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    Sint-Baafskathedraal

    4.6 (25 reviews)
    Closed 10:00 am - 6:00 pm

    Sint-Baafskathedraal Photos

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    Erich L.

    Fabulous 3d Self guided audio tour! It's 16 euros and we'll worth it to see fantastic art in the back. The Church is free to enter but I recommend paying for the tour to see everything. The mystic lamb is a masterpiece from the 1400s.

    Inside cathedral
    Jim R.

    You can't come to Ghent and not see the most stolen artwork in history, the famous Ghent Altarpiece located in the soaring Gothic cathedral in the heart of town. While the cathedral is free to visit during non-mass hours, the Altarpiece requires a ticket which was easy to reserve online in advance. The entrance to the altarpiece is located to the left of the main altar and opens at 10 am. We booked 10 am time slot so we're one of the first admitted. Once inside you are fitted with a Virtual reality headset that guides you around the crypt and fills the ancient space with a ton of fascinating history about the church and its famous altarpiece. We booked the shorter, 40- minute narration. The VR narration and imagery guides you from place to place and has lots of clever features. It really is an entire art history class all bundled into a fun interactive experience. After around 30 minutes with the headset and all the buildup you climb a spiraling staircase back up to the back of the high altar where you see the actual masterpiece. Since they electronically close the panels at the end of the day, one benefit of our early morning time slot was watching the final lower panel slowly swing open to reveal the beautifully restored lower section with the Lamb. The altarpiece is huge (maybe 20 feet high?) and ensconced safely behind clear glass. Definitely a must see in Ghent and well worth the price of admission.

    Isabella B.

    St Bavo's Cathedral, in the strictest definition, is the seat of the diocese of Ghent. However, the overwhelming majority of visitors come to see the Adoration of the Mystic Lamb (aka the Ghent Altarpiece), one of the first major oil paintings in the world and one of the most significant paintings in European history. The church was originally consecrated in 942 and named after St. John the Baptist. Originally the church was built on the Romanesque style with examples of this earlier style surviving in the crypts. Starting from the 14th century expansion projects were executed in the Gothic style, leading to the structure that you see today. LOGISTICS Admission: Free. To view the altarpiece, however, is €4 (includes audioguide) Keep in mind that the altarpiece itself will only show the restored exterior panels from 12pm to 1pm. Therefore if you want to see the interior go before or after this time. If you don't mind obstructed or partial lighting, all parts of the Ghent Altarpiece are viewable at anytime. GHENT ALTARPIECE The altarpiece itself is located in a separate part of the church sectioned so that in order to access it you must pay admission. Furthermore when entering the room not only you are not allowed to take pictures, talking is at an absolute minimum so one can view the artwork with the reverence it deserves. To prepare for this visit a replica is provided outside for reference and the audioguide provided is quite informative. This artwork is mainly attributed to Jan van Eyck. His older brother Hubert initially started the project as a commission from a wealthy merchant and his wife with the intention of further developing the cathedral. When his brother died Jan continued with the intention of finishing the project. The main theme is the glorification or the heavenly apotheosis of man's salvation and sanctification by the sacrifice of Christ. (nb: the lower-left panel contains a copy of "The Just Judges" panel. The original was stolen in 1934 and whereabouts are currently unknown). OTHER ARTWORKS - Free "Saint Bavo enters the Convent at Ghent" - Peter Paul Rubens. The namesake St. Bavo was a Roman soldier who left the military to enter the priesthood. Rococo pulpit made by Laurent Delvaux. One of the most intricate pulpits I've seen. "The Calvary Triptych" - Justus van Gent, located in the crypt. I enjoyed my visit here. Definitely one of the more beautiful churches I encountered on my European travels.

    If you're ever in Ghent, and hopefully not too busy drinking Belgian beer and taking canal tours, visiting the Saint Bavo Cathedral is a must. The cathedral itself is fairly dark inside but quite massive and covered in marble. Apart from the main hall, there are many different side hallways and rooms waiting to be discovered. It was just mind blowing. The must-see inside this cathedral is the famous ADORATION OF THE MYSTIC LAMB by Jan van Eyck. If religious art isn't your thing, it will surely become your thing after you see this masterpiece. The audio guides (though so passe) are recommended.There is a replica of this altar piece, but the original is located at the back of the church where you obviously have to pay to get in. Yes it is packed but you'll be too blown away to worry about claustrophobia.

    The Tower
    David S.

    The first thing that I should mention is that you can't actually take photos inside, so I have respected their wishes and simply provided outdoor shots (though I do note that people do seem to take photographs anyway). Okay, in one sense this is just another church (or should I say Cathedral, though what is a Cathedral other than a big church?) but it also has a museum in the crypt (and I always liked the idea of a crypt, even though it doesn't actually seem that anybody is buried down there, it is just the basement of the church, though there do seem to be a number of tombs around the walls). The church itself is huge and like many of the other churches and cathedrals scattered about the old world, it is packed to the brim with artwork. The draw card though would have to be the altarpiece of Ghent, which I have to admit I didn't realise I was looking at it until afterwards, and when I did see it I though - gee, that looks pretty cool - without knowing what it actually was. Oh, it is also free entry, so that's also a bonus.

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    12 years ago

    This is a beautiful cathedral... most important for the Adoration of the Mystic Lamb.

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    10 years ago

    You have to visit this local landmark, enjoy the history. We felt the extra cost for the special collections were worth the cost.

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    Sint-Baafskathedraal Reviews in Other Languages

    Review Highlights - Sint-Baafskathedraal

    They close the altarpiece between 12-1 PM normally, so if you want to see if fully open see it before or after.

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    Belfort - Belfort

    Belfort

    4.4(67 reviews)
    39.0 km

    I used my Brugge Museum Pass (purchased online and most cost effective when visiting 3 or more…read moremuseums/activities in 72 hours) and had the QR code scanned for admittance. If you have any backpacks or bags then you must store them in the free lockers due to the tight confines on the staircase. The climb was up 366 steps that first started with stone but later turned into narrower wooden steps making a tight staircase with two way traffic. If timed correctly then you may see and hear the carillon in action for a few minutes. That was the highlight of my visit but there are scheduled carillon "concerts" to enjoy when in Brugge. The views were nice as could be on that cloudy morning. Wire screens on all opening impacted some photos but one can capture most of the city. On the way down I took my time and finally stopped to view the exhibits on the bells, drum (programming for ringing the bells), carillon, the tower history, etc. Before exiting the staff will rescan your ticket. There was a small gift shop after the turnstiles.

    I told myself that I am going to the top of Belfort even if it kills me…read more This is the center of Bruges. U just have to do this if u r here. From the outside looks like a medieval castle but it is a bell tower built in the 13th century, actually Bruges is a medieval city. It has 366 steps but felt like 1,000. Going up my heart felt like it was going to explode, on the way down does not affect ur cardio but hard on the knees. There is a thick rope on the right side to hold on too. Right of way goes to people going down. There are three levels u can take a break. One rest has the mechanical carillon which controls the music box, I was fortunate to be there when it was activated. This was physically brutal but I felt like I accomplished something big. I am physically strong however I realize I need to work on my cardio. Additionally, there was a Christmas Market in front of Belfort as well as others within walking distance. So much delicious food at the Christmas Markets. Belgian waffles are delicious, but they don't put syrup on them, they uses strawberries and bananas, powdered sugar or nutella. Hot wine is a thing, probably because it is about 40 degrees. The streets and businesses have lights and Christmas decorations, so festive. There was a celebrity chef Kurt Mortier there making delicious bratwurst, the line was long, he was very friendly, sausages are a big deal here. My favorite food discovery was chicken in mushroom cream sauce, where has this dish been all my life? This is the Christmas magic I felt as a child. There is a Santa Claus.

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    Belfort
    Belfort
    Belfort

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    Grand Place de Bruxelles - At Grand Place

    Grand Place de Bruxelles

    4.7(382 reviews)
    49.5 kmGrand-Place, Centre-Ville, Bruxelles

    This historic central square is probably one of the most beautiful I've ever seen. What an amazing…read moreplace to feel what it must have been like centuries ago, eat lunch, or people watch. It's a UNESCO World Heritage Site that's pedestrian only. We've hung out and strolled through in the early morning, afternoon, late evening, and even after dark well after midnight. Every two years in August, a floral carpet is installed in the middle of the centre. It's a ginormous arrangement of breathtaking flowers. A Christmas tree and lights go up every year. The neo-gothic architecture is outstanding from the kings's house to the town hall. Such an amazing piece of history that should be on everyone's sightseeing list.

    The Grand Place is absolutely stunning and lives up to its status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site…read more The gold-trimmed architecture of the guildhalls and the Town Hall will leave you in awe. It's worth visiting twice--once during the day to see the intricate details, and again at night when everything is beautifully lit up. While it is usually packed with people, if you come very early in the morning, you can enjoy the square almost entirely to yourself. The surrounding area is full of shops and food, though it is very touristy, so keep that in mind. If you're lucky enough to visit during the holidays, the festive decorations are spectacular!

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    Grand Place de Bruxelles
    Grand Place de Bruxelles
    Grand Place de Bruxelles - At Grand Place

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    At Grand Place

    Sint-Baafskathedraal - churches - Updated May 2026

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