FLEMISH MASTERS IN SITU
Experience our Flemish Masters where they’re truly at home.
Van Eyck and Rubens. Surrealists and expressionists. Old and contemporary Masters. Here in Flanders is where they all lived, worked and found their inspiration. Many of their masterpieces are on display in a truly unique location – the original place where the masters created those very works and where you too can spend some time in their shoes. Welcome to the Master Tours.
MASTERS BY THE LYS
Deinze-Sint-MartensLatem Cycle Route
Castle
Vosselare
De Smet Walking Route
MASTERS BY THE LYS
Barely a stone's throw from Ghent is a world full of picturesque houses, artists' studios and inspiring museums. This Master Tour takes you to villages along the river Lys, which for one hundred years have been green oases of calm. In that area, nature and culture merge harmoniously together.
WALLAERT'S STUDIO
DORPSSTRAAT 48
ZULTE (MACHELEN-AAN-DE-LEIE)
Artists have an eye for... art. So it's not just by chance that they also knew how to appreciate the talent of their fellow artists and therefore put together some splendid collections. The painter Martin Wallaert is one such person who assembled an impressive collection of works by artists from the region. They, in turn, were inspired by the surrounding landscape and, for that reason, are now on show in their location of origin.
DISCOVER HERE:
• ‘Naked’ by Constant Permeke (1886-1952)
• ‘Woman Sleeping’ (Gusta De Smet) by Frits Van den Berghe (1883-1939)
• ‘Flowers’ by Gust De Smet (1877-1943)
• ‘Charcoal drawing of Honorine Van Hecke’ by Léon De Smet (1881-1966)
• ‘Hay stacks’ by Emile Claus (1849-1924)
EDGARD GEVAERTDREEF SINT-MARTENS-LATEM
You mustn't refer to the Museum Gevaert-Minne as simply a ‘house museum’. The former house and studio of the painter Edgar Gevaert became a municipal museum in 1994. In addition to paintings and documents relating to the painter, you will also find works of art from the Latem School, the group of artists who lived in this village on the banks of the river Lys.
DISCOVER HERE:
• ‘The Porridge Eater’ by Gustave van de Woestyne
Gustave van de Woestyne
Gustave van de Woestyne (Ghent, 2 August 1881 – Uccle, 21 April 1947) was the founder of a veritable dynasty of artists. His brother Karel was a writer and his sons David and Maxime were a composer and painter, respectively. His works have gone down in history as symbolistic, neo-realistic and expressionist, with an occasional touch of surrealism.
MARTIN
VILLA TER IDE
MUSEUM GEVAERT-MINNE
In this picturesque property, you can gain a privileged insight into the life of the artist Gust De Smet. Together with the Museum Gevaert-Minne, this is one of the few house museums still in existence.
DISCOVER HERE:
• ‘The Village Sun’ by Gust De Smet
MARTIN'S CHURCH
St Martin's Church, charmingly located in the idyllic landscape along the river Lys, is definitely worth a visit. Make sure you also take a look at the bronze monument on the tomb of George Minne, which epitomises motherly love.
DISCOVER HERE:
• ‘Mother and Child’, the statue on the tomb of George Minne
• ‘Our Lady Bestows the Rosary upon Saint Dominic’ by Gustave van de Woestyne
Gust De Smet
Together with Constant Permeke and Frits Van den Berghe, Gustave Franciscus (Gustaaf) De Smet (Ghent, 21 January 1877 –Deurle, 8 October 1943) is one of the three foremost figures of Flemish expressionism. He became the painter of the joyful life in Flanders, in the form of serenely strong compositions, which he often signed ‘Gust De Smet.’
The river Lys is the ideal location for an unforgettable boat trip on the water, with you at the helm. What is more, this flax river is your gateway to even more exciting waterways, such as the Bossuit-Kortrijk Canal, the Mandel and the Scheldt.
Crazy about bikes? If so, follow the Cycle Route from Deinze to Sint-Martens-Latem, which will take you along the beautiful river Lys. On the way, you will pass the Museum Dhondt-Dhaenens and the Museum Gust De Smet, where you can admire countless masterpieces by painters from the Lys region.
Those who are in the know regard Ooidonk Castle, which combines medieval charm with Renaissance elegance, as one of the most beautiful castles in the country.
Along the river Lys, you can rest for a while on atmospheric café terraces and enjoy a splendid view over the rippling waters. This stunning setting is the perfect place to escape from the hustle and bustle of modern-day life.
The Roger Raveel Walking Route will take you to the picturesque village of Machelen-aan-de-Leie, where the master of the New Vision found his inspiration. Discover iconic places such as the Roger Raveel Museum, his former home, and the colourful murals that bring his art to life. Along the way, you can enjoy the beauties of the Leie Region, where art and nature seamlessly merge into one.
5 TIPS
ALONG THE WAY
BEAUCARNESTRAAT 9 ENAME
On the old village square in Ename stands a splendid country house with a lush garden and a majestic greenhouse containing grapevines. It's certainly worth dropping by to discover how people lived in the eighteenth century.
DISCOVER HERE:
• Murals by Pieter Norbertus van Reysschoot (1738-1795)
• Three portraits of Léon De Smet
Discover the Master Tour Kortrijk, where medieval splendour and contemporary creativity come together. From Flemish masterpieces to contemporary architecture, this Master Tour allows the best of both worlds to shine.
DISCOVER HERE:
• St Martin's Church, Kortrijk
• Church of Our Lady, Kortrijk
• Abby Kortrijk
Follow the Master Tour Ghent and let it take you through a city where art and history come together. Walk along impressive heritage sites and hidden gems, while admiring the city's wealth of Flemish masterpieces. The ultimate eye-catching attraction: the world-famous Admiration of the Mystic Lamb by the van Eyck brothers, an iconic masterpiece you simply mustn't miss!
DISCOVER HERE:
• St Bavo's Cathedral
• Small beguinage Our Lady ter Hoyen
• St Saviour's Church
• St Michael's Church
• St James' Church