Other medieval buildings in Ghent.

A city such as Ghent is so rich in monuments and buildings from the past that it is almost impossible to give an exhaustive overview. Apart from the main monuments mentionned before, the following list highlights a few other glories from the past.

THE CASTLE OF GERALD THE DEVIL

Behind the Saint Bavo Cathedral one can see the 'Geeraard de Duivel Steen', or the castle of Gerald the Devil. This little castle was one of the first houses to be build in stone. According to a long-living legend, a man lived here who was called Gerald. He was nicknamed 'the devil' because he married five times. Each time, however, he killed his wife to marry another one. Hence, the devil !. It is now used by the city administration of Ghent for storage of the archives.

THE CLOTH HALL

Against the belfry tower stands the cloth hall of Ghent,built between 1425 and 1445. Everything in relation to the cloth trade, the main industry of Ghent, happened here. Sales contracts were signed here, the products were weighed here, etc.

THE FISH MARKET

This beautiful building with its baroque facade from 1689 stands near to the old Gravensteen on the Saint Veerle square. On top of the facade thrones a statue of Neptune, king of the seas. The other two statues represent the two rivers that flow through Ghent, the Scheldt river and the Leie river.

THE MEAT HALL

Near the Gravensteen stands the impressive meat hall, builtbetween 1407 and 1419. The gothic building with its large stepgable facade was used in the 15th and 16th centuries as the central hall where the butchers of Ghent could sell their meat