Gravensteen

Perched beautifully on River Lieve, and complete with its own moat and soaring turrets, Gravensteen is a quintessential castle, built in the 12th century. With sincere efforts to retain the original structure by the city of Ghent over the years, Gravensteen is a unique example of the European medieval art of fortification. A 45-minute movie guide inside the castle takes you through the guillotine, rooms of armour and torture devices, prison pits (essentially it is a dramatic play that is conducted in various rooms of the castle). The castle is also home to a museum shop right at the entrance. The top of the castle is one of best vantage points of the city—from where you can spot the majestic belfry, the charming canals and the countless spires of medieval structures peppered throughout the city. With time passing by, the castle is becoming a well-known tourist attraction amongst the travellers coming to Belgium; it is also the spot of various cultural activities throughout the year and a place where a lot of couples get wed.