Belgium and Luxembourg (Eyewitness Travel Guides)

The pretty stretch of countryside along the River Leie just

before it reaches Ghent, was famously adopted at the

start of the 20th century by a number of Belgian artists

who were collectively known as the St-Martens-Latem

school. Mostly Symbolists, they included Gustave van de

Woestyne, Valerius de Saedeleer, Frits van den Berghe,

Albert Servaes, Gustave de Smet and the sculptor Georges

Minne. Constant Permeke arrived in 1909, bringing a

more radical Expressionistic tone. Many galleries in this

part of the Leiestreek (Leie region), display their work.

A Tour Around St-Martens-Latem u

136 BELGIUM AND LUXEMBOURG REGION BY REGION

KEY

Tour route

Motorway

Other road

TIPS FOR DRIVERS Information centre

Starting point: Afsnee, just

north of the A10 motorway

outside Ghent.

Length: About 15 km (10 miles).

Duration: Allow half a day.

Driving conditions: The roads

are narrow but good.

Where to eat: Restaurants are

at Deinze and St-Martens-Latem.

Visitors’ Information:

Deinze: Markt 46, (09) 3804601;

St-Martens-Latem: Dorp 1, (09)

2821700; http://www.toerisme-

leiestreek.be

.^0453

5 &-

16

5

#^04

453

0

(^0) *
%
(^0) /
,
% 3
&&
'
.&
453 & 3

• &&^3
  /^4 &

45 &

&/^8

&(

4U.BSUFOT

-BUFN

"GTOFF

#BDIUF

.BSJB-FFSOF

%FJO[F

• FJ
  F
  4 DI

JQE

PO

L
$

BO

BM

'HENT

+ORTRIJK

Gemeentelijk Museum

Gevaert-Minne 2

This museum has a

major collection of work

by the artists of the St-

Martens-Latem school.

St-Martens-Latem 3

A short detour along Meerstraat at

St-Martens-Latem leads to a curving

stretch of the river that makes

clear why artists were

attracted to this area.

Museum van Deinze en de

Leiestreek (MuDeL) 7

On the eastern outskirts of Deinze,

this museum has a fine collection of

art, antique furniture and crafts.

Kasteel Ooidonk 6

A short detour to this

elegant château and

its gardens provides

an opportunity to

see the tranquil farm

and woodland areas

around the river.

St-Jan-Baptistkerk 1

The distinctive octagonal

tower and spire of the

13th-century Church of St

John the Baptist in Afsnee

is seen in many paintings.

Museum Gustave de Smet 4

Surrounded by trees in a quiet

quarter of Deurle, the house

where artist Gustave de Smet

(1877−1943) lived and worked

has been preserved as an art

gallery and museum.

Museum Dhondt-Dhaenens 5

Named after its art-collector founders, this dynamic museum

specializes in exhibitions of contemporary art, but also

displays selections of its impressive permanent collection.

For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp264–6 and pp288–91

0 km

0 miles

2

2