메렐베케‬에서 가장 멋진 ‪20‬개의 동굴

The gate also serves as a bridge over the Kalebeek stream. The north facade of the gate (facing the church) features, in addition to the date 1864, the coat of arms of the t'Kint de Roodenbeke family, who acquired the castle that year (and still own it).

The Geeraard de Duivelsteen is a building in the Belgian city of Ghent. The stone played an important role in the defense of the Portus on the Reep, a trading settlement that was at the cradle of the origin of Ghent. It is a former Gothic stone (stone house of a nobleman) from the 13th century, named after knight Geeraard van Gent, nicknamed Geeraard de Duivel. He was the third son of a viscount of Ghent, Zeger III. The building became the property of the city in the 14th century. Over the centuries it fulfilled various functions: knight's residence, weapons arsenal, monastery, school, episcopal seminary, insane asylum and prison until the Rasphuis on the Coupure took over that task in 1775. In 1830 a fire station was set up there. At the end of the 19th century, the Geraard de Duivelsteen was purchased by the government to house the State Archives of Ghent. Under the leadership of Arthur Verhaegen, the building was restored between 1891 and 1908 and expanded with a new wing, which housed the reading room and the offices of the archive staff. The building remained in use as an archive until 2015. In 2016, it was purchased for 2,205,000 euros by the Ghent holding company NV Koiba. The building is being converted into a youth centre. In addition, there will be a few residential units; the former quay wall is being restored. The building has undergone so many changes since the Middle Ages that the square keep (left in the photo), which was lowered too much during the last restoration in the 19th century, is barely recognisable. However, this keep can point to a function that refers to an older past. The keep, located along the partially filled-in Scheldt and within the semi-circular moat from the 9th century that surrounded Ghent at the time, may have had a defensive function at the time.

Original country house built by the Ghent architect L. Roelandt who owned the old "Goed ten Ast" in 1834 and drew the plans for his country residence on the south side of it. According to the land registry archives, it was completed around 1850. Subsequently adapted several times, including around 1900 and in 1920 by the then owner, the Ghent industrialist G. Van Oost. Current condition is the result of renovations in 1958 designed by architect F. Bonaert. Castle with appurtenances including a belvedere tower and greenhouses beautifully planted on the slope above the stream valley with a landscaped rose garden to the west and a park with ponds in landscape style, accessible via a gate on the Korte Aststraat, connected to the Lange Aststraat with monumental closure with iron chains between square pedestals with garden vases. More recent entrance gate on the village square of Mullem (Oudenaarde). (Immovable Heritage Inventory)

Very occasionally an exhibition is organized here (such as that of photographer Carl De Keyzer in December 2021 to February 2022), what an exceptional opportunity to see the inside of this building with a rich history. Grab that chance!

The "de Gerlache" after which the castle - officially called "Den Ast" - is often called is Gaston de Gerlache, mayor of Mullem for 3 legislatures, but above all an explorer. In 1957-1958 he led the second Belgian expedition to Antarctica, 60 years after his father led the first with the Belgica. During this second expedition, in which the Polarhav and the Polarsirkel took them to Antarctica, the King Baudouin base was established there. During the next expedition, led by Guido Derom, a 2,400 meter high mountain in Antarctica was named after Gaston de Gerlache. Another fact about the castle: an emperor penguin, Hans, brought along from the expedition, who was housed in the Antwerp Zoo, was given a place in the castle after his death. Sources: Wikipedia https://www.kruisem.be/kasteel-de-gerlache-huise

Beautifully illuminated castle.

Over the centuries it was used as a knight's residence, armory, monastery, school and episcopal seminary. In 1623 there was a madhouse for the insane and a home for male orphans. Another part of the building was used as a prison or detention house.

The Gravensteen is a fortified moated castle, located in the East Flemish city of Ghent. It is the only remaining medieval castle in Flanders and has an almost intact defense system. The current castle dates from 1180 and was the residence of the counts of Flanders until 1353. It was later repurposed as a court, prison, coin printing house and even as a cotton factory. It was restored in 1893-1903. It is now a museum and is a major tourist attraction in the city. The castle's gatehouse, rampart wall, keep, count's residence and horse stables are accessible to visitors. Source: Wikipedia