Tourist Alst. Belgium

Brussels, Bruges, Ghent. These are the cities that come to mind first and foremost when it comes to travel in Belgium. But this small country is almost entirely interesting to the inquisitive traveller. Each city has its own very colourful atmosphere, authentic cuisine and, most of the time, its own kind of beer. In Alsta you can find all this and more.

Located 35 kilometres from Ghent, Alst is a small town of around 77,000 people, built along the course of the river Dendre.

A visit to this city will delight both the antiquity-lover and the tourist who goes on a trip for new impressions and interesting entertainment.

As with many other European cities, Alsta boasts a number of ancient churches, most notably the church of St. Martin in the centre of the city. Built in 1480, the church is very beautiful both inside and out. It’s one of those sights that it would be a crime to view on the run. Tourists should spend at least a couple of hours to admire the magnificence of this building.

The Church of St. Catherine and the Chapel of Anthony of Padua are also very interesting.

There are also a number of secular buildings, such as the Amsterdam Stock Exchange, and the castles of Morsel and Terlinden.

Alst attracts tourists not only with its abundance of attractions, but also with its annual carnival. The event lasts for three days. The first day is the grand parade, while the second and third are carnival days. The last carnival day should come as a surprise to any visitor unfamiliar with the customs. On this day, most urban men wear women’s clothes, and most women – in men’s, and even with a false beard and mustache.

The carnival takes place in Alsta on the eve of Easter Lent.

Visitors who have not previously visited Alsta are usually pleasantly surprised by the town’s well-developed hotel and restaurant industry. There are several hotels for people with different needs and income. For those who like comfort and don’t want to spend too much time getting from hotel to sightseeing, there is the Best Western Premier Hotel Keizershof. A four star hotel is sure to appeal to tourists who want to spend their time in comfort and have the means to pay for it. Also very good is the ibis Aalst Centrum. This hotel is most suitable for travellers who want to visit several cities and do not have a lot of time. It is situated in the centre of the city as well as close to a major transport route.

For cafes and restaurants, you’ll find plenty of establishments with both traditional Belgian and westernized cuisine in Alsta. However, you can eat traditional European cuisine anywhere. So it is advisable to visit authentic Belgian meals and local beers that you won’t find elsewhere.