GHENT 135

E Museum voor

Schone Kunsten

Ferdinand Scribedreef, Citadelpark.

Tel (09) 2400700. # 10am–6pm

Tue–Sun. & http://www.mskgent.be

Ghent’s impressive collection

of pre-modern fine art is

displayed in this Neo-Classical

building. Medieval paintings

include the Bearing of the

Cross by Hieronymus Bosch

as well as work by such

artists as Rogier van der

Weyden and Hugo van

der Goes. Jordaens, Rubens,

and van Dyck are also rep-

resented here, along with

James Ensor, Belgian

Symbolists and artists belong-

ing to the St-Martens-Latem

School of Art (see p136).

P Klein Begijnhof

Lange Violettestraat 205.

# 6:30am–10pm daily.

The prettiest of Ghent’s

three béguinages, the Klein

Begijnhof (Small Béguinage)

was founded as a community

of single women in 1235

and has been contin uously

occupied ever since, although

the residents are no longer

béguines (see p61). The rows

of step-gabled whitewashed

houses here, most dating from

the 17th century, enclose a

small park and a Baroque

church, creating a refuge of

deep and timeless tranquillity.

A small courtyard surrounded by step-gabled houses in the Klein Begijnhof

Grand Neo-Classical façade of the Museum voor Schone Kunsten

The opulent, renovated interior
of the Vlaamse Opera

E Stadsmuseum Gent (STAM)
Godshuizenlaan 2. Tel (09) 2698790.

10am–6pm Tue–Sun. & 8 on

request. 9 7 0
http://www.stamgent.be
This new city museum offers
a historic view of Ghent
through multimedia presen-
tations and a wide variety of
artifacts, treasures and docu-
mentation. STAM is located in
the old Abdij van de Bijloke, a
rambling set of historic red-
brick buildings. This abbey,
originally founded in 1204,
has over time been a nunnery,
a hospital and a museum. The
old cloisters, dormitories and
refectory (with its 14th-century
wall paintings) provide a rest-
ful backdrop to the exhibits,
which take visitors through all
the phases of Ghent’s history.
This includes its medieval hey-
day, the rebellion against
Charles V in 1539 (see p40)
and the industrial revolution.

work by artists such as Bacon,

Beuys, Broodthaers, Long,

Muñoz, Nauman, Tuymans,

Panamarenko and Warhol.

Temporary exhibitions feature

international artists at the

cutting edge of contemporary

art. The airy and attractive

building dates from 1949 but

was remodelled in the 1990s.

P Vlaamse Opera
Schouwburgstraat 3. Tel (09)

2681011. 
         

         for performances.

         
         

         & 8 3rd Sat of each month.
         http://www.vlaamseopera.be
         This classic opera house,
         built between 1837 and 1840,
         has now been restored to
         reclaim its reputation as
         one of the most spectacular
         theatres in Europe, with an
         auditorium and adjoining
         salons encrusted with gilding,
         chandeliers, mural paintings
         and sculptural decorations.
         The resident company is the
         much-respected Vlaamse
         Opera (Flemish Opera),
         which was formed when
         the opera companies of
         Ghent and Antwerp merged.

         
         

E Stedelijk Museum voor

Actuele Kunst (SMAK)

Citadelpark. Tel (09) 2407601.

# 10am–6pm Tue–Sun. & 0 =

http://www.smak.be.

One of Europe’s most dynamic

modern art galleries, SMAK is

a force in the art world that,

over the past two decades,

has helped bring the spotlight

to the Belgian art scene. Its

extensive and challenging

permanent collection includes