May 13th – An Adoration of Ghent

Back in the Middle Ages, Ghent (in Belgium) was bigger and richer than London or Paris, and so there's an amazing array of impressive old churches and medieval merchant houses around the town.

Our highlight was a trip to see Van Eyk's fantastic Adoration of the Mystic Lamb – a 15th century altarpiece in Ghent's largest church. As part of Tracy's History of Art course, she tells me that this was one of the seminal works that kick-started the artistic renaissance in Europe. Very impressive.