St. Bavo's Cathedral was the must stop for me in Ghent to see the Adoration of the Lamb altarpiece…read morepainted 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.

I've done a lot of church "tours" in my travels. It is always nice to see their art, explore their…read morealtars, 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!

Dominating the centre of Tournai, the Cathedral is the largest in Belgium, and a UNESCO World…read moreHeritage Ssite by virtue of its architecture, treasures and its history. Built on the site of an earlier Christian sanctuary, the nave and transepts date from the middle of the 12th century, and are classics of romanesque architecture. The crossing has a squat central bell-tower, flanked on each corner by a further four towers with pyramidal caps, each reaching 83m. This forms the most distinctive feature of the cathedral, and gives the appearance of a 'forest' of towers at its centre. Another distinctive feature is the rounded apsidal transepts. The choir was rebuilt in a dramatic gothic style and on a grand scale in the mid 13th century, aping that of nearby Amiens. After the dramatic exterior, the interior is currently something of a disappointment: the nave has been plastered in a plain style (and painted a vile pale pink) which conceals much of its character, and the aisles are currently obscured by renovation works. At the crossing is the splendid classical rood-screen, designed and built in 1672 by Cornelis Devriendt. Beyond that, the choir is currently off-limits to visitors and entirely filled with scaffolding for renovation works, which are scheduled to take several years longer. (Once fully open, this will be a five-star attraction). But the other glory of Tournai is still accessible, and that is its Treasury. Tournai has one of the most stunning collections of mediaeval church silver in the world, including the incredible reliquary shrine made by Nicholas de Verdun in 1205. Nearly a metre long, and in the shape of a chapel, it is heavily decorated in gold, silver and gilt. Other treasures include an 8th century Byzantine cross, and clothing belonging to St Thomas a Becket from Canterbury. Unsuprisingly, photographs are not allowed, and access to the Treasury is through a huge reinforced door...