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16 Route 6. GHENT. Eastern Quarters:
houses are arranged round a rectangular grassy space bordered with
trees; while another square block of similar houses with narrow
lanes between adjoins. A dazzlingly white wall encloses the grassy
space. The church (17-18th cent.) contains a notable winged-
picture by Lucas Horenbault, The Assembly of the saints (1596; in
the N. aisle). Lace (kanten) is-offered for sale in the convent of
St. Joseph, at the corner opposite the W. portal of the church.
Following the Quai Porte aux Vaches (Koepoortkaai; Pl. E, 5, 4)
to the N. from the Place d’Artevelde, then crossing (to the right)
the Bas-Escaut, or EB. arm of the Scheldt, and the Lys, we reach
the Rue de l’Abbaie, or Abdy-Straat, No. 5 in which (left) is the —
*Abbey of St. Bavon (St. Baafsabdy; Pl. E, 4; adm.,see p. 55;
description & plan 25¢.; curator, A. van Werveke). The abbey,
traditionally said to have been founded about 634 by St. Amandus
(p. 75) and restored in 651 by St. Bavon (d. 654), was one of those
bestowed upon Eginhard, the biographer of Charlemagne, and after
its destruction by the Northmen (851) was restored with great
splendour (10th cent.). John of Gaunt (ec. Gand or Ghent), son of
Bdward I. and Queen Philippa, was born here in 1340; and Philip
the Bold of Burgundy was married in the church in 1369. Charles Y.
caused the abbey to be razed in 1540, in order to build a citadel
(p. 57), which served as a prison for Counts Egmont and Hoorn in
4567, was surrendered by the Spaniards to William of Orange in 1576,
and was then destroyed, though its last remnants lingered until 1831.
The chief remnant of the old abbey is the Cxuorsrsr, dating
originally from 4177, but rebuilt in the Gothic style in 1495. Its
S. walk is adjoined by the N. wall of the Abbey Church, consecrated
in 1067 and destroyed by the Calvinists in 1584. — On the E. side
of the cloister is the octagonal Lavatorium (1177), the upper story
of which formerly contained the relies of St. Macarius (d. 1012). This
is adjoined by the sadly dilapidated Chapter House (ca. 1220), with
portal and window-openings in the Transition style. In the pave-
ment are 40 ancient tombs (12th cent.?), not unlike mummy coffins
in shape. Farther on is the so-called Cellar (ca. 1220), supported
by three thick round columns. — Under the old refectory, on the N.
side of the cloister, are three vaulted rooms, one of which, known as
the Gothic Room, is supported by a single central column.
A few steps ascend to the old *Rergcrory, a Romanesque struc-
ture of the close of the 12th cent., with Gothic timber vaulting
(46th cent.). It now contains a Musée Lapidaire or Lapidarium, with
various sculptured and architectural fragments found in the abbey
and in other parts of the town.
Over the entrance is a large wooden crucifix by Jéan de la Porte (1613).
— By the left side-wall are the tomb of a monk (d. 1272), with one of the
earliest Franciscan representations, and a charming relief of the Nativity
from Tournai (1458), with traces of painting and gildins. — By the rear-
wall: Mutilated tombstone of Hubert van Eyck, re-discovered in 1892; an
interesting grave-slab of the 48th cent., with remains of colouring; stone
figure of a warrior from the Belfry (1338). — In the middle of the room |
