Views: Saint Peter's Church Ghent
The Saint Peter's Church in Ghent is a beautiful historic church that forms an important part of the city's cultural heritage. The church is located on the Saint Peter's Square , in the district also known as the Blandijnberg. It is one of the oldest and most impressive churches in Ghent.
History
The origins of St Peter's Church date back to the early Middle Ages. It was originally built as an abbey church for the Saint Peter's Abbey , which was founded in the 7th century by Saint Amandus. The abbey grew into a powerful religious institution. The current church, however, dates largely from the late 16th and 17th centuries and was built in a baroque style .
The reconstruction of the church was necessary after the destruction during the Iconoclasm and the subsequent wars of religion in the 16th century. Architects like Pieter Huyssens , a Jesuit, played an important role in the design and construction.
Architecture
The Saint Peter's Church has a baroque appearance with some classical elements. The interior of the church is richly decorated with sculptures, paintings and beautiful altars. The church contains various works of art by Flemish masters, including paintings by Gaspar de Crayer and Anton van den Heuvel .
