![]() ![]() Its rooftop terrace, called the Panorama, offers splendid views of the city and the mighty Port of Antwerp. With its geometric glass and red sandstone design, the contemporary MAS (Museum aan de Stroom) is a landmark near the Scheldt riverfront. Within its interior, you will find a significant number of paintings by the famous Baroque painter Peter Paul Rubens.Īfter you've seen a little bit of old Antwerp, there's still time on your first day to discover the modern side of the city. Wander to the Grote Markt, the largest and most important square in the city, and the enormous Cathedral of Our Lady, first constructed in 1352. Once you've settled in, you'll have free time to explore Antwerp's compact city center, with its countless architectural gems, including many examples from the Renaissance and Art Nouveau periods, as well as strikingly modern buildings. From the station, you can either walk or take a taxi to your hotel. It is closed over Christmas and on New Year’s Day.Welcome to Belgium! On arrival at Brussels Airport, you'll catch a 30-minute direct train to Antwerpen-Centraal, Antwerp's grand main railway station. It is usually open every day from 10am to 6pm, while last tickets at the box office are sold at 4.40pm. The Gravensteen is located in the Belgian city of Ghent and can be reached by train and bus from Gent Sint-Pieters station. Visitors can also make use of an audio guide as they walk around the castle. The site today hosts a macabre torture museum. The castle is a major landmark in the centre of Ghent.Ī ticket permits entrance to the castle. The Gravensteen was restored in line with architect Joseph de Waele’s romanticising Gothic style of restorations in the city of Ghent between 18. The fortress today owes part of its appearance to modern restoration projects. An industrialist purchased the castle during the Industrial Revolution and converted the structure into a cotton mill. It was also the location of Ghent’s mint in the 14th and 15th centuries. ![]() The castle was used as a court and a prison until the 18th century. These citizens often challenged the authority of the count. ![]() It functioned as a protective citadel and also performed an intimidating role against the burghers of Ghent. The crusader castles Philip saw may have informed the design of the Gravensteen. Philip was Count of Flanders and participated in two crusades to the Holy Land, where he died. The same site was used for the current structure, which was built by Philip of Alsace (1143-1191) in 1180. A motte-and-bailey was developed on the site which burned down around 1176. It was situated between two tributaries of the Lys river. The site of the Gravensteen was originally the location of a castle built during the reign of Arnulf I (890-965) and fortified around 1000. It is surrounded by a defensive enclosure lined with overhanging, wall-mounted turrets, and a moat fed by the river Lys. The Gravensteen features a large central donjon and a permanent residence which was home to the Counts of Flanders between 11. The impressive structure is now a museum and major landmark. The Gravensteen is a medieval castle in Ghent, East Flanders in Belgium, also known as the Castle of the Counts. ![]()
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