Gravenstein Castle

Gravenstein Castle in located in Ghent, Belgium.  Count Philip of Alsace built the current castle in the Middle Ages in 1180.  The structure was modeled after a castle Philip encountered while on his second crusade in Syria.  The castle is situated in the heart of Ghent, where the battlements overlook the city.  A 9^th century fortress built by Count Boudewijn had originally sat upon the site.  The name Gravenstein stands for “castle of the count” in Dutch.  The Gravenstein Castle has been a coin manufacturer, a prison, and a textile factory.  It is now open for the touring public.