Patershol
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.0
627 reviews
Excellent
258
Very good
286
Average
57
Poor
19
Terrible
7
Worldwide Traveller
London, UK151 contributions
Feb 2020
This part of Ghent does not really have many people walking around.
Its name is derived from Father (Pater) and Hole (Shol)....I will leave it up to you to find out how they connect.
Expect many alleys, cosy restaurants, friendly locals, cute little shops, relaxing atmosphere.....just get lost walking around it and let yourself go.
Its name is derived from Father (Pater) and Hole (Shol)....I will leave it up to you to find out how they connect.
Expect many alleys, cosy restaurants, friendly locals, cute little shops, relaxing atmosphere.....just get lost walking around it and let yourself go.
Written 16 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Leonhkny
Hong Kong, China21,615 contributions
Jun 2023
This is the place to escape the urban bust in downtown Ghent. Patershol is a pleasant and peaceful area north of the popular cathedrals. Visitors can freely wander around cobblestoned alleys and historic houses without any crowd.
Written 11 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Trainbleu
Brussels, Belgium38,300 contributions
Jul 2023 • Friends
Patershol, a mediaeval quarter at the foot of the Castle of the Counts of Flanders, has had a turbulent history. It went from riches to rags and became a disreputable red-light district and slum. Renovation started at the end of the 1970s, and today Patershol, with its varied architecture and cobbled pedestrian alleys, is the perfect getaway from the buzz of the main squares.
Written 19 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The World is My Oyster
Orlando, FL21,671 contributions
Sept 2021 • Couples
Away from all the hustle and bustle of the city center, this area is very quiet with some cool small shops and restaurants. There's a ton of character all around, and a relaxing atmosphere.
Written 9 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jkgsUP431
Ghent, Belgium115 contributions
Apr 2018 • Couples
I got to know this area by getting lost in it. It might simply be my lack of geographical orientation skills, but I could almost swear these cosy cobbled streets change positions the minute you enter. Once inside, you have truly emerged in the old city centre; the sounds from the bustling city seem to disappear instantly.
You will also find lovely places to eat. Enjoy getting lost!
You will also find lovely places to eat. Enjoy getting lost!
Written 2 October 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Knarf_from_Gent
Ghent, Belgium197 contributions
Sept 2014 • Friends
This is a very interesting place to wander in Gent as it about 4.5 ha big and has many small streets and many restaurants. You can easily combine it with the Gravensteen (Castle of the Counts) (see my other review) as it is just next to it.
30 years ago, there was nothing there except small streets with small houses and it has now become a very busy (especially during weekends and during the Patershol feesten around 15 August) - btw: the Patersholfeesten are also know as the small Gentse Feesten (they take place in July, starting on the Friday before or on July 21 and last 10 days).
During the week, Patershol is rather calm and you can enjoy the many smal streets that remain intact from the Middle Ages.
It was first owned by the Count of Flanders as a military burrial place and then the Fathers came to live there in the 13th century and it became part of the city of Ghent. Later the place became the place for lawyers and notaries. At the beginning of the 19th century, thanks to the industrialisation, it became a place where industry workers could live in a not too expensive place. After the war, people left the place and it became a bit of a ghetto until people started the restauration of several houses and in 1981 it became protected as city monument by the city of Ghent.
30 years ago, there was nothing there except small streets with small houses and it has now become a very busy (especially during weekends and during the Patershol feesten around 15 August) - btw: the Patersholfeesten are also know as the small Gentse Feesten (they take place in July, starting on the Friday before or on July 21 and last 10 days).
During the week, Patershol is rather calm and you can enjoy the many smal streets that remain intact from the Middle Ages.
It was first owned by the Count of Flanders as a military burrial place and then the Fathers came to live there in the 13th century and it became part of the city of Ghent. Later the place became the place for lawyers and notaries. At the beginning of the 19th century, thanks to the industrialisation, it became a place where industry workers could live in a not too expensive place. After the war, people left the place and it became a bit of a ghetto until people started the restauration of several houses and in 1981 it became protected as city monument by the city of Ghent.
Written 1 September 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jerome P
Lokeren, Belgium327 contributions
Nov 2012 • Friends
Until 1980 this neighborhood had a bad reputation: crime, prostitution, robbery, drugdealing... Romain De Coninck wrote a play about it: "By tante Wanne"...(name of a café). The topic? Crime&murder...
Now it is peaceful and quiet.
The neighborhood is small, only 4.5 ha and it is nice to walk there.
It is picturesque. And I must admit, mainly in Summer there are a lot of tourists.
You will find 23 restaurants, (if I did not miscount....) 1 hotel, and 2 famous museums: the Caermersklooster which is in the "Vrouwenbroersstraat" (www.caermersklooster.be) in 3 languages: Dutch, French, English. Lots of expositions, often for free! And the very charming "Huis van Alijn"
Patershol is a labyrinth, tourists often get lost. But if you walk to the West, you will always end at the worldfamous "Gravenkasteel", the castle in the middle of the city!
Best is to enter Patershol from the "Vrijdagsmarkt", across the small "Zuivelbridge" and start your walk. At the Zuivelbridge you can find a famous "soup-restaurant", where you can buy soup with bread, and it is inexpensive... Attention: it is often queuing when the students try to get their cheap meal. My advice: give the souprestaurant a try !
Patershol is still inhabited by lets say 500 people. They often say, in Summer when it is hot: "if you feel very thirsty buy a big bottle..."
Belgian beer is worldfamous and not coloured water at all: it is strong beer. Don't drink a big bottle when you are going the the museum "Huis van Alijn", that is along the river...and you might get a swim for free....
Now it is peaceful and quiet.
The neighborhood is small, only 4.5 ha and it is nice to walk there.
It is picturesque. And I must admit, mainly in Summer there are a lot of tourists.
You will find 23 restaurants, (if I did not miscount....) 1 hotel, and 2 famous museums: the Caermersklooster which is in the "Vrouwenbroersstraat" (www.caermersklooster.be) in 3 languages: Dutch, French, English. Lots of expositions, often for free! And the very charming "Huis van Alijn"
Patershol is a labyrinth, tourists often get lost. But if you walk to the West, you will always end at the worldfamous "Gravenkasteel", the castle in the middle of the city!
Best is to enter Patershol from the "Vrijdagsmarkt", across the small "Zuivelbridge" and start your walk. At the Zuivelbridge you can find a famous "soup-restaurant", where you can buy soup with bread, and it is inexpensive... Attention: it is often queuing when the students try to get their cheap meal. My advice: give the souprestaurant a try !
Patershol is still inhabited by lets say 500 people. They often say, in Summer when it is hot: "if you feel very thirsty buy a big bottle..."
Belgian beer is worldfamous and not coloured water at all: it is strong beer. Don't drink a big bottle when you are going the the museum "Huis van Alijn", that is along the river...and you might get a swim for free....
Written 28 November 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
metaligenics
Chicago, IL292 contributions
Nov 2022
Nice area to walk around, going into all of the little streets. Intersting to see the backs of buildings, with their walled-in gardens and little 'neighborhood' parks. Several restaurants and shops hidden on tiny streets with little signage - I guess you just have to know they are there, or you just take advantage of your 'discovery'.
Written 29 December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lupitateresa
Antwerp, Belgium241 contributions
Aug 2018 • Friends
If you visit Ghent in August : check the dates of the famous Patershol feesten, they truely transform this historical part of Ghent into one big party weekend with music, food and booze of course
Written 18 August 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Georgyela
High Wycombe, UK697 contributions
Mar 2018 • Couples
Now this was one of my favourite places. Nice and quiet, vintage feel, not crowded at all as it's out of tourist season. Sometimes it's better to take a chance and this time it paid off as we had all alleys to ourselves and took amazing pictures.
Written 13 March 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Can anyone assist by highlighting the streets/alleys in Patershol which are atmospheric, please?
Written 12 June 2017
Hi, the area is so tiny that it is difficult to get lost. The best is to stroll around and to enjoy the atmosphere as it is. If you still want directions, I would advise you to enter from the waterside, take the Hertogstraat, continue through the Plotersgracht and get back to the waterside from the Kalversteeg. But rest assure any other routing might fit as well, and can be very revealing. After every corner you can explore a different view as all streets are solely directed to pedestrians. Enjoy your stay!
Written 12 June 2017
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