{"id":3701,"date":"2020-01-21T17:12:10","date_gmt":"2020-01-21T17:12:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ulysses.travel\/ghent-canals\/"},"modified":"2023-11-10T10:17:06","modified_gmt":"2023-11-10T10:17:06","slug":"ghent-canals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ulysses.travel\/en\/ghent-canals\/","title":{"rendered":"Graslei & Korenlei, Ghent’s waterfront"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Captain Ulysses fell in love with Ghent’s quaint canals and waterfront. Follow the guide!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\ud83d\udc4d The Captain’s top picks \ud83d\udc4d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Accommodation, flights, activities, cruises … You’ll find all the Captain’s suggestions in the section Captain Ulysses’ favourites<\/a> at the very end of the article!<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ghent and its canals in a few words<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A few words about the region’s geography<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Located in Belgium’s\nFlemish region, the city of Ghent was built at the meeting point of 2 rivers:\nthe Lys (or Leie) and the Schelde. The city is criss-crossed by numerous\ncanals, the most famous of which are the Lieve and the Lys. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A short history of the canals of Ghent<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The city’s history began\nin the 7th century AD when Saint Amand decided to build an abbey at the\nmeeting point of the Lys and the Schelde. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As centuries went by, the city’s\nstrategic location allowed it to thrive and become a key economic hub in Europe: between the 9th\nand the 16th centuries, the city was even the 2nd<\/sup> biggest city in Europe,\nright after Paris. Ghent then counted 60,000 inhabitants and was more populated\nthan London! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The city prospered thanks to\ntrade, mostly in the textile sector. Ghent’s canals played a key role\nin the city economic vitality. The names of some of the city quays and streets\nare directly inherited from this period, just like “Korenlei”,\nwhich means “grain wharf” in Flemish. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After the 16th century, the\ncity lost access to the sea and progressively declined. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Exploring Ghent’s in the Hungarian capital<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ghent’s iconic quays:\nGraslei & Korenlei<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

With their picture-postcard facades,\nGraslei\nand Korenlei face each other\non opposite banks of the River Lys. Captain Ulysses\nhighly recommends that you take the time to explore the city’s quaint waterfront. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On sunny days,\nthere’s nothing nicer than having a cup of coffee or a pint of beer on one of the\nwaterfront’s many terraces. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The oldest building on Graslei,\n – which is called Spijker -, located on\n#10 of Graslei, is said to date back to\nthe 12th century. Most of the buildings along Graslei and Korenlei\nwere built in the Middle-Ages, even though they may not look medieval as\nthe majority was remodelled in the following centuries\n(mainly the 17th and 18th centuries). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Korenlei<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

St Michael’s Bridge (St-Michielsbrug)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Built in the early 20th\ncentury, St Michael’s Bridge spans the River Lys right by Graslei and\nKorenlei. From the bridge, the view on the river and the quays is quite simply stunning, with\nGravesteen Castle, St Michael Church,\nSt Nicholas Church, the Belfry and Saint Bavo Cathedral in the distance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"St-Michaels-bridge-ghent\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Grasbrug Bridge<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Much smaller (and\nquainter) than St Michael’s Bridge, Grasbrug Bridge also offers a panoramic view\nof the Lys River and the waterfront. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Grasbrug<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Historical boat tours in\nGhent<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Captain Ulysses is an\nold sea salt and always enjoys a boat ride: he can only recommend that you too embark on a boat\nin Ghent to discover the city’s top sights\nand learn more about its\nhistory. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udc49 Book your historical boat tour<\/a><\/mark><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"ghent-Grasbrug\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Gravensteen, the Castle of the Counts\nof Flanders<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Nestled above the River Lieve, the\nCastle of the Counts of Flander in one of the most famous monuments in\nGhent. Built in 1180 on the spot where ancient fortifications dating back to the 9th century used to stand,\nGravesteen Castle is the only remaining fortified castle\nin Flanders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It originally served as the Counts’ residence\nbut was turned into a prison in the 14th century before\nthe Holy Roman Emperor Charles V decided to make it his residence again. Much later, in 1949, the castle\nwas stormed by a group of rebellious students! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Inside the castle, visitors are free to explore the guard house, the fortified walls, the dungeon, the Counts’ residence and the stables. The castle also counts a vast exhibition on ancient instruments of torture… chilling! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Entrance fee is 10 \u20ac per adults over 25\n(audioguide included) and 6 \u20ac for adults aged 19 to 25. Admission is\nfree for children under the age of 18. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Gravesteen,<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Access<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Driving to Ghent<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Ghent is easy to drive to from\nthe main cities in Northern France and Belgium: <\/p>\n\n\n\n