This square, once used for executions, is lined with old houses and the St Lawrence Hospice (façade from 1564). The old Baroque Fish Market has finely-carved high-reliefs depicting Neptune, the River Lys and River Escaut.

This 15C former crossbowmen guild's house was later converted into a coaching inn and is now a hotel-restaurant.

This quay has fine old houses, especially the Kite House . Low-reliefs on the house next door depict the Seven Mercies .

The huge 15C "Mad Meg" cannon was brought to Ghent to defend the town against Spanish invaders in 1578. Ironically, it turned out to be impossible to use.

Patershol has small craftsmen's houses (the oldest are 12C), big town houses, two Medieval convents and a hospice. In the Middle Ages, it was a major district for craft and religion, then became fashionable in the 17C and 18C. It declined, then fell ..

This austere 13C Medieval house belonged to a Ghent lord nicknamed "Gerard the Devil". It was extensively restored in the 19C and is now home to the Royal Archives. The bronze statues fronting the Steen were erected in 1913 in honour of the..

St-Jacobskerk has two Romanesque front towers. One was given a sandstone roof with crockets in the 15C. The square adjoining the church hosts a pleasant flea market on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

The Great Beguine Convent, founded in 1234, was deserted by the nuns in the 19C. Only the picturesque Proveniersterstraat remains near St Elizabeth's and three pretty houses with crow-stepped gables around the church.

This former Socialist "Festival Hall" was built by F. Dierkens between 1911 and 1914. It now houses several auditoriums for theatre, dance or concert productions. Note the superb Art nouveau façade.

The Liève disappears to flow underground at this former sluice gate (1489), with pointed roofs and crow-stepped gables.

The abbey founded in the 7C, then rebuilt in the 10C, was turned into a citadel called the "Spaniards' Castle". by Emperor Charles V. It was demolished in the 19C and the only abbey remains are one Gothic cloister gallery, the Romanesque la..

Ghent University's central library (1933-1940) lies in a bustling city district. It was designed by Henry Van de Velde, founder of the Weimar Kunstgewerbeschule and forerunner of the Bauhaus movement. The 64m-high tower has 26 storeys including a fin..