✯ Daily Travel Destination: Ghent, Belgium

The Canals in Ghent, Belgium

Not as big as Antwerp and less trammeled than such popular travel destinations of Brussels and Bruges, Ghent lies somewhere between a cosmopolitan frontier and a quaint, well-traversed city.  Situated on the Flemish (northern) side of Belgium on the road from grand old Paris to lively Amsterdam, Ghent happily invites travelers to stop in and stay awhile.  Stella Artois pours as freely as Bud Light does in America, Belgium frites call from street vendors with tiny sporks and Samurai sauce glistening in the European sun, and the bridge Sint-Michielsbrug offers views of the river and the three towers of Ghent. The city centre, enfolded by the largest car-free area of Belgium, is home to expertly preserved Medieval architecture from the Middle ages… a time when Ghent was one of the most powerful cities in Europe.  With Ghent University comes an influx of young minds and great cultural modernization. Civic innovation is apparent in such city observances as “meat-free Thursdays” (known as Donderdag Veggiedag.)   This new tradition is supported in conjunction with the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization to help reduce global greenhouse emissions.  The commitment to maintaining excellent walking and biking routes within the city – along with other new eco-efforts – makes Ghent one of Europe’s great, green cities.

Courtesy of DailyTravelDestination.com