Hôtel d’Hane-Steenhuyse

Right in the middle of Ghent’s main shopping street, the Hôtel d’Hane-Steenhuyse is a massive architectural flex. Built between 1768 and 1773, it’s not just one house but a merge of several medieval plots. The street-side facade is pure Louis XV—expensive and designed to impress.

A Royal Exile

The interior is an "enfilade" of salons that smell of old parquet and wax. In 1815, this house became the center of European politics. King Louis XVIII of France stayed here while fleeing Napoleon during the "Hundred Days." This isn't just a pretty building; it was a royal court in exile while the fate of Europe was being decided at Waterloo.

The Hidden Contrast

The garden side flips the script with a calm Louis XVI neoclassical style. The ballroom is the standout, with theatrical proportions that hosted the city’s elite. From the gold-leaf decorations to the porcelain service gifted by the French King, every detail shows a family that was deeply connected to the power players of the time.