After the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, these territories, including most of the old county of Flanders, passed to the newly established United Kingdom of the Netherlands, which was split up between 18 into the modern countries of Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. Most of the county became part of the Empire after the Peace of Madrid in 1526 and the Peace of the Ladies in 1529.īy 1795 the entire Austrian Netherlands, the successor of the Burgundian Netherlands, was acquired by France under the French First Republic, and this was recognized by treaty in 1797. The county joined its Low Country neighbours within the Burgundian Netherlands from 1384, which eventually complicated its relationship with France. Aside from this, the counts, from the 11th century onward, held land east of the river as a fief of the Holy Roman Empire: 'Imperial Flanders' ( Rijks-Vlaanderen or Flandre impériale). Up to 1477, the core area under French suzerainty was west of the Scheldt and was called 'Royal Flanders' (Dutch: Kroon-Vlaanderen, French: Flandre royale). For centuries, the economic activity of the Flemish cities such as Ghent, Bruges and Ypres made Flanders one of the most affluent regions in Europe, and also gave them strong international connections to trading partners. The counts of Flanders held the most northerly part of the kingdom, and were among the original twelve peers of France. Unlike its neighbours such as the counties of Brabant and Hainaut, it was within the territory of the Kingdom of France. The County of Flanders was one of the most powerful political entities in the medieval Low Countries, located on the North Sea coast of what is now Belgium. The best way to reach the city is by train and the pin on the map marks the central station at Ghent.Frankish Kingdom (481–843)- Carolingian Empire (800–843)Īssociated with French First Republic (1795–1804) Be prepared for heavy rain and wonderful sun at the same afternoon, so always carry a waterproof shell with you! The city's colors having a medieval architecture seem kinda depressing, however at the first sunshine everything looks spectacular.

Hang out with people in the parks and squares and enjoy the music. Grad a waffle and sit at the bank of the river to enjoy the evening or get a beer in a bar. But as already mentioned, the city has a calm vibe that you should let yourself be carried out. Walking around the city and the river banks is a wonderfully joyful experience with plenty to admire. The center of the city is pedestrianized and it is famous for its medieval architecture, such as 12th-century Gravensteen castle and the Graslei, a row of guildhalls beside the Leie river harbor.

The city lies at the confluence of the Leie and Scheldt rivers and during the Middle Ages it was a prominent city-state. It is a prominent cultural hub and a major university town with thousands of students giving it a very lively vibe. One may say that this has been a good thing about the city since it has based its development in other areas beyond tourism. It is often overlooked by travelers who choose to visit its more famous neighbors. The city of Ghent lies between Brussels and touristic city of Bruges.

Medieval ghent