Belgium - October 2 - Ghent

We dedicated today to a deeper dive into the city of Ghent - focused mostly on the Old Town area near our hotel. It started with a timed entry to St. Bavo's Cathedral for a viewing of the Ghent Altarpiece - officially titled, "The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb". The altarpiece is a 15th-century oil-on-oak panel polyptych by Hubert and Jan van Eyck which was completed in 1432. The altarpiece features a system of hinged wooden panels that are kept closed during the evening, but opened once in the morning. We were there for the opening, which was actually more interesting that it sounds. When the panels are closed, the panels display the Annunciation in the middle, painted stone-like statues of John the Baptist and John the Evangelist, and portraits of the donors Jodocus Vijd and Lysbette Borluut at the bottom. The altarpiece is much more grand when the panels are open and the display includes: - Upper Register: Features a central Deësis with God the Father (or Christ the King) flanked by the Virgin Mary and John the Baptist, alongside singing/music-making angels and nude figures of Adam and Eve on the outer edges. - Lower Register: Centers on the Adoration of the Mystic Lamb - representing the sacrifice and redemption of Christ - surrounded by gathered saints, prophets, knights and pilgrims in a lush landscape. Even after 600 years, the artistry is exquisite! Next stop was Sint-Niklaaskerk - a gothic cathedral just down the block from St. Bavo's. We ended up getting there just in time for Mass, so we sat through a Dutch mass. Again, we knew when to stand, when to commune and when to say the Lord's Prayer...but didn't get much from the sermon. :) After mass, it was off to Gravensteen Castle, aka the Castle of the Counts. Gravensteen is in remarkably good shape for a castle that is almost 900 years old. The final historic site of the day was a bit of a hike outside of the Old Town portion of Ghent to the ruins of St. Bavo's Abbey. (This is what...our 4th or 5th abbey ruins on this trip so far?) Another very cool historic site and, as it happens, the birthplace of Charles V. Structure & Configuration