The Gravensteen (Dutch; ) is a medieval castle in the city of Ghent, East Flanders in Belgium. The current castle dates from 1180 and was the residence of the Counts of Flanders until 1353. It was subsequently re-purposed as a court, prison, mint, and even as a cotton mill. It was restored over 1893–1903 and is now a museum and a major landmark in the city.

Origins

The origins of the Gravensteen date to the reign of Arnulf I (890–965) in the County of Flanders. The site, which sat between two branches of the river Lys, was first fortified around 1000, initially in wood and later in stone. This was soon transformed into a motte-and-bailey castle which was burnt down in around 1176.

<gallery caption="" widths="220px" heights="160px">

File:Gravensteen poortgebouw.JPG|External view of the gatehouse

File:Gent Gravensteen opschrift boven toegangspoort 9-08-2012 13-30-37.jpg|The dedication stone, dating to 1180

File:Belgique - Gand - Château des Comtes de Flandre - 04.jpg|View of the south side of the donjon

File:Sint-Veerleplein Gravensteen - 183800 - onroerenderfgoed.jpg|Aerial view of the castle, 1970

</gallery>

Subsequent history

After ceasing to be the residence of the counts of Flanders, the castle entered a decline. It was used as a court and prison until the 18th century. From 1353 to 1491, it was the site of Ghent's mint. Private buildings were constructed on or around the medieval remains. Ghent emerged as a major centre for textile manufacturing during the Industrial Revolution in the 19th century, and the Gravensteen was converted into a cotton mill. It was at one point scheduled for demolition.

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.

<gallery caption="" widths="220px" heights="160px">

File:Miniatuur van de H. Catharina bij het Gravensteen, door Simon Bening en atelier in de Hortulus Animae, 1517-1523. ÖNB, col. 2706, f304.jpg|Catherine of Alexandria seated in front of the donjon inside the castle. Illumination by Simon Bening from the manuscript Hortulus Animae (1510)

File:Gravensteen - Gent.jpg|The Gravensteen, depicted in Flandria Illustrata (1641)

File:Oude burg, Gent (1823).PNG|View of the Gravensteen's gatehouse in 1823, prior to the restoration

File:Gravensteen, c. 1880-1890.jpg|Photo of the castle before the restoration, 1880. The factory buildings are still visible.

File:Edmond Sacré, Gravensteen, 1893 (cropped).jpg|The castle, pictured in 1893 during the restoration work. The buildings around the castle have been demolished.

File:Gravensteen, Ghent, Belgium, 1890s.jpg|Photochrom picture of the castle in the later stages of the restoration, 1900

</gallery>

See also

  • List of castles in Belgium

References

  • Official website
  • Castle of the Counts at Visit Ghent
  • Multimedia Resources of Gravensteen