Situated
in Gent's historic inner-town, the Lakenhalle (which translates into
English as 'Drapers' Hall') was built as a symbol of Gent's autonomy
at the height of the cloth trade. Designed by architect Simon van
Assche and constructed between 1426 and 1441, the Lakenhalle was
where the cloth and wool traders of Gent ("the Halleheeren") would
gather to regulate production and fix workers' pay. Unfortunately,
the completion of the building work coincided with the collapse of
the cloth trade and consequently, the building has served a number
of uses over the centuries, most notably housing the town prison in
the Eighteenth Century. The building underwent a period of
restoration work from 1900-1903. Today, it houses a cafe-restaurant
and exhibition space and is a popular tourist attraction. It is also
famous for being the location of the world's oldest fencing club,
the Sint-Michielsgilde, which was founded in 1444 and has been based
in the Lakenhalle since 1613 (eagle eyed Kapitein Zeppos
viewers will notice mention of this date during the interior scenes
shot at the Lakenhalle). The club remains there to this day and
is still active and continues to meet with success in international fencing
competitions.
Fencing
was on the menu for Kapitein Zeppos when the production visited the
Lakenhalle in 1968 to film sequences for Tweng Episode 5. In
disguise as a knife grinder, complete with fake moustache, Zeppos
follows the SABOS agent (played by Fred Robion) along the streets of
Gent, into the Lakenhalle and up to the Sint-Michielsgilde club room
on the third floor, where two fencers are engaged in a contest. He
observes the three from the corridor leading to the club room,
loitering rather obtrusively by the players' lockers and rapier
stands. He is soon found out by a female worker, but he has seen
what he wanted to: the tourist has met Clovis, who has recently been
released from prison (he had been jailed following his theft of the
Eglantier). This meeting proves to Zeppos that there is a link
between Clovis and SABOS.
The
Lakenhalle building is one of the architectural gems of Gent, complemented beautifully by the breathtaking Belfort
('Belfry') which soars above it, a total of 91 metres high. This tower affords outstanding views across the city
from its top and is accessible to visitors via a glass lift.
