Gravensteen Castle, Gent By Denzil on November 3, 2016 • ( 15 Comments ) If castles are what are interesting your children at the moment, then a trip to Gravensteen Castle or the Castle of the Counts in Gent is definitely on the “To Do” list. As it decayed over time, Gravensteen was pillaged to some degree, some of its stones used in the construction of other buildings. It incorporates a large central donjon, a residence and various smaller buildings. Engineer Jean-Baptiste Brismaille bought the former motte castle and converted it into an industrial complex. Gravensteen, or the Castle of the Counts, is the jewel in Ghent’s historical crown. A row of columns, decorated with beautiful leaf-patterned capitals and corbels, divides the vaulted space into two naves. The castle of Gravensteen is situated in Ghent, in the middle of the town. Ask ULYSSES9999 about Gravensteen. The Castle of the Counts of Flanders is known in Ghent as Gravensteen, flemish word that refers to the county seat. The current castle dates from 1180 and was the residence of the Counts of Flanders until 1353. This bastion consisted of a central wooden building and several surrounding buildings, also in wood. Castle of the Week 76 - Gravensteen Belgium has over 3,000 castles, about 300 of which are open to the public. Gravensteen Castle in Ghent -- Belgium - Duration: 10:17. dial2fast 15,515 views. There’s plenty to enjoy even today! Gravensteen Castle Gravensteen Castle, locally simply known as Gravensteen, lies in the city of Ghent, in the East Flanders province in the Flemish region in Belgium. History of the Castle of the Counts. Walking & Biking Tours. The original wooden bastion was rebuilt with stone in the 11 th Century, when it was infused with a little bit of luxury and a lot of local power. The mighty Gravensteen Castle in the center of Ghent is one of the largest moated castles in Europe. In the early 11th century, the wooden building was replaced by a stone residence, consisting of three large halls that made up three storeys, connected by a stone stairwell. The Gravensteen is a castle in Ghent originating from the Middle Ages. Also known as the Castle of the Counts, today this historical building is a tourist attraction, wedding venue and location for a variety of cultural activities. It also has a sizeable moat, fed with water from the Lys. Up until the 14th century, the castle acted as the seat of the counts of Flanders, later becoming a courthouse, a prison, and a factory. A century later, the motte-and-bailey castle was constructed, consisting of a raised earthwork (the motte) and an enclosed courtyard (the bailey). The 'Gravensteen' castle or the castle of the count, is a medieval build castle in Ghent. A building in the form of a wooden bastion, naturally protected by swamps and the river Leia, was built here. Explore on your feet—and never miss anything. This building phase, attributed to Count Baldwin IV (938–1035) or Count Baldwin V (1035–1067), coincided with reorganizations within the County of Flanders, as a result of which the Gravensteen became the centre of a viscounty, a regional administrative unit. [1] It may have been inspired by crusader castles witnessed by Philip during the Second Crusade. History and stories The Castle of the Counts owes its existence to the Counts of Flanders. The Romanian castle resembles Castle Dracula, as described in Bram Stoker’s novel Dracula (1897), in that both stand on rocky precipices and command spectacular views. The current castle dates from 1180 and was the residence of the Counts of Flanders until 1353. In the Middle Ages, when Graventeen Castle was built, Europe was a very unsafe place. The Gravensteen was slated to be demolished and sold as a building lot. The Gravensteen Castle was first built by Count Philip of Alsace in 1180, long before Belgium was a country. But Gravensteen is full of historical significance and an incredible structure. It was a fascinating experience and an extremely enjoyable one because of the audio guide. Gravensteen Castle Belgium , Europe , Ghent We’d only been in Ghent for half an hour, with no knowledge of what to see or do, when we saw Castle Gravensteen poking up above the buildings in Graslei and Korenlei. The Gravensteen was the seat of the Council of Flanders. These castles were used to accommodate them, because the counts were constantly traveling from city to city in order to maintain law and order. Date of experience: September 2019. Today, only the name of the street Geldmunt (“money mint”) reflects this activity. Remnants of this are still visible to this day in the eastern outbuilding and in the count's residence. Many details added during this period, such as the flat roofs and the windows of the eastern outbuilding, are not thought to be historically accurate. Typically they would only be in preventive custody a few days, just prior to their trials, but there were horrifying exceptions. You can add your own historic sites and attractions to SpottingHistory.com. It was subsequently re-purposed as a court, prison, mint, and even as a cotton factory. Photo about Interior of the Medieval Gravensteen Castle in Ghent, Belgium. 10:17. © 2020 SpottingHistory.com. A weekend trip to Ghent is simply not complete without a visit to the mysterious ‘Castle of the Counts’. A cruise on the canals is a good way to view Ghent’s highlights and learn about it’s history from an entertaining boat driver. The current castle dates to 1180 and was built by Philip of Alsace (1143–1191) on the site of the older fortification. It was used as a court and prison until the 18th century. The Gravensteen is a castle in Ghent originating from the Middle Ages. To satisfy those with a more gory turn-of-mind, but also to give voice to the castle’s violent history, Gravensteen houses a collection of torture instruments actually used through the ages. It remains open to the public. The Gravensteen, also known as the “Castle of the Count,“ is a castle in Ghent, originating from the Middle Ages. Gravensteen Castle was a terrific place to visit. Later the castle was the seat of both the Council of Flanders, the county’s highest court, and the feudal court of the Oudburg, a regional bench of aldermen. Parts of the castle were bought up gradually by the City of Ghent which began a major restoration in a romanticising Gothic style between 1893 and 1907 under the architect Joseph de Waele. Gravensteen: Castle of The Counts - See 5,010 traveler reviews, 4,851 candid photos, and great deals for Ghent, Belgium, at Tripadvisor. Truly a unique location! 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