Ghent (Gent, Gand) - Sundays in My City

Ghent is about a 2 hr drive from me. Like many Belgian cities and towns, it has derivations of its name in Flemish (Dutch) and French. Ghent is no different. Also known as Gent or Gand (in French).  In Flemish it's pronounced with a guttural "G" like you're clearing phlegm from your throat. Belgium is divided into two distinct regions: Flanders and Wallonia.  The Flemish speak Dutch and the Walloons speak French. Flanders is, in my opinion, the much nicer side of Belgium.  It's been the more prosperous of the two and has nicer architecture and better infrastructure.  It's cleaner. There's not much of a unified government in Belgium so Flanders and Wallonia operate largely separately.

Ghent is the largest city in East Flanders and is located at the confluence of the Rivers Scheldt and Lys.  In the Middle Ages it was one of the largest and richest cities of northern Europe. It was occupied by the Germans during both World Wars but escaped severe destruction and was liberated by the British in 1944. Today it is a busy city with a port and a university. Its center is the largest car-free area in Belgium making it a nice place to wander even though it was quite cold and windy.

Museum of Fine Art

There was a bike race in town.

At a university coffee shop.

Belgian chocolate is world-renown. Even the tiniest shop has an amazing array of chocolates to choose from.

Palace of Justice

The Gravensteen Castle (think "Tower of London" but on a smaller scale).

The Ghent Lion

Ghent Train Station

SIDE NOTE: There was a light dusting of snow when I woke up Saturday morning. Nothing really. But when I went to the garage to leave I realized I'd left my bicycle out all night. Unlocked! And no one stole it!  When we woke up Sunday morning there was a good 6" of snow in Ghent (not a flake had fallen when we went to bed). Upon returning to the Netherlands it was clear it had snowed the whole time we were gone.

OOPS! Left it out all night!

Arriving back in the Netherlands

The back yard when I got home.

What the entrance to the construction site looked like. I had to walk with my bike most of the way down this street because it was unplowed and I fell a couple times trying to keep the bike upright.

Pushing my bike across the construction site...snow way too deep to ride.

 I hope you enjoyed the tour of Ghent.  Now take a stroll over to Unknown Mami and take tours of some other pretty incredible places.