Europe Travel
  1. Home
  2. Travel
  3. Europe Travel

Ghent - Views from The Belfort | Belfry
Ghent - Gent - Belgium Photo Gallery
Why is there a young lady and a lion on all the bells in the Belfry? The city fathers commissioned an artist to create a symbol of "power" for the city. Evidently, the word for "power" and the word for "virgin" were almost identical, so the artist heard "virgin" as artists are prone to do, and off he went to paint one clad in gossimer robes. The lion was evidently added as a symbol later to appease the fathers.
bell as used in the belfry picture

Europe Pictures | previous | next

Ghent Belfry - Tour the Belfort of Ghent Belgium - Information on visiting the Belfort of Gent

Picture of Ghent Belfort, Belgium ©2003 by James Martin.
Explore Europe Travel
About.com Special Features
Vacations Made Easy

Find travel inspiration and get the best tips and reviews for your next getaway. More >

When to Go on Safari

The best times to visit East and Southern Africa. More >

Europe Travel
  1. Home
  2. Travel
  3. Europe Travel

©2009 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

All rights reserved.