Castle of the Counts of Flanders

Gravensten (Dutch. Gravensteen, literally. "Count's castle") - a castle in the Belgian city of Ghent. Gravensten was built in 1180 and is the only medieval castle in Flanders whose defensive system has remained virtually intact to this day. For several centuries the castle was used by the Counts of Flanders as a residence. Later, Gravensten also served as a mint, courtroom, prison and textile factory. Recently, the city council of Ghent has made a lot of efforts to make more use of the tourist and cultural opportunities of this unique architectural monument, and has opened a museum of justice and weapons here. This is due to the fact that for four centuries (from XIV to XVIII) the highest court of Flanders sat in Gravenstein.
The museum displays the methods and instruments of torture used at that time in the administration of justice, as well as a collection of historical weapons, most of which was collected by the 19th century industrialist Adolph Neith.