St Bavo's Cathedral Church

Address: Sint-Baafsplein 1, 9000 Gent, Belgium

Website: https://www.sintbaafskathedraal.be/

Hours: Daily (visiting hours vary; may close for services)

Admission: €8 (adult) - reduced and free options often available; check official site

St Bavo’s Cathedral is the Roman Catholic cathedral in the centre of Ghent, Belgium, named for Saint Bavo and notable for its art and Gothic architecture. The building’s most famous possession is the Ghent Altarpiece, completed in 1432.

The cathedral’s principal highlight is the Ghent Altarpiece by Hubert and Jan van Eyck, a large and complex polyptych of central importance to Early Netherlandish art. Visitors also view the cathedral’s Gothic interior, carved choir stalls and ecclesiastical furnishings.

The site has housed churches since the medieval period; the current Gothic cathedral was built in stages between the 13th and 16th centuries on earlier foundations. Over centuries the building has been modified, restored and refitted while retaining key medieval fabric and artwork.

The cathedral stands at Sint-Baafsplein in central Ghent, within the city’s historic core and a short walk from the Graslei and Korenlei along the River Leie.

• Masterpiece: The cathedral houses the famous Ghent Altarpiece, completed in 1432 by Hubert and Jan van Eyck.
• Period and location: The present Gothic structure dates largely from the 13th to 16th centuries and sits at Sint-Baafsplein in central Ghent, close to other historic city landmarks.

What to See#

• Ghent Altarpiece: A large polyptych painted by Hubert and Jan van Eyck and completed in 1432, displayed in the cathedral’s chapel and considered one of the most important works of Early Netherlandish painting.

St Bavo’s Cathedral (Sint-Baafskathedraal) sits on Sint-Baafsplein in Ghent city centre. From Gent-Sint-Pieters railway station it is an easy 20-25 minute walk into the old town, or you can take local trams that stop at Korenmarkt/Sint-Baafsplein (a short walk to the cathedral). By car Ghent is about 55 km west of Brussels via the E40 (around 45-60 minutes depending on traffic).

• Arrive early in the morning (when the cathedral opens) to see the Ghent Altarpiece with fewer visitors; the altarpiece is one of the cathedral's main draws and may have queues later in the day.
• Enter from Sint‑Baafsplein beside the Belfry to be in the heart of the historic square and then buy timed-entry or tickets at the cathedral desk or official website-also check for mass times that can restrict visitor access.
• Don't rush past the main altar: allow time for the choir stalls and side chapels, where important artworks and funerary monuments are located and less-visited than the central altarpiece.