Gravensteen Castle, a photo from Oost-Vlaanderen, Flanders

Photographer's Note

The GRAVENSTEEN is the Dutch name for the 'castle of the count'. The counts of Flanders had castles built in the principal cities of the county. Because they had to maintain law and order, they continuously had to move from one city to the other. Therefore, they disposed of a castle in most cities where they wanted to stay for a few months. The castle of Ghent is the only one which survived the centuries more or less intact.

Archeological excavations have proved that three fortified castles constructed in wood must have stood on the site of today's Gravensteen. Already around the year 1000 the first stone castle must have been erected here. Parts of this, such as the chimney and the fireplace, can still be found in the walls of the lower floors of the main tower.

The Gravensteen, like we know it today, has been constructed by Fillips of Alsasse who was count of Flanders between 1157 and 1191. He took part in one of the crusades and died during the siege of Akko in the Holy Land. The opening in the form of a cross, right above the main entrance gate, proves that he already had taken part in a crusade when the Castle was built around 1177-1178.The Gravensteen functioned as the center of the Count's power during the early Middle-Ages. This is somewhat symbolized by the main keep or 'donjon' (tower) from where one can have a panoramic view over the city. Next to the castle lies the Veerleplein (Veerle square), the place where public executions took place. The Gravensteen has been used in later times for different purposes. After the counts moved to more comfortable mansions in the later centuries, it was used as the Mint and later as the main prison of Gent. In the nineteenth century a cotton plant was installed here. In the inner court little houses where built for the textile workers of the plant.

Today, the Gravensteen has been beautifully restored. It is still partially surrounded by the medieval moat.

It can be visited all through the year. Inside of the rooms is a museum about the history of prison life and organization, with a very instructive collection of medieval torture instruments.

Gravensteen Castle

josepmarin has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Turkmenbashi (101) 2007-08-06 6:05

Beautiful castle, like from a fairy tale. Good atmosphere, information-filled note.

Regards, Matěj

mortijo (12828) 2007-08-06 6:57

This is one of the best photos of the Gravensteen that i have seen. The POV is excellent, the lens distorsions are exceptionnally well treated and the colors and light management is perfect. On top of that you wrote a very well documented note. My respect!! And I know what I am talking about...I was born and raised in Gent. The moat is actually part of the river Lieve that connected Gent to Brugge via a canal.

josepmarin (59385) 2007-08-06 11:13

Bonsoir Catherine,
je ne comprends pas pourquoi cette photo est si peu évaluée. Elle est bonne, a un cadrage excellent, une bonne illumination avec de belles ombres, quelques couleurs naturelles et jolies, une haute qualité d'image et d'une bonne perspective grâce à la rue qui nous porte le regard vers l'arrière-plan.
Le château se détache élégamment dans l'ensemble, et le ciel est impressionnant.
Un très bon travail.
Amicalement,
Josep

lukie (0) 2007-08-12 8:28

Hello Oleg,

I find this shot very succesfull. It shows us the "Gravensteen" in it's full glory and even a piece of the surrounding wonderfull architecture on the right side. I'm not saying this because I was born in Ghent. Last year or so, I visited it after more than 25 years, and it still is worht the visit. (somewhere here on TE, I put also one or more shots from it)

regards,

Luc.

bend1k (934) 2008-02-25 22:50

your point of view is excellent. nicely done

jwi61 (81) 2008-02-25 23:07

Very nice photo of the castle. Nice work on the story as well. What you avoided to tell - and that's good on you because it doesn't matter - is the fact that the castle, as it is today, is almost completely reconstructed.

Beautiful weather conditions - typically Belgium (we have a green country!)

Such a pity that a white car was driving in the street. It attracks attention and doesn't add anything positively in the photo.
Reframing the photo could be enough to avoid this.