Gravensteen
| Gravensteen | ||
|---|---|---|
 Gravensteen Castle |
||
| Alternative name (s): | Grafenstein | |
| Creation time : | around 870 | |
| Castle type : | Niederungsburg | |
| Conservation status: | Received or received substantial parts | |
| Standing position : | Count | |
| Place: | Ghent | |
| Geographical location | 51 ° 3 '25.8 " N , 3 ° 43' 14.3" E | |
|
||
The castle Gravensteen (German " Grafenstein ") in Ghent is the castle of the Counts of Flanders . It is one of the largest moated castles in Europe and dates back to the first fortifications in the 9th century.
location
The castle stands on a high sand dune at the meeting of the Lieve and Leie rivers . On the left bank of the Leie it dominates the center of the city.
history
The archaeologists found indications that a first settlement existed at this point in Roman times , but that it was abandoned early. The first castle is said to have been built at the time of Charles the Bald , probably called "Iron Arm" by Baldwin I around 870, with which the House of Flanders began its rule.
The first facility on the site of today's facility was probably a wooden castle built by the Vikings . A stone hall was built at this point as early as around 1000. A first curtain wall completed the castle. In 1128 there was the first serious siege by supporters of Dietrich von Alsace , whereby the building was destroyed.
Philip of Alsace , the Count of Flanders at the time, had the Gravensteen built on its remains between 1180 and 1200. He enlarged the castle complex in order to better control the Ghent people. A ring trench now surrounded the castle complex, the excavation was filled up around the old hall building, so that a moth emerged. A 30 m high donjon was built on the walls of the hall building, which was now to serve as a cellar . In the meantime the citizens had erected defensive towers in the city. The castellan's windows and the cross-shaped opening above the main gate date from the 13th century . From then on, the courts of justice met here.
The castle was restored between the 13th and 14th centuries. The oval courtyard received a curtain wall with 24 protruding, two-story turrets. The Count's buildings and all of the important business premises were located separately from the donjon and within the curtain wall. From the 12th century, Ghent grew so enormously that the city now encloses the castle.
In the 14th century, the Counts of Flanders moved out of the castle and resided in the neighboring Prinzenhof . In 1353 Count Ludwig II moved his residence from Gravensteen to the Ten Walle court . Large parties and receptions continued to be held in the old castle. In 1301 the Ghentians besieged the castle and were able to force it to surrender by using fire.
In 1368, the attackers cut a breach in the wall. The repair work from the end of the 14th century can be seen on the gatehouse and the wall.
From 1407 to 1708 the castle served as a court seat, a dungeon and a torture chamber were established. The City Council of Ghent also met here. 1780 bought the castle complex in Kaufmann and converted it into a textile factory. The outbuildings served as workers' apartments, the gatehouse as an apartment for the factory manager.
After the French Revolution , the Gravensteen was sold to a cotton mill.
At the end of the 19th century, the castle was supposed to be demolished, which the city of Ghent prevented: it bought back the building complex in 1887 and then had it poorly preserved between 1889 and 1908.
The 800th anniversary of the city of Ghent, which was celebrated with festivities, resulted in a complete restoration of the Gravensteen.
Use since the end of the 20th century
In the castle there is a weapons museum with typical weapons of the Middle Ages, among others from the weapons collection of Adolphe Neyt .
There is also a torture instrument and court museum. The exhibits include iron shackles, guillotine , rack, thorn collars, swordsmen and more.
The visitor is guided through the castle in 15 stations. At each station there is a description in four languages: French, Dutch, English and German.
Architecture of the castle complex
The fortress is in the star-shaped style Syrian Crusaders - forts created. The central tower with its viewing platform rises like a huge stone block between the two water arms. The castle courtyard is surrounded by a wall with battlements and 24 half towers with battlements .
The two-aisled audience hall on the ground floor has a powerful vault. On the first floor is the Great Hall, where the meeting of the Knights of the Golden Fleece took place in 1445 . This knightly order was founded in 1430 by Philip the Good of Burgundy . The above-mentioned torture museum with torture tools and court files has been set up in the living quarters of the palace. The prison was in the basement. The torture chamber and the dungeon hole are still located here.
literature
- Christopher Gravett : Atlas of the castles. The most beautiful castles and palaces ("Castles"). Tosa, Vienna 2001, ISBN 3-85492-470-4 , p. 80.
Web links
- Gravensteen on burgenwelt.de
- Gravensteen in the Werbeka Netshop
- Gravensteen on the Burgerbe blog
- Gravensteen as a 3D model in SketchUp's 3D warehouse
- Het Gravensteeen: an archeological schat