Ghent is the very beautiful capital city of the East Flanders province of Belgium.
From Stone Age origins, it gradually grew as a settlement populated by Celts, Romans and then Franks. Its two abbeys were founded in the mid 7th century, but further growth was halted by two Viking attacks a hundred years later. It began to prosper again in the 10th century and in the Middle Ages went on to become the second largest city in Europe and its centre of the wool and cloth industry. Ghent suffered much disruption and damage in the revolts and wars between 1500 to 1750, but then flourished again as did its textile industry. The city was occupied by the Germans in both World Wars but fortunate enough to escape any severe damage, and today much of its medieval architecture remains intact and restored.

**************THE 1ST THUMBNAIL IS A SUB-GALLERY*******************