St Michael's Bridge, Ghent

Saint Michael's Bridge (Saint-Michielsbrug) is a stunning stone arch bridge in the heart of Ghent. Completed between 1905 and 1909, the bridge was designed by architect Louis Cloquet, who also designed the Old Post Office nearby. It replaced a former flat swing bridge over the Lys River (Leie) with a more majestic stone structure, enhancing the city鈥檚 architectural landscape. The bridge is part of Saint Michael's Street and is directly behind Saint Nicholas' Church.

One of the most captivating features of Saint Michael's Bridge is its central lantern adorned with a bronze statue of Saint Michael the Archangel. The statue, depicting the archangel in full armor with wings, skewering a dragon with a sword, adds a unique and artistic touch to the bridge. The monument stands as a striking focal point, drawing visitors' attention.

Saint Michael's Bridge is renowned for offering some of the best panoramic views in Ghent, making it an ideal spot for romantic strolls and photography. From the bridge, visitors can see the iconic "three towers of Ghent"鈥擲aint Nicholas' Church, the Belfry of Ghent, and Saint Bavo's Cathedral. To the north, views extend to the picturesque Graslei and Korenlei quays, with the historic Gravensteen Castle in the distance. On the southwest side, Saint Michael鈥檚 Church stands prominently.

This location is perfect for capturing Ghent鈥檚 medieval charm, especially at twilight when the historic sights are illuminated, creating a fairy-tale atmosphere. Whether during the day or at night, Saint Michael's Bridge provides an incomparable vantage point to admire the architectural beauty of Ghent, making it a memorable destination for anyone visiting the city.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Ghent. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "51爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Create Your Own Self-Guided Walk to Visit This Sight

Sight Name: St Michael's Bridge
Sight Location: Ghent, Belgium (See walking tours in Ghent)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Ghent Introduction Walking Tour

Walking Tours in Ghent, Belgium

Create Your Own Walk in Ghent

Creating your own self-guided walk in Ghent is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.

Ghent Introduction Walking Tour

Some historians believe "Ghent" comes from the Celtic word, "ganda." "Ganda" meant a confluence, as with two rivers. There are traces of human settlements as far back as the stone age at the confluence of the rivers Scheldt and Leie in Belgium.

With the Frankish invasions at the end of the 4th century AD, the Celtic language was replaced by Old Dutch and this... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.7 Km or 1.1 Miles

Ghent's Historical Buildings

The medieval city of Ghent is full of wonderful old buildings, some dating back as far as the 12th-13th centuries. Medieval buildings are indeed everywhere here, and if you're interested in the heritage fit to capture you imagination, you will find plenty of it in Ghent鈥檚 historic downtown.

And you won鈥檛 have to look far for the World Heritage worthy of its name either. The Castle of... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.8 Km or 1.7 Miles

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