Saint Michael's Bridge Ghent

Explore the lesser-known side of Ghent with your professional private guide on this 1.5-hour walking tour. Learn about the city's history, discover interesting facts and get to know the dark side of Ghent via old legends and tales of mystery. Finish the tour in the medieval quarter, very close to the city center, with a deeper understanding of Ghent. Enjoy a perfect mix of history and dark stories, myths, old legends, interesting facts, and hidden gems — everything to make your time in Ghent mysterious and exciting. As it is a private tour, it can be customized based on your preferences and indications. Stops included on the tour: + Saint Michael’s Bridge, + St. Bavo's Cathedral, + Graslei, + Appelbrugparkje, + Gravensteen, + Prinsenhof, + Rabot, + Bridge of Imperial Delights, + Augustine Monastery, + Patershol, and many more!

Travel back in time to the golden days of medieval Ghent on this private walking tour that shows you the historical highlights of the city. Listen to stories of love, glory, and fortune, as well as tales of intrigue, war, and conflict. After meeting your guide at Saint Michael's Bridge, you’ll walk through the medieval heart of the city on a route that includes all the must-visit spots. You'll visit Saint Michael's Bridge, Saint Nicholas Church, Grass Quay & Corn Quay, Saint Bavo’s Cathedral, the Belfry, the City Hall, the Guild Houses, Gravensteen Castle, Friday Market, Duivelsteen and many more. As you explore highlights and hidden gems, you’ll get the perfect mix of history, funny stories, legends, and facts — everything you need to make your experience of Ghent authentic and exciting. By the end of the tour, you'll know more than a local and you'll have a better idea of where to go and what to do during your time in Ghent. As an added perk, we'll offer you a booklet with discounts and gifts at local restaurants, museums and shops.

At the start of the tour, the fairy-tale-looking Gravensteen Castle, surrounded by a moat, reveals the sinister yet interesting past when Ghent’s medieval ruler, Counts of Flanders, used the site as a barbaric prison. Today, the most attractive icon of the city is still in a great preservation state and houses a unique museum of dungeons and torturing tools for which another visit to explore is highly recommended. Continue to visit The House of Alijn in the cozy cobblestoned Patershol Quarter, which used to accommodate textile workers in the 15th century. The highlight of the museum which was once a hospice for sick children is not its exhibitions but a lovely courtyard garden and a typical working-class pub secluded behind a group of quaint houses, adding to the nostalgic beauty of the place. Then, head to the true centre of Ghent where its 14th-century City Hall prominently stands as the hub of the community witnessing historical events as well as important moments of its citizens. Its grand façade is a cocktail of architectural styles and laden with intricate details, most notably the sober sculptures of the Counts of Flanders. A stone’s throw away is the towering silhouette of the Ghent Belfry, built onto the Cloth Hall in the flamboyant Brabant Gothic style. For centuries, the stunning tower, recognized by UNESCO, has served as the town’s clock, treasury, and watchtower by the side of the hall which is an ode to the cloth industry once thriving in the city. Just opposite is St. Bavo's Cathedral, the oldest church in the heart of Ghent. But the town’s symbol of wealth in medieval times is another church nearby: St. Nicholas' Church, which defines the Ghent’s skyline, together with the cathedral and the belfry. Its opulent façade displays a harmonious mixture of Romanesque and the Flemish Gothic style. Behind the church lies the Korenmarkt Square, the heart of the Old Town beating with its vibrant rhythm. The bustling neighbourhood offers the best of both worlds with its attractive blend of old-world charms, including the imposing former post-office building and quaint artisan shops, and the modern conveniences of numerous cafés, restaurants, and outdoor markets. Make a perfect end to the tour capturing breathtaking views in all directions and great photography opportunities from the viewpoint of Saint Michael's Bridge. The historic stonework spans the Leie River at the most strategic spot with the sober-looking Saint Michael's Church and picturesque Wheat Quay on one end and the scenic Grass Quay and Old Town’s centre on the other.