HET GRAVENSTEEN
Ghent, Belgium
The Gravensteen, or the Castle of the Counts, is one of Belgium's premier Castles, a massive structure, heavily restored but still looking every bit the medieval fortress it is. Like much of Flanders water is very much in evidence in the defences.
The first Castle was built by Philip of Alsace between 1157 and 1191. Initially the Castle was built to impress and cow the inhabitants of Ghent, but as the City grew up around the Castle's walls its function slowly changed to that of palace for the Counts of Ghent.
In 1353 the Counts moved out into more comfortable quarters elsewhere and the Castle slowly fell into the usual pattern of prison, quarry and private house cum textile mill.
In 1887 the City of Ghent bought the Castle and began restoring the building, work was completed in time for it to become one of the centrepieces of the World Exhibition of 1913, ironically only a few months before World War I descended on Flanders and changed the face of Belgium forever (although Ghent was less affected than nearby Ypres).
Today the Castle is one of the centrepieces of tourism in one of Belgium's most attractive Cities.
A second Castle, Geraard de Duivelsteen, stands elsewhere in Ghent.
© Text copyright - Raving Loony
Productions and Andrew J. Müller
© Photos and Artwork - Andrew J. Müller
© Web Design and Layout - Andrew J. Müller
2018
