St Bavo's Cathedral
St Bavo's Cathedral, the oldest parish church in the lively heart of Ghent, was 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.
Ghent was a rich and powerful city in the Middle Ages and could increasingly afford to build larger and richer churches. In the course of the 15th and 16th centuries, the St. John's Church was converted into the stately Gothic St Bavo's Cathedral.
Ghent was also a city full of rebels, and St Bavo's Cathedral literally carries Ghent's contrary history. The central nave in the Romanesque style can still be seen in the crypt. In the 15th century it was decided to replace the Romanesque building with a larger Gothic church. In 1540, the church became the seat of the St. Bavo Chapter, while St. Bavo became its patron saint. Later, in 1559, this church was renamed the cathedral of the diocese of Ghent.
In the cathedral you can also find a number of art treasures that will make many an art lover's mouth water, including 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 Gothic chandelier/god lamp, the tombs of the Ghent bishops and of course also the world famous Lamb of God by the Van Eyck brothers.
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