# Gravensteen

> The Gravensteen was built in 1180 by Count Philip of Alsace and replaced a castle that had burned down around 1176.

Source: https://camping-spirit.com/places/gravensteen-ghent/

A moated medieval castle right in the middle of Ghent, with towers, a keep and a walkable rampart above the rooftops. Combine it with a stroll along the nearby canals, and arrive early to avoid queues.

The Gravensteen was built in 1180 by Count Philip of Alsace and replaced a castle that had burned down around 1176. At its heart is a mighty keep, surrounded by an oval curtain wall with 24 small turrets and a moat fed by the River Lys. The Counts of Flanders lived here until 1353; afterwards the complex served as a mint, later as a court and prison, and in the 19th century as a cotton mill.

Between 1893 and 1907 Joseph De Waele restored the castle in the neo-Gothic style, and some of his additions are not historically documented. Allow roughly one to two hours for a visit, and come early in the day to avoid queues. The castle stands in the middle of the old town and combines well with a stroll along the nearby canals.

- **Nearest town:** Ghent, Belgium
- **Category:** History & culture
- **GPS:** 51.0573, 3.7208

## Good to know

**Best time to go:** The most pleasant months are usually June–September. Still fine, with some compromises, in May and October. Cold, short days in January–February. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)

**Getting there:**

- **Belgium: No motorway tolls for cars.** Low-emission zones in Brussels, Antwerp and Ghent; register foreign vehicles. Motorway limit for cars: 120 km/h.
- **Ghent: Low-emission zone.** Older vehicles may be banned, and foreign vehicles often have to register before entering.

## Sources

- [Gravensteen – Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravensteen)

## Nearby

- [Markt, Bruges](https://camping-spirit.com/places/bruges/) – 39 km
- [Zwin Nature Park](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b14-zwin/) – 42 km
- [Atomium](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b14-atomium/) – 47 km
- [Grote Markt, Antwerp](https://camping-spirit.com/places/grote-markt-antwerp/) – 51 km

## FAQs

### Where is Gravensteen?

Gravensteen is in Ghent, Belgium, at GPS 51.0573, 3.7208. It is about 37 km from Damme.

### Can you camp near Gravensteen?

Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Urban Gardens, about 3 km away; within 25 km there are 37 campsites and motorhome stopovers.

### What is there to see near Gravensteen?

Places worth a stop nearby: Markt, Bruges (39 km), Zwin Nature Park (42 km), Atomium (47 km) and Grote Markt, Antwerp (51 km).

### When is the best time to visit Gravensteen?

The most pleasant months are usually June–September. Still fine, with some compromises, in May and October. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)