Saint Michael's Church, Ghent, Gothic parish church in Ghent, Belgium
Saint Michael's Church is a parish church in central Ghent that combines Gothic and Baroque building elements under a flat roof, which replaced the tower that was originally planned. The interior is divided into several aisles with vaulted ceilings and side chapels that hold paintings and sculptures from different centuries.
Construction began in 1440 but was repeatedly interrupted by religious conflict and a lack of money through the 1500s and into the early 1600s. The building grew in stages whenever funding allowed, which is why it reflects several different building phases today.
The church stands at the foot of Saint Michael's Bridge, which offers one of the most photographed views in Ghent, with the church towers framing the canal and the rooftops beyond. Visitors often pause on the bridge to take in this view before entering the building itself.
The church sits in central Ghent and is easy to reach on foot from most of the city's other sights. Plan enough time to walk through the side chapels and look at the artworks without rushing.
The flat roof seen today was not the original plan but a temporary solution from the 1600s that was never replaced by the intended tower. This unfinished quality gives the building a shape found almost nowhere else among Gothic churches of its type.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
