🇧🇪 Ghent | Fragments of Medieval Europe

⛪️ Saint Bavo’s Cathedral & The Mystic Lamb The Altarpiece That Changed Art: Van Eyck brothers’ 15th-century masterpiece The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb is Northern Renaissance’s Sistine Chapel. Pro tip: AR ticket (€16) unlocks a crypt tour—watch the painting come alive with its scandalous backstory (hello, stolen panels!). Prep work: Listen to a podcast/lecture first—details matter (Adam’s toenails, Eve’s belly button…). 🏰 Gravensteen Castle: A Medieval Time Capsule Defense → Luxury → Torture Dungeon: 9th-century fortress → 12th-century Crusader-inspired palace (thanks, skirt-wearing Count Philip!). Audio guide gold: Hear about medieval toilets, political power moves, and why "justice" meant iron maidens. Climb the ramparts for postcard views of Ghent’s Gothic skyline. 🍻 Medieval Feasts & Liquid Gold Dulle Griet 🍺: Order the 1.2L "Max" beer (served in a glass boot—balance it or lose a shoe!). Neuhaus 🍫: Praline pioneers since 1857—try the dark chocolate hazelnut. ✨ Why Ghent? Once Europe’s second-largest city (after Paris!), now a sleepy guardian of history. Here, you’ll find: Gothic spires that pierce low-hanging clouds. Canals that mirror torchlit facades at dusk. Stories of knights, painters, and beer-brewing monks. #Ghent #MedievalMagic #ArtPilgrimage #BelgianBeer #VanEyckVibes