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Gravensteen – An impressive fortress from the Middle Ages, today with a museum of old weapons, armor and torture chambers

The Gravensteen, also known as the “Castle of the Count,“ is a castle in Ghent, originating from the Middle Ages. The castle served as the seat of the Counts of Flanders until they abandoned the place in the 14th century.

The castle was initially designed as a defensive fortress. Source
The castle was initially designed as a defensive fortress. Source

 

Motte-and-bailey castles were quite widespread in the 11th and 12th centuries. Source
Motte-and-bailey castles were quite widespread in the 11th and 12th centuries. Source

The present castle was built in the late 12th century by The Count of Flanders Philip of Alsace, son of Count Thierry of Alsace (1128–1168),  as a defensive fortress and it was modeled after the crusaders castles that Philip of Alsace encountered while he participated in the second crusade.

Before its construction, there stood a wooden castle on the same location, presumably built in the 10th century. After his death, the castle quickly developed from a defensive outpost to a luxury residence for the Counts of Flanders.

The old wooden buildings surrounding the main castle on the motte were also replaced by stone buildings. Source
The old wooden buildings surrounding the main castle on the motte were also replaced by stone buildings. Source

 

In the early 11th century, the central wooden building was replaced by a stone residence, consisting of three large halls that made up three storeys, connected by a stone stairwell. Source
The central wooden building was replaced by a stone residence, consisting of three large halls that made up three storeys, connected by a stone stairwell. Source

 

A view of Gravensteen Castle, demonstrating its picturesque moat. Source
A view of Gravensteen Castle, demonstrating its picturesque moat. Source

In the early 19th century, the castle was used as a prison, a courthouse, and, at one time, it even served as an industrial complex. Several of the vacated buildings were publicly sold. Houses were built against the walls and even on the courtyard and the stones of the walls were used to erect other buildings. The existing buildings housed cotton mills, a metal construction workshop and some fifty working-class families.

Copy of a guillotine with an original blade on display in the Museum of Torture Instruments in the Gravensteen castle. Source
Copy of a guillotine with an original blade on display in the Museum of Torture Instruments in the Gravensteen castle. Source

At the end of the 19th century, the castle was scheduled to be demolished, but, fortunately, the project fell through due to a lack of interest. At that time, the inhabitants of Ghent saw the Gravensteen as a symbol of power abuse, feudal oppression, gruesome torturing techniques and inquisition.

The “cellar”, where you can see remains of the original walls of the castle. Source
The “cellar”, where you can see remains of the original walls of the castle. Source

After many other uses, it was purchased by the town to save it from demolition and fully restored. In 1885 the city of Ghent bought the castle and started a renovation project. Restoration work started in 1893. The newly built houses were removed and the walls and keep were restored to their original condition.

A medieval toilet. Source
A medieval toilet. Source

In the early 20th century, it was restored to its medieval grandeur and it opened to the public in 1907. Inside is a museum with various torture devices (and a guillotine among others) that were historically used in Ghent. The historical collection of arms kept at the Gravensteen is among the most exquisite collections in Flanders and each type of weapon used in medieval warfare is featured in the collection.

In addition to being an interesting example of centuries-old architecture, the restored castle houses several museum collections. One of those is the Arms Museum. Source
In addition to being an interesting example of centuries-old architecture, the restored castle houses several museum collections. One of those is the Arms Museum. Source

 

Cross-bow with pieces of flair on display at the Arms Museum. Source
A Cross-bow with pieces of flair on display at the Arms Museum. Source

Since the 1913 World Fair in Ghent, numerous cultural activities, events and parties have been held at the Gravensteen, which is now the city’s single most important tourist attraction. The collection is now divided into four main sections: imprisonment, the insane, torture and interrogation and execution and punishment.

Displayed torture tools with some puppets that demonstrate how certain tools were being used. Source
Displayed torture tools with some puppets that demonstrate how certain tools were being used. Source

Belgium has over 3,000 castles, about 300 of which are open to the public. Gravensteen is open daily throughout the year with an average of 2,000 visitors a day.

David Goran

David Goran is one of the authors writing for The Vintage News