St Michael's Bridge (Sint-Michielsbrug) is the stone bridge over the river Leie in the centre of Ghent, between St Michael's Church and the Korenmarkt. It was built in the early 1900s to make the city look its best for the 1913 World's Fair, and it is the one spot where the towers of St Nicholas' Church, the Belfry and St Bavo's Cathedral line up in a single view.
St Michael's Bridge at a glance
- Where: over the Leie, linking St Michael's Church on the west bank with the Korenmarkt, at the southern end of the Graslei and Korenlei quays.
- Built: around 1905–1909; the approaches and surrounding streets were finished around 1912.
- By: the Ghent architect Louis Cloquet, who also designed the old post office next to it.
- What it is today: a busy bridge for pedestrians, cyclists and traffic, and Ghent's best-known viewpoint.
- Time needed: 10–15 minutes, longer at dusk when the towers are lit.
From medieval crossing to World's Fair showpiece
People have crossed the Leie here since at least the Middle Ages: a city record from 1322 already mentions 'Sente Mechiels bricge'. For centuries it was a plain working crossing. The bridge before the present one was a flat turning bridge that could swing aside to let boats through on their way to the quays of the Graslei and Korenlei, Ghent's old inner harbour.
In the years before the 1913 World's Fair, Ghent set out to give its centre a grander, more medieval look for the expected visitors. Louis Cloquet designed a high stone arch in a historicist style, borrowing from Flemish Gothic and Romanesque, to match his new post office on the Korenmarkt. The bridge went up between about 1905 and 1909. So the view that feels most medieval in Ghent is framed by a bridge that is barely more than a century old.
What to look for
- The three towers: from the middle of the bridge, looking east, St Nicholas' Church, the Belfry and St Bavo's Cathedral stand one behind the other. It is the only bridge from which all three fit in one photo.
- St Michael on the lamp post: a bronze statue of the archangel Michael, with a dragon at his feet, stands on the lamp post in the middle of the bridge.
- The Graslei and Korenlei: the rows of guild houses and merchants' houses lining both banks of the Leie to the north.
- St Michael's Church: the Gothic church at the west end of the bridge, with a stocky tower that was never finished.
- The old post office: Cloquet's turreted building on the Korenmarkt, now home to shops and a hotel.
- The Gravensteen: in the distance to the north you can make out the walls of the Castle of the Counts.
Tips for your visit
- Come at blue hour, just after sunset: Ghent lights its historic buildings after dark, and the towers glow against the sky.
- For an empty bridge and soft light, come early in the morning before the crowds.
- The bridge is used by bikes and cars too. Step to the parapet for photos instead of stopping in the middle of the road.
- Boat trips on the Leie leave from the quays just below, and they pass under the bridge.
Nearby
- St Michael's Church: the Gothic church at the foot of the bridge, which has a Crucifixion painted by Anthony van Dyck.
- Graslei and Korenlei: the medieval harbour quays, lined with gabled houses and café terraces by the water, right below the bridge.
- The Belfry: the 14th-century bell tower with a gilded dragon on top, a few minutes' walk east and listed by UNESCO.
- St Bavo's Cathedral: the home of the Van Eyck brothers' Ghent Altarpiece, a short walk beyond the Belfry.
See Ghent with World City Trail
Our Ghent scavenger hunt turns the old town into a game you play on your phone. The route links 11 stops and takes around 3 hours, with about 30 minutes of walking. St Michael's Bridge is one of the stops, along with St Michael's Church, the Belfry and St Bavo's Cathedral.
If you prefer a different format, there is also a self-guided walking tour and an outdoor escape game in Ghent.
Play the Ghent scavenger hunt →
Take the self-guided walking tour of Ghent →
Play the outdoor escape game in Ghent →
Facts checked in October 2026.