Overview:

The Ghent Cloth Hall (Lakenhalle) is an impressive 15th century historic building located in the old center of Ghent, Belgium. It is one of the three most important Gothic buildings in the city, together with St. Bavo's Cathedral and the Belfry of Ghent. It was built between 1425 and 1445 as the center of Ghent's cloth industry. Nowadays, the hall is home to the Ghent City Museum, offering an insight into the history of Ghent’s textile industry and local culture. The building was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1998. It is one of the most beautiful monuments in Belgium
Prominent Features:

1. The Historic Center of Ghent, including the Ghent Cloth Hall: The Ghent Cloth Hall is a Renaissance building from the 15th century, located in the historic center of Ghent, that was used to store and to sell cloth. It was once the economical center of the town and was used to tax the traders. The complex was designed by the brothers Van Parijs and is the most important late medieval building in Ghent. 2. The Tower of Ghent Cloth Hall: This impressive tower reaches a height of more than 60 meters and is the most dominant element of the Cloth Hall. The tower was completed in 1439 and its construction marked the end of building the complex. 3. The Gothic Hall of Ghent Cloth Hall: The building includes a beautiful Gothic Hall, with vaulted ceilings, decorated with numerous coats of arms, carved in wood. The hall is an important example of a late Gothic three-aisled hall, with a full roof height of 12 meters. 4. The Monstrance: The Monstrance is a stand that stands over five meters high and is decorated with Gothic sculptures and images. The statues represent St. Croix and St. Peter, as well as several bishops. The Monstrance is considered to be the most impressive feature of the Cloth Hall. 5. The Frescoes of the Facades: The facades of the Cloth Hall are decorated with a series of frescoes that depicts important moments in the history of Ghent. The frescoes were painted between 1525 and 1541, and they are considered to be some of the best examples of Renaissance murals in Belgium. You can learn history, culture, and heritage through these magnificent monuments in Belgium.

History:

The Cloth Hall (also known as the 'Guildhall of the Arras-weavers' or the 'Arras-cloth Hall') is one of the most iconic buildings of Ghent, Belgium. It has been around since the 13th century and was one of the earliest wool fairs of northern Europe. Throughout its long history, the Cloth hall has served as a centre of economic and cultural life for the city of Ghent and the surrounding area. The Cloth Hall is believed to have been established in the 13th century. The first recorded mention of the Cloth Hall dates to 1230, during the reign of Count of Flanders, Louis the mild. During his rule in the valley of the Scheldt river, traders and cloth weavers of the region founded the 'Société des Toileiers'. In 1271, the city of Ghent was granted trade rights which allowed for the foundation of a 'Confraternity of Weavers in Ghent', with a seat in the Cloth Hall. During the 14th and 15th centuries, the cloth trade flourished due to an influx of English wool, and the Ghent Cloth Hall soon became home to one of the richest and busiest marketplaces in Europe, specialising in the production of the famous 'Arras cloth'. The Arras cloth was the most expensive of its kind, and became a symbol of Ghent wealth and status in Europe. The Cloth Hall also housed the offices of many of the Region's powerful guilds, including the Arras-weavers and the wool-loft workers guilds. At the end of the 15th century, the Cloth Hall was the site of a major revolt against government taxes, led by weavers disgruntled by the high cost of wool. In the 19th century, the Cloth Hall was transformed into a museum of historical artifacts. After World War II, the Cloth Hall was severely damaged and underwent a major renovation in 1975. The building is currently open to the public and houses a number of exhibitions and events throughout the year. It is one of the most iconic and well-known landmarks of Ghent and Belgium. Visit one of the famous monuments of Belgium with your friends and family.

Interesting facts:

1. The Cloth Hall of Ghent is a large impressive guildhall in the heart of the medieval city, and one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks. 2. Built between 1425 and 1428, it is one of the most important examples of Brabantine Gothic architecture. 3. The façade of the building is decorated with 120 statues, 32 busts and relief sculptures, depicting bishops, historical figures, allegorical and heraldic figures and craft guilds, as well as illustrations of trades and industry. 4. The building was originally used to facilitate the cloth trade which was very important during the period, although today it’s used as a museum. 5. It served as a central point for trading in the 14th century, and Ghent was known as a major trading post on the international market. 6. The Cloth Hall was declared a protected monument in 1937. 7. The restored center lower hall is still used for ballroom dancing, organ concerts, plays and other cultural events. One of the historical monuments of Belgium, it tells the story of a bygone era