Appart hotel in Ghent

You have decided to visit Ghent, or you are going there for a business trip? The Adagio access aparthotel Gent Centre Dampoort welcomes you all year round in optimal conditions of comfort, close to the historical centre and the railway station. After booking your aparthotel, you can take the time to visit the city of Ghent and discover its rich architecture, its many churches and museums, and take a trip on the river Leie, the river that flows through the city, nicknamed the "Manhattan of the Middle Ages". Come and discover this medieval city, which boasts numerous castles, some dating back to the year 800, and which was the second largest city in Europe after Paris from the 11th to the 13th century.

Visit the historical centre of Ghent

Ghent is a city on a human scale, so you can discover it on foot. Don't neglect a walk along the water, which we'll see a little later, but you can go from the historic centre to the museum district by walking around and discovering the various buildings that line the city. The 14th century belfry, which you can see from many parts of the city, is one of its symbols, and the dragon above it is considered to be the city's protector. The belfry is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The present-day St. Nicholas Church was the watchtower before the belfry was built, and is now one of the three towers overlooking Ghent. The third of these medieval skyscrapers is St. Bavo's Cathedral, which was granted the title of cathedral in 1559 and was previously considered a parish church in the 13th century. Of course, we advise you to climb to the top of these towers to enjoy the breathtaking view of the entire city.

The castle of the Counts of Flanders

It is impossible to visit Ghent without visiting the Castle of the Counts of Flanders, more simply called the Castle of the Counts or Gravensteen in Flemish. Built in the 12th century, you can discover the life of the knights of the time by walking along the ramparts, the guardhouse, the dungeons or even inside the residence of the counts. Those fascinated by this period will be able to discover one of the largest collections of instruments of torture, for historical curiosity only of course, on display in a room converted into an executioner's cabinet. On a lighter note, you can stroll through the festival hall, where many Ghent citizens choose to get married. And for the painting enthusiasts, there is a fresco by the Spanish artist Taquen depicting the self-portrait of Jan Van Eyck, the man with the red turban. The fresco is only visible from one of the towers, so you will have to inspect all of them to see it.

Take a boat trip on the Leie

Ghent is at the junction of the river Lys and the river Scheldt, which even gave it its first name (condate in Gallic, meaning confluence). Go to the Saint Michael's bridge, which offers a breathtaking view of the trio of towers of the historic city centre, as well as the facades of the houses lining the quays to find your boat. This way you can visit Ghent via its canals, giving you a break from the many trips and stoops you have made on previous visits.

Visit the Ghent quays

If you take a walk along the quays, before or after your trip along the river Leie, you can stroll along the two quays that are well known to the people of Ghent: the Graslei (Herb Quay) and the Korenlei (Grain Quay). There are many terraces where the sun shines and you can admire the typical facades of the houses while having a drink or eating cuberdons, a Ghent speciality with a raspberry centre. Don't hesitate to take the Saint Michael's Bridge and the Grasburg Bridge, the pride of the city, to have a view of the river Leie and the two lively quays.

What to do in Ghent

• Visit the historic centre
• Visit the castle of the Counts of Flanders
• Take a walk along the quays
• Discover the facades of the typical houses
• Take a walk on the river Lys
• See the Grande Boucherie, the covered market
• Admire the street art
• Eat cuberdons