I lived here once. It is a beautiful city. It is not as well-known as its neighbor, Brugge (Bruges), but it possesses a similar medieval splendor. At the core of the old city are the three towers, the St. Baafs Cathedral, the Belfort, and the St. Niklaaskerk. Nearby is the St. Michelsbrug (St. Michael’s Bridge) which crosses over the Leie River. Atop a lamppost near the center of the bridge’s span is a small, often unnoticed statue of St. Michael slaying the dragon.

A short walk along the Leie River you will come to the Gravensteen (Count’s Castle), which dates from about the 11th Century. This is definitely worth a visit. From atop the castle you will find panoramic views of the city are to be had. Another point of interest in the castle is the museum which has in its collection a wide variety of instruments of torture from the middle ages. The rack, the iron mask, the iron maiden, thumbscrews, a guillotine, and numerous other infamous devices are on display.

Food is great in Gent. For lunch or dinner try waterzooi, or of course the old Flemish favorite, frieten (french fries). The preferred topping for frieten among the locals is mayonnaise. It sounds peculiar to most American palates, but it is definitely worth a try. My favorite sauces are pikkels (pickled onions, cucumbers, cauliflower, and other vegetables in a mustard-type sauce), ziguener saus (a picquant tomato-based sauce, similar to salsa), and stofvlees (chunks of meat in a gravy-like sauce, very good).

Also try fresh waffles. The best are the Luikse waffels which have little pearls of sugar baked into them. You can buy the waffles in the grocery store, they’re still good, but they are so much better freshly made.