The Korenlei and Graslei Quays

The Korenlei and Graslei quays

The Ghent audio-guided tour takes you to the Korenlei and Graslei quays, which face each other on either side of the canal and are among the most beautiful places of the city.

The former medieval port of Ghent

The Korenlei quay and the Graslei quay, on the opposite bank, together formed the port of Ghent in the Middle Ages. Located at the confluence of the Lys and the Scheldt, Ghent quickly became an essential economic centre between the eleventh and sixteenth centuries, to the point of being then the second largest city in Europe behind Paris. The canals served the trade of textiles, but also of many other goods: one only has to translate Korenlei as "grain" and Graslei as "grass" to grasp the diversity of the activity of the time. The cargo boats have given way to cruise boats, but the richly decorated façades of the guild houses still testify to this past prosperity.

What there is to see

The Korenlei and Graslei quays offer the finest panorama of Ghent: a row of medieval façades and guild houses with elaborate gables, reflected in the water of the canal. It is the ideal place to stroll, enjoy the terraces at the water's edge or embark for a cruise. An essential stop to grasp the historic charm of the city.

Practical information

The Korenlei and Graslei quays are on either side of the canal, in the historic centre of Ghent. They can be walked freely on foot at all hours and on the level; the terraces and the cruises follow their own hours.

What role did the Korenlei and Graslei quays play?

They formed the medieval port of Ghent, the heart of the trade that made the city one of the great economic centres of Europe.

What do the names Korenlei and Graslei mean?

Korenlei evokes "grain" and Graslei "grass", a reflection of the diversity of the goods exchanged at the port.