Castle of the Counts

Ghent, Belgium, Spain

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Castle of the Counts (Gravensteen) is a medieval fortress in central Ghent, Belgium, built in 1180 by Count Philip of Alsace on earlier 9th-11th century fortifications to assert control over the rebellious city.

This imposing stone structure features a 30-meter central donjon tower, 24 watchtowers, a deep moat, and thick walls inspired by crusader castles, later serving as court, prison, mint, and cotton mill until its 19th-century restoration.

Today it functions as a museum showcasing torture chambers, medieval artifacts, and panoramic city views, highlighting Ghent's turbulent feudal history.