What to do · Ghent
The Mystic Lamb altarpiece in St Bavo's Cathedral
Information
- From
- €12 adult
- Duration
- 1 h
- Season
- All year, Monday to Saturday from the morning and Sundays from 13:00; restoration in progress until 2027
- Who it's for
- Adults and teenagers
The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb, by the Van Eyck brothers, completed in 1432, is one of the key works of European painting: an altarpiece of twelve panels that opens and closes, with a precision of detail that nobody had at the time. It is in St Bavo's Cathedral, in a room in the visitor centre.
The visit
The altarpiece alone costs €12.50; the visit with augmented reality, which tours the cathedral and the history of the painting, €16, and €8 for under-12s. Individual tickets are bought online for groups of up to 15 people. The cathedral is open Monday to Saturday from 8:30 and on Sundays from 13:00, closing at 17:30; access to the altarpiece ends earlier, so arrive with time to spare.
The restoration
The upper register of the interior panels is being restored, in the last phase of a work of several years that the cathedral expects to finish in spring 2027. Meanwhile, those panels are replaced in the cathedral by high-quality photographs, and the restoration can be seen at the MSK museum in Ghent.
Tips
- Go in the morning On Sundays it does not open until the afternoon, and at midday there are more groups.
- Combine it with the belfry It is opposite, on the other side of the square.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to see the Mystic Lamb?
€12.50 for the altarpiece alone and €16 with the augmented reality visit.
Can you see the whole altarpiece?
In 2026 some of the panels are being restored and are shown in photographs; the restoration can be seen at the MSK.
With teenagers
