The Gravensteen (Dutch; lit.'the Counts' rock') 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 factory. It was restored over 1893–1903 and is now a museum and a major landmark in the city.
The origins of the Gravensteen date to the reign of Arnulf I (890–965).[1] 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.[1]
The current castle dates to 1180 and was built by Philip of Alsace (1143–1191) on the site of the older fortification.[1] It may have been inspired by crusader castles witnessed by Philip during the Second Crusade. As well a protective citadel, the Gravensteen was intended to intimidate the burghers of Ghent who often challenged the counts' authority. It incorporates a large central donjon, a residence and various smaller buildings. These are surrounded by a fortified, oval-shaped enceinte lined with 24 small échauguettes. It also has a sizeable moat, fed with water from the Lys.
From 1180 until 1353, the Gravensteen was the residence of the Counts of Flanders. The decision to leave was taken by Louis of Male (1330–1384) who transferred the court to the nearby Hof ten Walle.[1]
The foot of a wolf was once nailed to the gate and provides the last known archaeozoological evidence for the wolf in Flanders.[2]
External view of the gatehouse
The dedication stone, dating to 1180
View of the south side of the donjon
Aerial view of the castle, c.1970
Subsequent historyedit
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 and private buildings were later constructed on or around the Medieval remains. During the Industrial Revolution, the Gravensteen was converted into a cotton mill by an industrialist who purchased the site. It was even 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.[1] De Waele was inspired the approach of the French architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc and attempted to restore the castle to its imagined appearance in the 12th century. 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.
The Gravensteen was the centrepiece of the Ghent World Fair of 1913 during which the city centre was significantly reshaped. It remains open to the public.
"The Battle of Gravensteen Castle" took place on November 16, 1949 when 138 students from the University of Ghent occupied the castle over a new tax on beer. In addition to barricading the castle gates and lowering the portcullis, they captured the only guard on duty and locked him in a closet. After raising banners along the castle walls and pelting passing police officers with rotten fruit, they were eventually detained and removed from the castle, though a public outcry of support led to none of the students being prosecuted for their actions. Their campaign against the beer tax was unsuccessful.[3][4]
^ abcde"History". Gravensteen. Historische Huizen Gent. Retrieved 6 September 2018.
^De Cupere, Bea; Van Neer, Wim (2023). "Faunal Remains from Archaeological Sites Document Human Impact on the Terrestrial and Aquatic Environment: examples from the last thousand years in Belgium". Internet Archaeology (62). doi:10.11141/ia.62.7.
^White, Olivia (2023-06-20). "The Beer-Fueled Student Prank That Went Down in Belgian History". VinePair. Retrieved 2023-09-13.
^Brooks, Jay (2020-11-17). "The Battle of Gravensteen Castle". Brookston Beer Bulletin. Retrieved 2023-09-13.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gravensteen (Ghent).
Official website
Castle of the Counts at Visit Ghent
Multimedia Resources of Gravensteen
January 01, 1970
gravensteen, dutch, counts, rock, medieval, castle, city, ghent, east, flanders, belgium, current, castle, dates, from, 1180, residence, counts, flanders, until, 1353, subsequently, purposed, court, prison, mint, even, cotton, factory, restored, over, 1893, 19. The Gravensteen Dutch lit the Counts rock 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 factory It was restored over 1893 1903 and is now a museum and a major landmark in the city GravensteenGhent East FlandersThe Gravensteen seen from the south eastGravensteenCoordinates51 03 26 N 3 43 14 E 51 057222 N 3 720556 E 51 057222 3 720556TypeCastleSite informationOwnerCity of GhentOpen tothe publicYesConditionRestoredSite historyBuilt1180MaterialsSandstone Tournai limestoneGarrison informationOccupantsCounts of Flanders 1180 1353 Contents 1 Origins 2 Subsequent history 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksOrigins editThe origins of the Gravensteen date to the reign of Arnulf I 890 965 1 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 1 The current castle dates to 1180 and was built by Philip of Alsace 1143 1191 on the site of the older fortification 1 It may have been inspired by crusader castles witnessed by Philip during the Second Crusade As well a protective citadel the Gravensteen was intended to intimidate the burghers of Ghent who often challenged the counts authority It incorporates a large central donjon a residence and various smaller buildings These are surrounded by a fortified oval shaped enceinte lined with 24 small echauguettes It also has a sizeable moat fed with water from the Lys From 1180 until 1353 the Gravensteen was the residence of the Counts of Flanders The decision to leave was taken by Louis of Male 1330 1384 who transferred the court to the nearby Hof ten Walle 1 The foot of a wolf was once nailed to the gate and provides the last known archaeozoological evidence for the wolf in Flanders 2 nbsp External view of the gatehouse nbsp The dedication stone dating to 1180 nbsp View of the south side of the donjon nbsp Aerial view of the castle c 1970Subsequent history editAfter 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 and private buildings were later constructed on or around the Medieval remains During the Industrial Revolution the Gravensteen was converted into a cotton mill by an industrialist who purchased the site It was even 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 1 De Waele was inspired the approach of the French architect Eugene Viollet le Duc and attempted to restore the castle to its imagined appearance in the 12th century 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 The Gravensteen was the centrepiece of the Ghent World Fair of 1913 during which the city centre was significantly reshaped It remains open to the public The Battle of Gravensteen Castle took place on November 16 1949 when 138 students from the University of Ghent occupied the castle over a new tax on beer In addition to barricading the castle gates and lowering the portcullis they captured the only guard on duty and locked him in a closet After raising banners along the castle walls and pelting passing police officers with rotten fruit they were eventually detained and removed from the castle though a public outcry of support led to none of the students being prosecuted for their actions Their campaign against the beer tax was unsuccessful 3 4 nbsp Saint Catharine seated in the castle Illumination by Simon Bening from the manuscript Hortulus Animae 1510 nbsp The Gravensteen depicted in Flandria Illustrata 1641 nbsp View of the Gravensteen s gatehouse in 1823 prior to the restoration nbsp Photo of the castle before the restoration c 1880 The factory buildings are still visible nbsp The castle pictured in 1893 during the restoration work The buildings around the castle have been demolished nbsp Photochrom picture of the castle in the later stages of the restoration c 1900See also editList of castles in BelgiumReferences edit a b c d e History Gravensteen Historische Huizen Gent Retrieved 6 September 2018 De Cupere Bea Van Neer Wim 2023 Faunal Remains from Archaeological Sites Document Human Impact on the Terrestrial and Aquatic Environment examples from the last thousand years in Belgium Internet Archaeology 62 doi 10 11141 ia 62 7 White Olivia 2023 06 20 The Beer Fueled Student Prank That Went Down in Belgian History VinePair Retrieved 2023 09 13 Brooks Jay 2020 11 17 The Battle of Gravensteen Castle Brookston Beer Bulletin Retrieved 2023 09 13 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gravensteen Ghent Official website Castle of the Counts at Visit Ghent Multimedia Resources of Gravensteen Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Gravensteen amp oldid 1210755499, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
