The three towers
Nicholas, the Belfry and St Bavo in one row.
Demeester — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Liza Knockaert — CC BY-SA 4.0 · LBM1948 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Stratoswift — CC BY-SA 4.0
St Michael's Bridge is Ghent's foremost viewpoint: an arched stone bridge (1913) over the river Leie beside St Michael's Church, and from its middle — the only spot in the city — you see the three famous towers lined up in one row: St Nicholas' Church, then the Belfry, then St Bavo's Cathedral, with the Graslei and Korenlei reflected in the water on the other side. This view is the Ghent skyline in every picture of the city, loveliest at sunset when the sun gilds the towers, and at night when they are all lit (Ghent has a famous lighting plan that makes it among Europe's most beautiful cities after dark). At the bridge's centre stands an ornate iron lamp with a statue of St Michael slaying the dragon. Free and steps from the quays — start or finish here, and return at night.
Nicholas, the Belfry and St Bavo in one row.
Ghent's famous lighting plan gilding the skyline.
Sint-Michielsbrug, 9000 Ghent
St Michael's ChurchSt Michael's Church is the late-Gothic church at the end of St Michael's Bridge 1 minute walk4.7
KorenmarktThe Korenmarkt ("Wheat Market") is Ghent's central square and meeting place: a b1 minute walk4.8
Graslei and Korenlei (Old Quays)The Graslei and Korenlei are Ghent's old harbour quays on the facing banks of th2 minutes walk4.9
St Nicholas' ChurchSt Nicholas' Church is the first of the three towers from the quays and the olde2 minutes walk4.7
Museum Arnold Vander HaeghenAn eighteenth-century town house on the commercial Veldstraat, operating as a sm3 minutes walk4.5Since the 1990s Ghent has run an artistic "lighting plan" illuminating its monuments at night with warm, considered light instead of random lamps — it won international awards and made the city a night destination. From the bridge you see the three towers and the quays all lit — walk the night route from here along the Graslei to the castle.