Ghent - Ruins of Sint-Baafsabdij

In the east part of the city, across the Slachthuisbrug over the Leie, are the ruins of Sint-Baafsadbdij, one of the two abbeys still standing from the beginning of Ghent's development. It was founded in 630 by St Amandus and rebuilt after being destroyed by the Normans in the 10th C. Following the suppression of the revolt by the citizens of Ghent against Charles V. he dissolved the abbey and had a fortress built in its place in 1540, the Spanjards Kasteel, which was in turn destroyed in the 19th C.

A gallery of the late Gothic cloisters, the octagonal lavatorium and parts of the chapter house and the refectory still remain from the original abbey.