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Korenlei Gent by night
Welcome in Gent, the most pleasant city of Flanders !
You’ll find the pleasance of Gent in its sparkling cultural life, by walking along the monuments, the historical or modern buildings, by enjoying our gastronomy in an outdoor café, in the pedestrianized shopping streets... in short, everywhere, but most of it with the people of Ghent themselves, who provide for the pleasant atmosphere and Burgundian hospitality!
Dubbed the 'Manhattan of the Middle Ages' after its heyday as a cloth-trading centre, Gent enchants with its quaint cobbled streets and winding canals.
Admire the Gothic spires of Sint Niklaas Church and Saint-Bavo Cathedral as you stroll past gabled buildings. Take a waterboat ride along the two rivers that meet in Ghent - the Rivers Leie and Scheldt. At night, sit back with a fruity beer by the water.
The typical Gentenaar is a jovial one; there's nothing he'd rather do than savour a Kriek in the shadow of Sint Niklaas Church, or by one of Ghent’s breezy canals. And, if there is free music to enhance the experience, so much the better.
The Gentse Feesten in July are just that: ten days of cheerful street partying to keep you out of trouble. Those in the know will watch out for the four festivals within the festival: clubby 10 Days Off; Puppetbusker; Street Theatre Festivals; and the Gent Jazzfestival.
To get a feel for the proud Ghent of medieval times, start at the Belfort (Belfry), and go right to the top! Absorb the Gothic grandeur of the Graslei along the banks of the Leie River.
The Spijker is the street's oldest house, where grain reserves were stored in the 12th century to alleviate future famines. The Gildenhuis van de Vrije Schipper (Guildhall of the Free Boatmen) and the Lakenhalle (Cloth Hall) have gorgeous late-Gothic façades.
Finish off your tour with Sint Michiels church just across the bridge, and make some time for Sint Baafs and Sint Niklaas.
Gloep..Gloep.. is the Flemish drinking sound and you'll be hearing lots of it. With its pedestrian cobblestone alleys, Ghent is dotted with cosy bierhuizen (pubs).
Head to the traditional Waterhuis aan de Bierkant, home to an impressive 100 types of beer. Move on to the Dreupelkot, a popular Jenever bar on the Groentenmarkt.
First concocted as a medicine, you may want to start off with the sweet, home-made Vanilla Jenever, but do come back to sample the other 199 flavours!
Discover more on www.visitgent.be