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Offered languages
- English
- English
Ghent's most famous painting survived Napoleon and Hitler's looters - yet one stolen panel remains missing since 1934. This self-guided walking tour retraces the infamous heist of the Van Eyck brothers' Adoration of the Mystic Lamb, uncovering ransom letters, botched investigations, and decades of obsessive theories.
Starting at Hotel 1898 The Post, wind through medieval streets past street art, Sint-Baafskathedraal, and the Bishop's Palace, tracing 90 years of clues.
Highlights include:
-The Mystic Lamb mural of the looted panels
-Albrecht Dürer's 1521 lodging house
-The Bishop's Palace ransom letterbox
-Wintercircus, an 1893 indoor circus
-The 14th-century Weavers' Chapel inside a design store
-A stolen skull dug up by a paranormal investigator
The panel remains missing. Spot the clue everyone missed.
What's Included
Meeting and pickup
The tour begins in the heart of Ghent at Korenmarkt 16, on the corner of Korenmarkt and Pakhuisstraat.
The tour ends at Maaseikplein, 9000 Gent, Belgium
Itinerary
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(Pass by)
Pass by this Neo-Gothic tower, once part of Ghent's main post office, now Hotel 1898 The Post. Admire the ornate façade where our Van Eyck mystery tour begins. Personal expenses for admission fees not included during the tour.
Admission ticket free -
Stadshal (Pass by)
Stroll past the Stadshal, Ghent's modern pavilion of wood, glass and concrete, once mocked by locals as "the sheep shed." It now hosts concerts and dance shows. Personal expenses for admission fees not included during the tour.
Admission ticket free -
St. Bavo's Cathedral (Pass by)
Walk along to St Bavo's Cathedral, home to Van Eyck's Adoration of the Mystic Lamb altarpiece, stolen in 1934. Step inside to see the recovered panels and the still-missing Just Judges. Personal expenses for admission fees not included during the tour.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
Pass by the Bishop's Palace, where a 1934 ransom letter demanded payment for the altarpiece's stolen panels. Learn how the bishop negotiated with the mysterious blackmailer. Personal expenses for admission fees not included during the tour.
Admission ticket free -
Geeraard de Duivelsteen (The Castle of Gerald the Devil) (Pass by)
Pass by the Geeraard de Duivelsteen, an ancient Gothic fortress named after Gerald the Devil. Police searched it in 1936 hunting for the stolen Van Eyck panel, but found nothing. Personal expenses for admission fees not included during the tour.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
Walk along the canal to Wintercircus, a red-brick 1893 indoor circus later used as a garage and vintage car store. Today it houses startups, cafés and a concert hall. Personal expenses for admission fees not included during the tour.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
Stroll past De Krook, Ghent's striking black city library on the river. Learn about the wartime hunt for the missing panel while admiring this modern architectural landmark. Personal expenses for admission fees not included during the tour.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
Stroll past Bolia, a Danish design store hidden inside a 14th-century weavers' chapel. Step through the door to admire whitewashed walls, vaulted ceilings and traces of medieval frescoes. Personal expenses for admission fees not included during the tour.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
Walk along to Café Loma, a white building marked with carved heads of the Van Eyck brothers. Historians once believed their studio stood on this very corner. Personal expenses for admission fees not included during the tour.
Admission ticket free
Additional info
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- The total tour time includes walking the route and passing by the attractions
Tags
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
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