Old Post Office, Protected monument and former post office in central Ghent, Belgium
The Old Post Office is a protected monument in central Ghent, Belgium, designed by architect Louis Cloquet and featuring a 52-meter clock tower that rises above the surrounding streets. Its facade displays statues representing Belgian provinces and European heads of state, creating an ornate exterior that reflects early 1900s design.
The building was designed between 1898 and 1910 by architect Louis Cloquet as the city's main postal hub and was completed for the 1913 World Exhibition. This construction represented one of Ghent's most ambitious public works projects of the early 20th century.
Painted post pigeons decorate the walls as reminders of the building's postal function, and visitors can see how different architectural styles from the early 1900s are mixed together throughout the structure. This blend of design elements shows how the building represented modern thinking when it was first built.
The building now hosts a luxury hotel, fashion boutiques, interior design shops, and several restaurants including Le Pain Quotidien, making it easy to explore different areas inside. The central location means visitors can access it from nearby streets and enjoy views of the tower and facade details.
The Cobbler bar on the upper floor offers views of Sint-Michielsbrug bridge and Graslei while serving craft cocktails in what was once the postal sorting facility. This transformation shows how the historic rooms serve completely different purposes today.
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