Ghent Castle of the Counts - Gravensteen

Inside the Castle there's a museum about the history of prison life and organization and a collection of medieval torture instruments. The teenagers love the ghoulish torture equipment on display that were used during the middle ages. There are thumbscrews, a rack and executioners swords to be seen. There is even a guillotine. The inner cellar room of the castle was used as a stable where horses had a place to be treated and fed. Gravensteen has been used for different purposes.

The counts moved to more comfortable mansions. In the 18th century the Austrians ruled the area and lost interest in the castle, they sold it. Jean-Denis Brismaille bought it and made an industrial complex out of the castle. It was used as the Mint and later as the main prison of Gent. It housed metalworkers and a cotton spinning factory. In the inner court little houses where built for the textile workers of the cotton plant.

To the majority of the citizens of Ghent though out the centuries the castle was a symbol of power, oppression, death and awful torture. In the late 19th century the Gravensteen complex was reassessed. The city council bought the entire site from different private owners. Everything that was not out of the original Doornik stone was removed. A great castle emerged. Architect Joseph De Waele chose a romantic interpretation of the castle in the time of count Filips.

One of the joys of Ghent is wandering around the old city centre at night. The Gent city council have used great skill to make sure that the most important historic buildings are illuminated by floodlights. For the children there is a spider's web climbing frame that looks spectacular at night.

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