Travel diary: Belgium by night 2022

Christmas markets again in Gent after an almost three year break after Covid. Gent with it's St Bavo Cathedral and St Michel church with its same name bridge and the Schelde river and Leije running through.  Truly a delight! The Gravesteen castle, used to be a church but was mostly demolished during Spanish occupation and turned into army barracks.  Gent has archelogical findings dating back to the iron and bronze age and was once the Paris of the north.  Lots of history, beauty and modern life blending into this UNESCO heritage medieval town centre.  

Saint Michel church right and the St Michel bridge/pont

     The Schelde river running through - nice place for coffee and caramel waffles. 

        Gravensteen a castle that was once a church but changed into army barracks with some demolitions during Spanish occupation. It’s also a main tram stop. 

          The St Bavo church 

Gravensteen by night, which was once a Protestant church, half demolished and rebuilt into army barracks during Spanish occupation hundreds of years ago  it is also a main tram stop  

Brugge once used to have access to the sea but when it silted up, cargo moving moved to Antwerp which had access to the sea and Rotterdam harbour, meanings its current GDP is even higher than that of Brussels.  Although Brugges was occupied by Germans in both the first and second world war, nothing was damaged and therefore, it's medieval oval shaped historic centre is still in perfect tact.  Cobble-stoned throughout, with delicate, extravagant ornate houses, churches and main square government house, it is a pleasure to behold.  It also hosts the oldest hospital in Europe, now 800 years old and a museum.  St Johns.  Shop windows are full of Belgian waffle and chocolate delicacies as well as lace and embroidered little treasures.  More spread out than Gent, it's nicer as you can amble through and meet monument after monument, whereas Gent's main cathedrals are all within a smaller square mile.

These are chocolate!! 

Extravagant, delicate, ornate sculpturing everywhere!

           Typical Bon bons Venetres 

             Classic lace souvenir 

                 Main square with City hall and Belfort      church tower with ringing bells

                                   City Hall 

               Cute bridge over the Schelde river 

Horse carriages continuously 

The Charleroi airport is far in the south and an old military airfield. A small little town with not much to see.  But once developed will be as busy as Belgiums Zaventum airport north of Brussels  for now there’s a lot of construction and no train station yet! 

That’s all folks! Bonsoir!