Stubborn Ghent

For a city where it is an honor to walk in a halter around its neck, Ghent (Ghent) has a strong commitment to tradition. It is famous for the great exhibition of flowers and plants organized every five years and for being the first city on the European continent to reach the industrial revolution.

The word "stroppendragers" literally means those who wear a noose. Nowadays, to be called that, you have to belong to a prestigious guild. And where does this term come from? In the turbulent 16th century, Ghent went on strike against the high taxes imposed by Emperor Charles V. The angry ruler punished the inhabitants with forced participation in the humiliating march. The most renowned townspeople and members of several guilds marched through the streets with noose at their necks, in shirts and barefoot. The emperor did not think that the punishment would be a great honor, and the procession - an annual tradition, celebrated during the festive festival, Gentse Feesten .

Floralies of Ghent

However, Ghent is famous not only for the stubbornness and pride of its inhabitants. Every five years it hosts a huge exhibition of flowers and plants - Floralies of Ghent . The first, modest show of plants was organized over 200 years ago by the Ghent Agricultural and Horticultural Society. In 1913, the world Expo exhibition was held in the city, which started a series of successes.

Currently, several hundred thousand people from different countries come to Ghent to see plant exhibitions. The screenings are officially opened by members of the Belgian royal family. The next exhibition will be held from April 22 to May 1, 2016.

What's worth seeing in Ghent?

Ghent is a beautiful city in the northwest of Belgium. From the very beginning, it supported the development of art and culture. It was the first center in Europe to reach the industrial revolution, and films were shown there as early as 1901 (in the Valentino cinema hall).

As befits the old town (the region has been inhabited since the time of the Celts), Ghent boasts a large number of monuments. One of them is the church of St. Martin , a magnificent building with a magnificent view of the entire city from the top. There is an entrance fee to the temple tower.

Another sacred monument worth paying attention to is the Cathedral of St. Bavo (Sint-Baafskathedraal). It is the place of the baptism of Emperor Charles V. Inside the temple, there is a famous painting in the Baroque style - the Ghent Altar (Adoration of the Mystical Lamb). Its authors are brothers: Hubert and Jan Van Eyck.

The monumental Gravensteen makes a huge impression on tourists. It houses a museum, and from the castle tower you can see the entire panorama of Ghent. The castle of Gerard de Duivelsteen can also be proud of its impressive size. Unfortunately, it can only be admired from the outside. Despite this, every year thousands of people come to the city specifically to see it.

If not monuments, then what?

The most important attractions of Ghent are monuments, but there are also other points of interest in the city. For the male part of tourists it may be Glazen Straatje ("glass street"), along which there are windows with representatives of the world's oldest profession tempting from behind the glass. However, both sexes are delighted with the view from Sint - Michielsbrug, a mighty bridge. You can admire the magnificent tenement houses of the old town .

During your stay, it is worth getting acquainted with Flemish cuisine . Traditional local dishes are, of course, Belgian fries with various sauces (mainly based on mayonnaise) and Waterzooi, a thick fish soup with vegetables and herbs. In the evenings, you can go to the restaurant of flavored shots or to a pub serving several dozen types of beer. There are many such places in Ghent, because the inhabitants love to have fun. You can see it by the number of clubs and the noise coming from them. Joy and youth reign, which is not surprising - after all, it is the largest student city in Belgium.