This beautiful sight on Sint-Baafsplein in Ghent, a proud lady, is not something you simply pass by during your city trip. St. Bavo's Cathedral, the oldest parish church in the lively heart of Ghent, is built on the site of a 10th century church and a 12th century Romanesque church. This church was dedicated to Saint John the Baptist, Saint John. In the Middle Ages, Ghent was a rich and powerful city and could increasingly afford to build larger and richer churches. In the course of the 15th and 16th centuries, St. John's Church was converted into the stately Gothic St. Bavo's Cathedral.
In the crypt, the central nave in the Romanesque architectural style can still be visited. In the 15th century it was decided to replace the Romanesque building with a larger Gothic church, completed in 1559. In 1540 the church became the seat of the Saint Bavo Chapter and Saint Bavo became its patron saint. Later, in 1559, this church was renamed the cathedral of the diocese of Ghent.
St Bavo's Cathedral has a rich history, so counting art treasures inside makes many art lovers mouth water: the baroque high altar in white-black and red flamed marble, the rococo pulpit in oak, gilded wood and marble, a masterpiece by Rubens: The entrance of Bavo in the monastery in Ghent, the Calvary Triptych by Justus van Gent, the gothic chandelier / god lamp, the tombs of the Ghent bishops, ... and of course the world famous Ghent Altarpiece.
In the belly of St. Bavo's Cathedral you can admire the divine glow of 'The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb' by the van Eyck brothers. Read all mystical facts about this famous work of the Flemish Primitives. Do you want to visit the Ghent Altarpiece? Discover the opening hours of the Ghent Altarpiece in Saint Bavo's Cathedral.