We travel by coach from Lille to GHENT, a city
with a population of a quarter of a million. Its
size and position allow the inhabitants to enjoy
a city with an interesting crossover between open
cosmopolitanism and the quiet atmosphere of a
provincial town.
"Ghent is thriving as many young people choose to
live here instead of in the countryside or the
crowded and disintegrating city centers of
Brussels and Antwerp.
"Ghent is a city of history. During the Middle
Ages, it was one of the richest and most powerful
cities in Europe, in some quarters considered
second only to Paris (the Italian peninsula
excluded). The impact of this rich past can be
clearly seen when viewing the imposing
architecture of churches and the houses of rich
traders.
"The whole of the city centre is restored in this
fashion, and still breathes the atmosphere of a
thriving late-medieval city state. As the city
council made the centre free of cars, it is now a
very welcoming and open area, which does not fail
to impress even the people who live there."
"Ghent is also a university city with more than
50,000 students. As such, its streets are filled
with young people. But, unlike Leuven, another
university town in Flanders, youth is not the
only category of people living there. There is an
interesting mixture of foreigners who came to
live there, or artists, amongst the native people
of Ghent.
"Interestingly, other than the smaller provincial
cities or the bigger city of Antwerp, this
mixture makes the people more tolerant and
open-minded.
"This atmosphere seeps into every aspect of city
life. Many people of Ghent truly see the place
like home, and are very proud to live there,
seeing it as a place that will always welcome
them back home."
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The Old Meat Market (left).
Situated on the west side of the market is the
long Groot Vleeshuis, a medieval covered meat
market with a guild house, chapel and numerous
gables in the roof.
The building originated in 1406-1410 and was
restored in 1912.
At the south end of the Vleeshuis is the
"Penshuizeken" (Entrails cottage) where the poor
were given the entrails of slaughtered
animals.
More modern day refreshments may now be obtained
there (below) !!
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