St Bavo’s Cathedral Ghent: Ghent Altarpiece and sacred art (2026)

The Ghent Altarpiece: what you’re seeing

The Ghent Altarpiece (formally: "Adoration of the Mystic Lamb") is a monumental 12-panel hinged wooden altarpiece painted in oil by Jan van Eyck and his brother Hubert in 1432. It measures 3.75 metres tall by 2.67 metres wide when open. The work is considered one of the masterpieces of Flemish art, filled with symbolic detail: shepherds, knights, bishops, and peasants converge to worship a divine lamb, representing Christ. The colours remain astonishingly vivid after nearly 600 years. Viewing it requires a timed ticket (25-minute slots) and is housed in a climate-controlled chamber within the cathedral.

What to see inside St Bavo’s

The cathedral comprises three main areas: (1) the Ghent Altarpiece viewing room (paid ticket), (2) the cathedral interior (free walk-through), and (3) the crypt (free). Most visitors start with the altarpiece, then explore the cathedral’s Gothic nave, side chapels, stained glass, and confessional booths. The experience is contemplative rather than crowded.

The Ghent Altarpiece chamber

The altarpiece is displayed in its own climate-controlled room, protected behind glass and atmospheric controls to preserve the panels. Your 25-minute slot gives ample time to study the painting from multiple angles. The work is enormous and intricate: close viewing reveals hundreds of tiny details in clothing, landscapes, and faces. The altarpiece opens and closes (currently displayed open to show all 12 panels). A small visitors’ centre provides context cards and an optional audio guide supplement.

The cathedral interior and nave

The cathedral interior is free to walk through. The nave is classic Gothic: pointed arches, ribbed vaults, and soaring columns stretching 30 metres high. Stained glass windows filter light in blues, reds, and golds. The side chapels house additional religious art and sculpture. A confessional (baroque style) stands in the south transept. The space is active (services still held here), so observe quietly and respectfully.

The crypt

The crypt is accessible via stairs from the cathedral interior (free to visit). It is a dim, atmospheric underground chamber with stone vaults and low ceilings, built during the medieval period. The crypt houses reliquaries (relics of saints, a common medieval practice) and echoes history. Most visitors spend 10 to 15 minutes here as a supplement to the main cathedral.

History and context

St Bavo’s Cathedral was founded in the 14th century, though the site has been sacred since the 7th century when Saint Bavo (a Benedictine monk) lived in a cell nearby. The current Gothic structure was completed by the 1500s. In 1432, Jan van Eyck and his brother Hubert completed the altarpiece — a commission for the cathedral that would become one of art history’s most celebrated works. The altarpiece has survived wars, iconoclasm, theft (in 1934), and restoration, and remains in place today as a symbol of Flemish cultural pride.

Practical info: booking and visiting

Timeslots for the altarpiece are booked online at sintbaafskathedraal.be. You select your preferred date and 25-minute window. Slots typically cost around EUR 12–16 for adults (confirm current pricing on the website, as prices may vary seasonally). The cathedral interior and crypt are free and can be visited anytime during open hours (typically 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with reduced hours on Sundays and holy days). Arrive 10 minutes before your altarpiece timeslot to check in.

Getting to St Bavo’s

Walking from the city centre

From the Belfry or Graslei: walk south and east for 5 to 10 minutes to Sint-Baafskathedraal (St Bavo’s Square). Clear signage marks the way.

By tram

Take tram 1, 4, or 25 to Sint-Jacobs or Gent-Sint-Pieters station, then walk 5 to 10 minutes north into the centre.

By bike

Ghent is bike-friendly; cycle from any neighbourhood in 5 to 10 minutes. Bike racks are at the cathedral entrance.

Nearby to combine

Gravensteen Castle is 5 minutes north (rampart views, medieval history). Graslei and Korenlei (the picturesque riverfront quays) are 5 to 10 minutes south and perfect for lunch after viewing the altarpiece. The Belfry is a 5-minute walk uphill and can be climbed for city views (allow 45 minutes). Patershol neighbourhood is nearby for wandering artisan lanes. A typical one-day Ghent itinerary anchors on the cathedral and nearby attractions. Combine the cathedral with a canal boat trip (departs nearby) and lunch at Graslei for a full afternoon.

Dos and don’ts

Where to eat nearby

Graslei quays (5 min walk south): riverside restaurants and cafes, EUR 15 to 35 per main, touristy but atmospheric. City centre streets (5 min walk): Belgian fries stands, sandwich shops, and casual cafes. Patershol neighbourhood (2 min north): cosy restaurants in old buildings, EUR 18 to 30 per main. Grab Belgian fries or a waffle from a street stand for a cheap lunch before or after your altarpiece visit.

Did you know? Five St Bavo facts

1. The Ghent Altarpiece is so famous it’s been called "the Mona Lisa of the North." It pioneered oil painting technique in the 1430s, centuries before oil became standard among European artists.
2. In 1566, during the Reformation, Protestant iconoclasts tried to destroy the altarpiece as "popish idolatry." The cathedral canons hid the panels inside the church; they survived untouched.
3. In 1934, a thief stole the bottom-left panel depicting Saint John the Baptist. The stolen panel was recovered years later; a high-quality reproduction now hangs in that panel’s place during restoration periods.
4. The altarpiece underwent its most recent restoration from 2020 to 2026, with each of the 12 panels cleaned and conserved individually by master restorers. It cost millions and took six years.
5. Saint Bavo, the cathedral’s namesake, was a wealthy Frankish nobleman in the 7th century who renounced his riches, became a hermit, and lived in a cave near this site. He is the patron saint of Ghent.

Frequently asked questions