We are very happy to be staying two nights at the Youth Hostel in Ghent. Originally we had booked for 1 night, but once we arrived and saw the beauty of this city, we decided to stay. Plus, our bodies are telling us that we need some time off of the bike to recover from the hard push of fighting headwinds.
The Youth Hostel is situated in the middle of the historic centre in a typical old Flemish building. It has been renovated and we have a top floor room (no elevator!) with a skylight window and a view of the area. It is great. We walk out the front door to a cobbled courtyard by the canal, cross a small bridge and we're at the castle. This place and city will give us wonderful memories of a unique place in Europe.
The castle of the Counts, Gravensteen. The Youth Hostel is located about 100 metres from here.
St Nicholas Cathedral has been the church of the merchants and traders since the 13th century. The many guilds who historically have sponsored this church, each have a chapel in this church. As a result of this wealth, everything is oversize and grand in the extreme.
A view of the back of St. Nicholas Cathedral..you can see the many individual chapels where the gothic windows frame the back. The design of this church is unusual, as the main chapel is huge and in the centre of the building with the individual chapels surrounding it in the back.
Happy, curious kids enjoying a ride with their dad. We were impressed by how calm each of them were in the chaos of this busy street with no designated area for bikes.
The famed 3 tower view of St Nicholas, the Belfry and St. Bavo's Cathedral. The city's skyline is dominated by the spires of the many churches and they are a testament to the city's rich heritage and history. A local non-profit society, MKN (translates Monumental Churches of Ghent) has worked hard to create free and easy access to the five significant cathedrals within walking distance of the old centre of Ghent.
We couldn't count the number of stages and venues being set up throughout the city. No corner was left untouched. The people of Ghent tell us that this is an extraordinary event to attend, but the city and all available accommodation will be full. We are kind of relieved to be here now while it is quiet.
