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Situation. GHENT. 6. Route. 5D
Physician (English-speaking). NW. Waudts, Rue Digue-de-Brabant.
Collections and Principal Sights.
Abbey of St. Bavon (p.76), week-days 10-6, Oct.-March 10-4 (50 ¢. ; 5-40 pers.
2 fr.); Sun. & holidays 10-1 & 2-4, Dec.-Feb. 10-12 (free).
Cathedral (p. 58), open for the inspection of the works of art, particul-
arly the Van Eyck altar-piece, on week-days 10.30-12 (best light) & 2.30-4,
50.c.; on Sun. & holidays 10.15-44 & 12.15-1, free. Ascent of the tower,
1-4 pers. 2 fr., each addit. pers. 50 c. :
OhGteau des Comtes (p. 65), daily 10-6 (Oct. 1st-March 31st, 10-4); adm.
50 c. (5-10 pers. 2 fr.).
Library (p. 69), reading-room on week-days 9-1 & 3-7 (in vacation 9-42.30).
Musée @Archéologie (p. 67), week-days 10-6 (in winter 10-4); adm.
50 c., free on Sun. and holidays, 10-4, and on Thurs., 2-4.
Musée des Beaux-Arts (p. 12), daily 10-5 (Oct. 1st-Apr. 1st, 10-4); May 15th-
Sept. ist on Thurs. & Sun., 10-1 & 3-7; free on Thurs. & Sun., on other
days, 10 c.
Principal Attractions (one day). Morning: Cathedral (p. 58), view from
the tower of St. Bavon (p. 63) or from the Belfry (p. 63); *Hétel de Ville
(p. 63); Marché-aux-Grains (p. 64), Quai aux Herbes (p. 64), Marché-aux-
Légumes (p. 65), Chateau des Comtes (p. 63), Marché du Vendredi (p. €8).
Afternoon: Picture Gallery (p. 72), Abbey of St. Bavon (p. 76), larger or
smaller Béguinage (pp. 7/7, 75), the latter being more easily reached.
Ghent (26 ft.; Fr. Gand, Flem. Gent), the capital of B. Flanders,
with 165,500 inhab. (208,500 including the large suburbs of Lede-
berg, Genthrugge, and Mont St. Amand), lies on the Scheldt (Fr. Escaut)
and the Leie or Lys, which flow through the city in numerous arms.
A canal, exeayated in 1826-27, now sufficiently deep for sea-going
vessels of moderate size, falls into the Scheldt at Terneuzen (p. 78),
and thus connects Ghent with the sea. This waterway is connected
by a branch (Canal de Raccordement) with the Coupure, a canal
constructed in 1751-53 between Bruges and Ostend. The harbour
includes the Bassin du Commerce (P1.D, 8, 1-3), opened in 1829,
the Avant Port (P}. D, 1), 1200 yds. long, added in 1870, the Bassin
au Bois (4881), and the New Dock (1904), 2400 yds. in length. In
1909 Ghent was entered by 1282 sea-going vessels of 939,600 tons,
including 1191 steamers, besides 7007 river-craft of 1,409,526 tons.
Timber, coal, phosphates, petroleum, cotton, potatoes, cement, and
flax are important articles of commerce. Ghent, which is not unfitly
surnamed ‘La Ville de Flore’, has a specialty for horticulture, and
annually exports whole cargoes of camellias, azaleas, laurel-trees,
palms, and other hot-house plants. Among the industrial products
for which the city has long been famous are cotton and linen goods,
dyed-leather wares, and lace. Of late its iron-foundries and engine-
factories have become considerable.
Ghent is mentioned in history as early as 630. At a very early
period a spirit of independence developed itself among the inhabi-
tants, more especially the weavers; and they succeeded in obtaining
from their sovereigns those concessions which form the foundation
of constitutional liberty. At one period the citizens had become so
powerful and warlike that they succeeded in repulsing an English
army of 24,000 men, under Edward I. (1297), and a few years
later they were the principal combatants in the ‘Battle of Spurs’
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