St. Bavo's Cathedral was the must stop for me in Ghent to see the Adoration of the Lamb altarpiece painted by Jan Van Eck. The only way to view it required a 12.5E admission which gained entrance to the rear of the cathedral. The altarpiece was located behind a glass enclosure not only to protect it from the environment but also prevent any more thefts. Most of the altarpiece appeared in vivid colors and in great detail from the recently completed restoration of the lower panels. The top panels were high resolution copies (you can see the originals still being restored at the Museum of Fine Arts - MSK). Don't just look at the front but also circle around to the sides to see more paintings. Those would be shown in front when the altarpiece sides were swung shut. Another masterpiece located in the rear was the Conversion of St. Bavo by another great artist, Peter Paul Ruebens. St. Bavo is the patron saint of Ghent. The rest of the cathedral was admission free to wander and other items of interest were the statue of Father Damiaan and the very detailed carved pulpit. read more

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I've done a lot of church "tours" in my travels. It is always nice to see their art, explore their altars, and in general experience the culture. However, I've never seen one have an immersive, holographic experience... until now. Rather than just walk around and stare, or even try to partially follow an audio tour, you are provided with a headset which syncs to the various areas of the church to provide a deep historical overview. I loved how the graphics made it clear how the church grew (no more wondering if 'that' was the area they meant). The detail was amazing, even down to the noise from the virtual crowds which got louder or softer as you moved towards or away from them. The Lamb of God painting was not one I was familiar with and getting the details on not just its production but movements over time helped me appreciate it even more! I wouldn't usually say you need to prioritize a church when exploring a European city but in this case I would highly recommend you not only visit but opt for the immersive tour! read more

Sint-Baafskathedraal - Churches Near Me - Gent, VOV

Saint Bavo's Cathedral is a beautiful church. We passed on the augmented reality tour but did pay to see the Ghent Altarpiece. This is a must visit. read more

Fabulous 3d Self guided audio tour! It's 16 euros and we'll worth it to see fantastic art in the back. The Church is free to enter but I recommend paying for the tour to see everything. The mystic lamb is a masterpiece from the 1400s. read more

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Take the assisted reality tour! Well worth it if you are a history fan. It gave so much more context to theamazing story behind how the Mystic Lamb painting was stolen, sold, and nearly destroyed during WWII, but how it (mostly) came back to together for visitors to marvel at. The church itself is gorgeous and there is plenty to see. I particularly enjoyed lighting two candles in memory of my parents. read more

You can't come to Ghent and not see the most stolen artwork in history, the famous Ghent Altarpiece located in the soaring Gothic cathedral in the heart of town. While the cathedral is free to visit during non-mass hours, the Altarpiece requires a ticket which was easy to reserve online in advance. The entrance to the altarpiece is located to the left of the main altar and opens at 10 am. We booked 10 am time slot so we're one of the first admitted. Once inside you are fitted with a Virtual reality headset that guides you around the crypt and fills the ancient space with a ton of fascinating history about the church and its famous altarpiece. We booked the shorter, 40- minute narration. The VR narration and imagery guides you from place to place and has lots of clever features. It really is an entire art history class all bundled into a fun interactive experience. After around 30 minutes with the headset and all the buildup you climb a spiraling staircase back up to the back of the high altar where you see the actual masterpiece. Since they electronically close the panels at the end of the day, one benefit of our early morning time slot was watching the final lower panel slowly swing open to reveal the beautifully restored lower section with the Lamb. The altarpiece is huge (maybe 20 feet high?) and ensconced safely behind clear glass. Definitely a must see in Ghent and well worth the price of admission. read more

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I don't know what to say other than "you need to see this with your own eyes". This is the home of the world-famous Ghent Altarpiece- one that has been stolen, hidden, sold, and kept safe for centuries. The history of the piece- and the fact that it even exists today, is a miracle! It is so much larger than you would ever imagine You think of it as something above the altar- something medium-sized. It is gigantic- it fills an entire side room where it is displayed! I explored the entire cathedral, and paid the extra for the VR tour of the basement that included stories on how the altar was created, and what happened to it since it was first commissioned. I usually don't do these kinds of things but this was so informative, it was absolutely worth it. People walk around and talk to you- history comes to life, in a way that no other tour could do. The cathedral is as massive as it sounds- and each floor and section is covered with beautiful carvings, paintings, and just decorated beyond belief. This was the very first stop of my trip in Belgium, and was my first venture out of Brussels where I braved the train and found it all on my own. I was very proud of myself, even though I did originally take their above ground subway in the wrong direction at first! This is not to be missed, and it is worth spending more to learn everything you can while you are here. Read ALL the plaques, see all the things! And please donate some extra money to keep this in top condition. I always light an candle and leave money. read more

St Bavo's Cathedral, in the strictest definition, is the seat of the diocese of Ghent. However, the overwhelming majority of visitors come to see the Adoration of the Mystic Lamb (aka the Ghent Altarpiece), one of the first major oil paintings in the world and one of the most significant paintings in European history. The church was originally consecrated in 942 and named after St. John the Baptist. Originally the church was built on the Romanesque style with examples of this earlier style surviving in the crypts. Starting from the 14th century expansion projects were executed in the Gothic style, leading to the structure that you see today. LOGISTICS Admission: Free. To view the altarpiece, however, is €4 (includes audioguide) Keep in mind that the altarpiece itself will only show the restored exterior panels from 12pm to 1pm. Therefore if you want to see the interior go before or after this time. If you don't mind obstructed or partial lighting, all parts of the Ghent Altarpiece are viewable at anytime. GHENT ALTARPIECE The altarpiece itself is located in a separate part of the church sectioned so that in order to access it you must pay admission. Furthermore when entering the room not only you are not allowed to take pictures, talking is at an absolute minimum so one can view the artwork with the reverence it deserves. To prepare for this visit a replica is provided outside for reference and the audioguide provided is quite informative. This artwork is mainly attributed to Jan van Eyck. His older brother Hubert initially started the project as a commission from a wealthy merchant and his wife with the intention of further developing the cathedral. When his brother died Jan continued with the intention of finishing the project. The main theme is the glorification or the heavenly apotheosis of man's salvation and sanctification by the sacrifice of Christ. (nb: the lower-left panel contains a copy of "The Just Judges" panel. The original was stolen in 1934 and whereabouts are currently unknown). OTHER ARTWORKS - Free "Saint Bavo enters the Convent at Ghent" - Peter Paul Rubens. The namesake St. Bavo was a Roman soldier who left the military to enter the priesthood. Rococo pulpit made by Laurent Delvaux. One of the most intricate pulpits I've seen. "The Calvary Triptych" - Justus van Gent, located in the crypt. I enjoyed my visit here. Definitely one of the more beautiful churches I encountered on my European travels. read more

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The three-dimensional virtual tour of the Ghent Altarpiece was phenomenal. It made appreciation of the final viewing of the artwork "1000%" better. read more

Seeing the Ghent Altarpiece was magnificent. It really is a beautiful piece of art. Even though only the top panels were there, and the bottom panels were just photos, it was still a great experience to see the altarpiece up close and in person. (I was able to see the bottom panels being restored at MSK.) The short audio guide explaining each panel was quite helpful, it helps you understand the symbolism imbued in the painting. There's so much meaning behind what's represented. The rest of the cathedral and crypt was quite large to walk though but doesn't seem to have as much significance. I'm still glad I was able to see it though. read more

Beautiful old church with one of the greatest pieces of art in the world--the Ghent Altarpiece--tucked away inside. They prohibit selfies and loud yapping in the room with the altarpiece, so you can actually view a fascinating piece of art in peace (the Louvre should take note). It's totally worth the four euros to get in. The audio guide is free once inside and in a number of languages. It covers all the panels of the painting including the very bizarre history of the stolen panels. You can also walk around the back of the altarpiece and see the front panels. They close the altarpiece between 12-1 PM normally, so if you want to see if fully open see it before or after. The hours for it are a little weird, so check the church's website before you go. Overall, definitely worth the stop in Ghent. read more

If you're ever in Ghent, and hopefully not too busy drinking Belgian beer and taking canal tours, visiting the Saint Bavo Cathedral is a must. The cathedral itself is fairly dark inside but quite massive and covered in marble. Apart from the main hall, there are many different side hallways and rooms waiting to be discovered. It was just mind blowing. The must-see inside this cathedral is the famous ADORATION OF THE MYSTIC LAMB by Jan van Eyck. If religious art isn't your thing, it will surely become your thing after you see this masterpiece. The audio guides (though so passe) are recommended.There is a replica of this altar piece, but the original is located at the back of the church where you obviously have to pay to get in. Yes it is packed but you'll be too blown away to worry about claustrophobia. read more

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Saint Bavo's Cathedral Currently being renovated from the outside entry way- breathtaking on the inside. Take a guide for 20cents before you start your walk through. The stain glass is more than words can describe. The architecture in the wood and the arches and ceiling work it forms is fascinating. The life size oil paintings and marble life forms telling a story that will captivate you. I was surprised that were not wooden pews, instead folding seats were nearly lined up for a few hundred people. I was told service is still held down below, yes in the catacombs. A must see whether for religious reasons, art or to get out of the cold rain, and it's free. I would do more research ( in English to understand the art) then come back. The descriptions are not in English- and this isn't the U.S. read more

Cathedral is beautiful (and free to visit). The painting is fantastic. It is behind glass and costs 4 euros to see. It comes with an audioguide that explains its history and the life of Jan Van Eyck (and his brother). I thought it was very well done. As of this review (June 2016), Adoration of the Mystic Lamb is undergoing a long renovation project, so specific panels will be removed at any given moment and replaced with photos. I didn't find it to be a problem. One note: on the opposite end of the church, in an alcove behind a closed door, is a near life size copy of the altarpiece without glass (you can probably touch it all you want, it's a copy). I found it useful to get a closer look at some of the details described in the audioguide. read more

This is a major landmark of Gent and should not be missed! The Cathedral is not so different from other major European cathedrals, but regardless it is worth the visit as it is still very beautiful inside and worth exploring. The highlight of the visit is, of course, seeing the Gent altarpiece which does cost 4 Euro per person to view. The one disappointing part of my visit was the fact that after paying to see the painting, there was no information present for me to read about what I was viewing. I would have loved to have one large panel in multiple languages to tell the story of the object. I actually learned a lot more about it when I visited the local history museum, which is ironic considering they only have a small scale reproduction in the entire exhibit room they dedicate to the iconic work of art. read more

The first thing that I should mention is that you can't actually take photos inside, so I have respected their wishes and simply provided outdoor shots (though I do note that people do seem to take photographs anyway). Okay, in one sense this is just another church (or should I say Cathedral, though what is a Cathedral other than a big church?) but it also has a museum in the crypt (and I always liked the idea of a crypt, even though it doesn't actually seem that anybody is buried down there, it is just the basement of the church, though there do seem to be a number of tombs around the walls). The church itself is huge and like many of the other churches and cathedrals scattered about the old world, it is packed to the brim with artwork. The draw card though would have to be the altarpiece of Ghent, which I have to admit I didn't realise I was looking at it until afterwards, and when I did see it I though - gee, that looks pretty cool - without knowing what it actually was. Oh, it is also free entry, so that's also a bonus. read more

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This is a beautiful cathedral... most important for the Adoration of the Mystic Lamb.

You have to visit this local landmark, enjoy the history. We felt the extra cost for the special collections were worth the cost.

Beautiful historical church. Free to walk in and enjoy the paintings and sculptures. I spent 4 days in Gent and there was always something new to find. This was discovered on our 4th day, and lead to some great shopping for Belgium lace and tapestry near by. Definitely stretch your legs in Gent and find all these great landmarks. Just because you've seen one doesn't mean you've seen them all. read more

Absolutely gorgeous cathedral with a ton to see. Stained glass is beautiful along with a million artifacts statues and so on. Admission is obviously free but you HAVE to see the famous alter piece for 4e. I could have sat and stared all day. It is breathtaking. read more

Sint-Baafskathedraal - Churches Near Me - Gent, VOV

Even if you think you've seen enough churches on your European trip, don't miss this one. St. Bavo's Cathedral is a beautiful place of medieval architecture & art. The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb is a fantastic example of a transition away from medieval art techniques--a must see. If you saw the movie, The Monument Men, this piece suffered some of the same sort of theft and rescue. The rest of the cathedral is quite spectacular as well. read more

This cathedral for some reason had such a profound affect on me. Entering the haven of the cathedral was such a stark contrast from the lively atmosphere of the Christmas markets right outside its door! It really felt like a place of peace as I walked around looking at the intricate decor. The altar area isn't as extravagant as others I've seen, but walking around behind it is quite a treat with lots to look at. It's a relatively simple cathedral but it's been done so well and really does feel like a bit of a haven. Definitely worth popping in for a look. read more