Gravensteen

The Gravensteen is a medieval citadel at Ghent, East Flanders in Belgium. The modern fort dates to 1180 and turned into the house of the Counts of Flanders until 1353. It became eventually re-purposed as a court, prison, mint, and while a cotton manufacturing facility. It changed into restored over 1893–1903 and is now a museum and a primary landmark in the city. The origins of the Gravensteen date to the reign of Arnulf I 890 to 965. The website online, which sat among branches of the Lys river, turned into first fortified around one thousand, initially in wooden and later in stone.

This turned into soon transformed into a motte-and-bailey citadel which burnt down in round 1176. The cutting-edge fortress dates to 1180 and become constructed by using Philip of Alsace 1143 to 1191 at the web page of the older fortification. It may also were inspired by way of crusader castles witnessed via Philip at some point of the Second Crusade. As well a protecting castle, the Gravensteen became intended to intimidate the burghers of Ghent who frequently challenged the Counts' authority. It consists of a huge imperative donjon, a residence and diverse smaller buildings.