Kasteel van Ooidonk

About 8km/5miles southwest of Ghent is the town of Sint-Martens-Latem, the patron saint of one of the most important schools of Belgian fine arts. In 1897 a group of artists settled in the town around the sculptor George Minne, among whom were Gustav van de Woestijne and Valerius de Saedeleer. Their work was stopped by the First World War; during the 1920s a second group became known, including Albert Servaes, Constant Permeke, Gust de Smet and Frits van den Berghe, all of whom lived and worked in the town or nearby.A large number of galleries still have collections of this period; the town church has many paintings by the above artists.

The small village of Deurle on the Leie, 12km/8miles southwest of Ghent, consists of villas in the middle of gardens and parks. There are three interesting art museums dedicated to the various members of the Sint-Martens-Latem School.

The Ghent painter Gust de Smet (1877-1943) lived in Deurle from 1935 onwards. His house and studio have been maintained in their original condition.

Léon, the brother of Gust de Smet, (1881-1966), also lived in Deurle. His house has been reconstructed with his furniture and possessions.

Built on the Leie in 1969 this museum exhibits important works of the Sint-Martens-Latem School and 19th and 20th C. Belgian art in general, in chronological order.Artists represented include Servaes, de Smet, Permeke, van den Berghe, Claus, Minne, de Saedeleer, Meunier, Evenepoel and Rik Wouters.

The château stands in beautiful park land which nestles in a bow in the Leie.

The end of the Leiestrek is Deinze, 18km/11mi from Ghent. It has a Gothic church with a painting by de Crayer and a local museum housing archaeological finds, exhibits from the town's history and paintings of the Sint-Marten-Latem School.