The Great Butchers' Hall

The Great Butchers' Hall

The Ghent audio-guided tour presents you with the Great Butchers' Hall, a long Gothic building of the historic centre, become a showcase of the specialities of East Flanders.

From the meat hall to the gourmet temple

The Great Butchers' Hall was designed by the city architect to replace the old wooden meat hall, in very poor condition. In the Middle Ages, the sale of meat was only allowed in these establishments, which made it possible to supervise the supply of the city and to guarantee its freshness. Today, under its imposing Gothic-style framework, the building gathers the typical products of East Flanders: Ganda hams drying, Tierenteyn mustard, beer cheeses, local sweets such as cuberdons, and many other delicacies. Listed as a historic monument since 1943, the Great Butchers' Hall is currently closed for renovation, but the local specialities remain available in a shop open during the works, near the municipal hall.

What there is to see

The Great Butchers' Hall impresses with its long Gothic framework and its unique atmosphere, where the Ganda hams dry above the stalls. It is the ideal place to discover and taste the flavours of East Flanders, from Tierenteyn mustard to cuberdons. A place both of heritage and of gourmandise, emblematic of the Ghent art of living.

Practical information

The Great Butchers' Hall is in the historic centre of Ghent. Listed as a historic monument, it is currently closed for renovation; the local specialities can be found in a shop open during the works, near the municipal hall, whose hours are to be checked on site.

What was the original function of the Great Butchers' Hall?

It was the hall where, in the Middle Ages, the sale of meat was authorised and controlled to guarantee the supply and the freshness.

What can one discover there today?

The typical products of East Flanders, such as Ganda hams, Tierenteyn mustard and cuberdons; the site is however under renovation.