A blustery day in Gent

On our way to Westvleteren to pick up the famous beer, we stopped for about 2 hours in the city of Gent. It, like most of the cities we've visited, is beautiful and full of historic buildings, quaint streets, and huge cathedrals.

It was so windy!

Sint-Michielskerk (St. Michael's Church)

And if you're interested in a little history . . .

Archeological research has proved that there was human settlement in Gent during prehistoric times. Only later did it continue to grow with the founding of two abbeys around 650. The Scheldt and Leie rivers merge here and in the 11th and 12th century Gent became an important trade center especially for cloth. Until the 13th century it was the biggest city in Europe after Paris!

In the 15th century, Gent was under strict rule of the Dukes of Burgundy. The marriage of Mary, the Duchess of Burgundy to Maximilian of Austria moved Gent into the House of Habsburg. The grandchild of Mary and Maximillian was born in Gent in the year 1500, Charles V who later became Holy Roman Emperor and King of Spain.

Although native to Gent, Charles V punished the city making the nobles parade in front of the emperor with a noose around their neck. The people of Gent have since been called noose bearers (stroppendragers). Under the rule of Philip II of Spain (son of Charles V) Gent suffered like most other cities in the area under the continuous religious troubles between Protestants and Catholics.

Under the rules of Archdukes Albert and Isabella, Gent flourished once more. War, however, was never far away, especially when Louis XIV of France repeatedly tried to conquer the area. The St . Bavo Abbey was torn town and replaced with a fortress for Spanish troops and the late 16th and 17th centuries brought devastation because of the Religious wars and the city was captured by French forces.

Sint-Niklaaskerk (St. Nicholas Church)

It seemed the entire city was undergoing reconstruction. We were told it would all be complete by summer for the Gentse Feesten, a music and theatre festival which takes place in July and attracts about 2 million visitors each year.

If you've never heard anything else about Gent (Ghent - same place), you probably know it is the site of the signing of the Treaty of Gent which formally ended the War of 1812 between Britain and the U.S.

There is so much more to this city that we didn't see. Added to our "we must visit again" list.

It was a very blustery day . . . outside.