Geeraard de Duivelsteen Castle

Geeraard de Duivelsteen Castle, locally simply known as Geeraard de Duivelsteen, lies in the center of the city of Ghent, in the province of East Flanders in the Flemish region in Belgium.

Geeraard de Duivelsteen Castle is a tower house built in the early 13th century. The word 'steen' means 'stone'. It is a name often given to stone-built fortified structures from a time when most buildings were made of wood. The castle is located on the bank of the Reep stream.

It was first owned by Zeger III of Ghent. After he died in 1227, the castle was inherited by one of his sons, Geeraard Vilain. Geeraard had black hair and a dark complexion, which earned him the nickname 'Geeraard de Duivel', meaning 'the Devil'. His name became associated with the castle.

By around 1328, Geeraard de Duivelsteen Castle was sold to the city of Ghent. Over the centuries, the castle served various functions, including an armory, a monastery, and an episcopal seminary. In 1623, parts of it were used as a madhouse, a male orphanage, and a prison.

At the end of the 19th century, it was acquired by the Belgian state. It underwent extensive restoration between 1898 and 1908 and was then used to house the state archives.

Today, Geeraard de Duivelsteen Castle is generally not open to the public. I was fortunate enough to visit its cellars during an exhibition. A fascinating but curious castle. Don't forget to visit the nearby Gravensteen Castle.

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