- Address: Geraard de Duivelstraat 1, 9000 Gent, Belgium
- Phone: + (32 9) 225 13 38
- Website: http://www.duivelsteen.be
- Opening hours: on Mondays from 13:00 to 16:30, Tuesday to Friday from 8:30 to 16:30, Saturday and Sunday - the weekend
The castle of Gerald the Devil was built around 1210-1270 and became the first stone building in Ghent . It is made of limestone, brought from the city of Dornik, and the name recalls the creator of the castle - the knight Gerald Viliana, nicknamed the Devil, who was a descendant of the Seger dynasty. Let's talk about the fortress in details.
What interesting things can you see in the castle?
With the name of Gerald the Devil, after whom the castle was named, there are several legends connected. The first says that Gerald was five times married, but because then there were no registry offices and divorces, he killed all previous wives before the next marriage. According to another version, Gerald gave such a name for his swarthy skin and blue-black hair. And at all he was not a maniac and a murderer, but on the contrary he was known as a very devout and sympathetic person and often donated money for church needs.
The castle attracts visitors with its mystical past, stories about the habitation of the spirit of Gerald the Devil in it. Be that as it may, but the external beauty and interior decoration of it also deserve undoubted attention. Over the entire period of its existence, the castle has been repeatedly reconstructed, and its appearance today differs significantly from the original species, which is so strict and concise. Initially, the castle had a main tower, called the dungeon (it has not survived to our times), as well as lancet windows, arches on the facade and crenellated walls.
The basement of the castle (crypt) is distinguished by high vaulted ceilings, there are 4 naves, which are divided by columns. The crypt occupies an area of 560 square meters. m, in connection with which the castle of Gerald the Devil is the largest in Belgium . At the end of the 19th century, the fortress was reconstructed and a new wing was built. Near the castle was also broken garden. The modern building appears before us a bright monument of Gothic architecture. And it should be noted that, despite all the restoration and construction works carried out, the fortress retained its former grandeur and historical value.
Today in the castle there is a municipal municipal archive. In general, for years of existence this place was used for various city and church needs: here at different times there were a prison, a monastery, a weapons warehouse, a fire station, a school and a psychiatric hospital.
How to get there?
Gerald Devil's Castle is located on the banks of the canal, near the Cathedral of St. Bavo . If you walk 800 meters to the southeast of the castle of Gerald the Devil, you can see another equally famous landmark of Ghent - Gravensten .
To see with your own eyes the castle of Gerald the Devil, you are best served by public transport - by bus or tram. Choose trams №1, 4, 22, 24 or buses №3, 17, 18, 38, 39, N1. The stop for the exit is called Gent Duivelsteen.
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