temmerman Confiserie, the Oldest Candy Store in Ghent
#1 Himschoot Bakery
Start your first day off in Ghent with a famous cinnamon pastry called “Mastel” which is ironed and must be eaten immediately. You can smell this bakery before you see it. Just follow your nose and spot the line outside the door.
Crispy, fragrant and sweet. It’s no wonder this is a beloved local pastry.
The bakery offers lots of other products including a large array of breads. They use “ancient recipes” and whole grains.
I love their cheeky packaging.
#2 The Stunning Ghent Altarpiece
The stunning, spectacular Ghent Altarpiece (Adoration of the Mystic Lamb) was painted in 1432 by the Van Eyck brothers. This masterpiece has been stolen and recovered several times. Its journey included a stay in the Austrian mines during WWII courtesy of the Nazis & recovered by the Monument Men. it is on display in all of its fully restored glory at the breathtaking St. Bavo’s Cathedral.
The showing of this piece is dramatic. You sit in a darkened room. Music plays and then the Altarpiece is slowly revealed behind glass. You can walk around the entire piece to inspect it in detail. The cathedral itself is breathtaking.
It contains several other masterpieces by Rubens, etc., and is worth a walk around.
#3 Tierenteyn Verlent Mustard Factory
This storefront is a factory specializing in spicy Belgian-style mustard.
An artisan mustard variety with a long tradition, dating back to 1790, spicy Tierenteyn-Verlent mustard is made with a selection of mustard seeds that are finely ground before they are mixed with vinegar and salt. There is a choice of beautiful packaging if you want to take a jar home as a souvenir.
The store also carries other beautiful and tasty products like local honey and lovely teas.
Read on for the last 3 of 6 Stops in Gorgeous Ghent:
#4 Graffiti Street (Werregarenstraat)
If you follow me on Instagram, you know Street Art has my heart. For a unique urban experience, visit Ghent’s graffiti street where artists are encouraged to create and express themselves on the walls.
The artwork is constantly changing, making each visit a new experience. This means that Graffiti Street in Ghent never looks the same from one week to the next.
There is one rule for the artists, respect works that are better than yours and respect residents by keeping the noise level down in the evening hours.
This is a fun kaleidoscope walk. It’s a lot to take in visually at once. So I recommend you take your time to walk slowly and soak it all in.
#5 Gravensteen – Castle of the Counts
We had fun roaming over Ghent’s beautiful castle sporting a torture chamber and amazing views at the top. The narration in the audio guide is from a famous Belgian comedian. Some found him annoying. I found him entertaining.
The castle is fun to roam. There are many places inside and outside to explore.
don’t miss the view of Ghent from the very top. It’s worth the climb.
#6 – Temmerman Confiserie, the Oldest Candy Store in Ghent
Since 1904, Temmerman Confiserie has been a beloved sweet shop in Ghent, founded by Bertha Moffaert and her husband, specializing in classic gingerbread and candies. Today, the 5th generation of the Temmerman family continues the legacy of quality and passion for sweets.
The company uses only the finest ingredients and traditional recipes passed down for over four generations. Their famous Ghent Cuberdons are made in the shape of masks, with an ingenious design that maximizes sugar coating. They also offer over 140 different types of sweets, each made with gum Arabic from the Arcadia tree instead of gelatin.
This company is the inventor of the Cuberdon Masks. A cuberdon is a cone-shaped Belgian candy and a popular local delicacy in Ghent. Temmerman makes theirs in the shape of masks.
These are just a few highlights, and there’s much more to discover in Ghent. Whether you’re interested in history, art, food, or simply enjoying the charming ambiance of a medieval European city, Ghent has something to offer.
Enjoy these 6 Stops in Gorgeous Ghent? Also, check out some of these other posts:
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