Vrijdagmarkt (Friday Market Square), Ghent
Every Friday there is a market in Vrijdagmarkt, Friday Market Square. Town markets have been held in the square since 1199. There is a statue of an armed man in the square. It is not the statue of a prince or a King or a mythological hero. It is a statue of a medieval businessman. He was also a politician and a bit of a dictator.
Jacob van Artevelde was a leader of the medieval guilds at a time when textiles were the life blood of Ghent industry. When the Count of Flanders, Louis I, abandoned Flanders in 1332, Van Artevelde became in effect, the ruler of Ghent. His administration was the first real option to feudalism. He was killed in the square by an envious business rival.
The square measures 100 X 100 meters. The buildings around the square are of different periods. The Tanners' Guild has a round tower and step gables. The Toreken Tower was used by the Cloth Guild. The Cloth Measurers House, dating from 1770 is on the north side of the square. The Art Nouveau "Our House" (1902) was home the the Socialist Party of Ghent.
The Friday Market Square has quite a few restaurants and cafes, most with outdoor seating. Markets are held on Fridays and Sundays. There is also a bird market on Monday.
Why You Should Visit:
Always a cool square to check out, with plenty of opportunities to take photos and soak up the atmosphere.
On Friday mornings, you can enjoy fresh produce, seafood, as well as clothes, collectibles and some gift items.
Jacob van Artevelde was a leader of the medieval guilds at a time when textiles were the life blood of Ghent industry. When the Count of Flanders, Louis I, abandoned Flanders in 1332, Van Artevelde became in effect, the ruler of Ghent. His administration was the first real option to feudalism. He was killed in the square by an envious business rival.
The square measures 100 X 100 meters. The buildings around the square are of different periods. The Tanners' Guild has a round tower and step gables. The Toreken Tower was used by the Cloth Guild. The Cloth Measurers House, dating from 1770 is on the north side of the square. The Art Nouveau "Our House" (1902) was home the the Socialist Party of Ghent.
The Friday Market Square has quite a few restaurants and cafes, most with outdoor seating. Markets are held on Fridays and Sundays. There is also a bird market on Monday.
Why You Should Visit:
Always a cool square to check out, with plenty of opportunities to take photos and soak up the atmosphere.
On Friday mornings, you can enjoy fresh produce, seafood, as well as clothes, collectibles and some gift items.
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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Vrijdagmarkt (Friday Market Square) on Map
Sight Name: Vrijdagmarkt (Friday Market Square)
Sight Location: Ghent, Belgium (See walking tours in Ghent)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Ghent, Belgium (See walking tours in Ghent)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
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
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
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