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64 Route 6. GHENT. Inner Town:
tecture in Belgium. The clumsy E. facade, towards the market-
place, with its three tiers of columns, was constructed in 1600-18,
in the Renaissance style.
The Interror, also restored in 1870, contains a series of fine Gothic
rooms and an interesting Gothic staircase (entrance from the Botermarkt;
concierge to the right next the exterior staircase, door No. 15; fee Wo-4 fr.).
Since 1876 the ‘Pacification of Ghent’ (p. 57) has been commemorated here
by a tablet. — The lofty Chapel now serves as the Salle des Mari es, or Office
for civil marriages. Above the door, a large painting by EZ. Wauters: Mary
of Burgundy intervening in favour of her ministers (p. 69). — On the first
floor of the oldest wing is the Salle de P Arsenal or Salle des Fétes, with
timber ceiling and lofty Gothic windows. Adjacent is the Council Hall or
Salle des Etats. — The Archives are very important, containing documents
dating back to the 12th century. The artistically executed coats-of-arms
of magistrates on the bindings of the account books of the town (from 1468
downwards) are of considerable heraldic importance.
In the Marché-anx-Poulets (‘poultry market’), to the S. behind
the Hotel de Ville, is the former office (No. 7) of the Bureau de Bien-
faisance, containing an interesting room dating from 1689, with
wood-carvings (medallion-portraits of Charles V., Albert and Isa-
bella, etc.) and paintings. At the chimney-piece, which is of caryed
wood, are two statuettes of orphans in the costume of the period
(4689). Small fee (30-50 c.) to the keeper (ring the bell).
A little to the W. of the Belfry rises the Church of St. Nicholas
(Pl. C, 4), which has recently been freed from the houses which
clustered round it. It was rebuilt in the early-Gothiec style about the
beginning of the 43th century. Above the Romanesque W. portal is
a huge window flanked by turrets. The main tower (15th cent.)
contains a fine hall in the Transition style.
The InreR1IoR was completely restored in the 17th century. An in-
scription under a small picture on the 4th pillar of the N. aisle in the
nave records that Oliver Minjau and his wife are buried here, ‘ende hadden
tesamen eenendertich kinderen’ (i.e., they had together one-and-thirty children).
When Emp. Charles V. entered Ghent, the father with twenty-one sons who
had joined the procession attracted his attention (1526). The high-altar-
piece, by W. de Liemacker, represents the consecration of St. Nicholas as
bishop of Myra in Lycia (1630-32).
On the W. side of the busy MArowi-aux-Gnrains (Koornmarkt ;
Pl. G, 4), the centre of the tramway system (p. 54), are some pictur-
esque Gabled Houses (17-18th cent.). A modern-Gothic Post
Office, by Cloquet, was erected in 1899 et seq., between the
Marché-aux-Grains and the Lys. — On the Grasleie, or Quai aux
Herbes (Pl. ©, 4), there are several interesting old buildings. The
handsome *Skippers’ House (No. 15), or Maison des Francs Bateliers,
the finest Gothic guild-house in Belgium, was erected in 1534 and
restored in 1904 et seq. The Maison des Mesureurs de Grain (House
of the Grain Measurers; No. 13) is a Renaissance structure of 1698.
The Romanesque Staple House (Maison de lEtape; No. 11), a
granary of the beginning of the 13th cent., was restored after a fire
in 1896. — The lofty Pont St. Michel affords a fine view of the old
building. |