Castle of the Counts

Well worth the visit. Audio tour is quite interesting, but there are two different ones - the longer one is probably better. You must pre-book, otherwise you will queue to buy tickets for a time slot several hours later and you'll have to come back for your slot. Good views over the city, some interesting historical items inside the castle to see. Gift shop is very expensive - avoid!

The Castle of the Counts in Ghent is an interesting place with a lot of history. It’s worth visiting once to get a feel of the medieval atmosphere, though I wouldn’t call it spectacular. A nice one-time experience. The only downside was that picking up the audio guide took quite a long time.

Whilst visiting Ghent we decided to visit the castle. We purchased tickets on the day and was given an entry time, roughly 30 mins after purchase. On entry we went to the shop to pick up the audio tour included in the ticket price. We decided to go for the 1 hour tour narrated by a local comedian. This was a great choice with amazing facts mixed with great humour, would highly recommend. The castle was fascinating and in excellent condition considering its age. Fantastic views from the Towers and the walls. A fantastic place to visit.

Beautiful example of a period castle. While largely empty, the audio guide was quite informative and well produced. I recommend the hour-long 'comedy' audio guide tour, as it has a good number of stories to talk through the history and design of the castle. I went with my three boys (ages 12, 8 and 5). They all enjoyed the visit, though I didn't get an audio guide for the younger two.

The castle was largely empty, there was not a lot to see except for the stones and rooms. There also weren’t any flyers or helpful texts. The audio guide recorded by the Flemish Comedian was the most interesting thing in the castle. Visiting it is not necessary, the sight is more impressive when seeing it from afar, from the outside.

À small and neat castle. I would suggest purchasing tickets online so you don't have to wait, but since the entry times are every 20 minutes, I found it very reasonable when I showed up, I exited the ticket line and just purchased them on my phone at a cafe nearby and did not have to wait long. Your entry gives you access to a free audio tour and you can choose a 30-minute factual tour of the castle, or a 1-hour funny tour. I thought the one hour tour was perfectly timed because you still got to enjoy everything and take your time looking at the castle.

Definitely book your ticket online, otherwise you risk a long wait in line. The audio guide, told in a playful, comedy style, makes the story both adventurous and thoroughly enjoyable, with colorful and witty touches throughout. The castle is beautifully maintained, and the visit is easy to follow, taking around an hour and a half. Comfortable shoes are a must for going up and down the stairs. From the terrace, you can take in — and capture — some truly gorgeous views of the city.

Interesting medieval castle! The comedy tour, which lasts about 1 hour, is truly fantastic. We recommend booking the castle entry beforehand so you don’t have to wait in line on the day of your visit.

Super good experience to see the inside of a medieval castle of Gent. Only thing was it was a little creepy when I was the only individual and parts of the castles. But super fun experience and very interesting walk throughout the castle. Tickets are €13 which is pretty affordable and helps support the little city of Gent. You're also able to get an audio guide through the gift shop if you are interested. It's pretty interesting and a good way to spend a couple hours learning about the history of Gent.

I had such a wonderful time at the Gravensteen. I was happy my wife took me here to explore. If you're looking for something to do in Ghent, Gravensteen is a must come I thought. You'll get amazing views, and an awesome self guided tour that was delightfully narrated by a comedian and made a comedic, informative, and story about a count that lived here and how this castle was made to be. I really enjoyed my visit here and would definitely recommend to go here if you're looking for some touristy things to do.

A must visit if you are in the city. You get a nice view of the city. The price includes a self guided audio guide, which was not bland and monotonous like most audio guides. It was humorous and informative. There are parts in the castle with narrow and steep stairsz so this may not be for everyone.

Another on my list of highly recommended sites to check out. I mean castle tours are usually not a tough sells. In this case, what put things over for me was the accompanying audio tour. Rather than dryly present the facts, they take a comedic approach from the point of view of a (former) court jester. Beyond the history of the Castle of the Counts, you'll also hear of all the various methods of torture at the time. The self guided tour will take you about 45-50 minutes if you listen to the entire "show", which of course I recommend!

Cool medieval castle- must visit! What a cool place to visit! The castle is exactly what I imagine for old castles! It's 1,000+ years old, it's very cool and old looking, it's surrounded by a moat, it has a dungeon with a hole in the floor above the dungeon so the count could push anyone he doesn't like into the dungeon. (I am making this up, My 7 year old son was impatient so we did not get to hear any audio. But it was still a great way to spend an hour just walking through and seeing everything). The castle toilets' are hilarious since they're just holes over the moat (there are modern toilets near the entrance for visitors to use). I'm so glad we came! This was one of the many highlights of our 3 week Europe trip.

This was the former home of the count of flanders. This castle was absolutely stunning. I did not pre-purchase tickets for this attraction because I was unsure what time we would arrive. They still had plenty of tickets available the day of. Tickets were only 13 euro, and it includes an audio guided tour. This tour is not handicap accessible. It requires walking up and down orginal narrow spiral stairways. The audio guide takes you through different rooms inside as well as outside the castle. In each room, the audio guide tells you a story/history about what it was used for. If you have never been inside a real castle, I definitely recommend stopping by for a visit.

Cool well kept castle there aren't many like this. It's well preserved with a self guided audio tour that has some good stories about life in the good old days when people were boiled alive and tortured. Beautiful views from the top.

The castle itself is charming, just like something out of a storybook of knights and ladies and sieges and dragons. The audio tour, however, was just awful. The English-language script was full of smarta** attempts at juvenile humor and very short of actual information. The narrator rambled on endlessly with fictional suppositions, "personal" sidebar stories, and endless potty humor and stories about medieval torture. Historical facts? Just about zero. Stories of real people who occupied the castle? Almost none. Contextual information about the time and place? Not at all. Big waste of 13 euros? One hundred percent.

Gravensteen (aka the castle of the counts) is a thousand-year-old medieval structure open to tourists. If you buy your tickets in advance online you can avoid a wait as capacity is controlled and you will pick a specific time slot. An audio guide is included (and necessary) in order to understand the history of the structure. The narrative features a local comedian that adds interest to the largely empty structure. The building itself is nicely restored and the exterior views are great but there's not a lot to see inside. Nonetheless we took many pictures and the view from the top of the castle over the town is great. Worth a visit. We spent a little over an hour, there are 18 audio stops, but you may spend as long as you like.

We toured the castle with our children... under the age of 10 and were able to explore and listen to the audio for each room and were entertained for at least an hour maybe 90 mins.. well worth the admission and the audio story telling was entertaining and knowledgeable

Another among the sights and sounds of Belgium that are worth checking out. Even from the outside, this spot is worth a few snaps for memory's sake. Architecturally brilliant if you are in to medieval/castle vibes for sure. And such a cute town over all!

An amazing medieval castle to visit. Lots of actual weapons and armor from Ghents past. Get in early, as it gets very busy in the afternoon.

This has got to be the best self guided tour of a castle that I have been to. Long lines to get in, but moved fast. The day we visited was a cold blustery day, and crowded. The fact that the self guided tour includes headphones (not ear buds) was an added bonus for me when walking the grounds part of the tour. They kept my ears nice and warm. They had an actor/comedian record the tour information (at least for the English language headsets.) There are several different languages to choose from. The humor in the script for each room/area of the castle for me, helped me absorb the vast amount of information about the castle and occupants. You can go at your own pace, and take your time to linger, and appreciate what has actually taken place behind these walls. It's really well done and takes you to most places in and outside the castle. My favorite part was where the toilet is located, and how they actually used it. Although I can't imagine getting up in the middle of the night, and walking down the steep stairs out to where it is located. I guess for those times... that is where the bedpan comes in handy. If you are in Ghent you don't want to miss seeing this castle, and the view from the top like everyone else has said, is the cherry on top. Although I wasn't able to climb to the very tippy top due to my fear of heights so I had my daughter take the video for me! There is a small gift shop at the end of the tour located where you hand in your headphones.

I was happy to tour a castle on my trip. They have a free audio recording tour that takes you around the castle (I think they had a bunch of languages available). The audio recording was done by some comedian, and I would have liked fewer jokes and more information. I also would have liked more information on the day to day experiences of living in the castle, or the upkeep of the castle. A lot the tour seemed to be focused on the torture and punishment of people... which was a little weird. There was also a root cellar, or some rooms that had trees growing from the top that I wish we could have seen, but I imagine there is a safety risk there. There are some spectacular views from the top.

Everyone on Reddit told us this was not to be missed and honestly... they're right! It was so cool. The audio tour is kinda funny and the history is fantastic. I would love to take my family back here.

Very impressive castle, whether it's being repaired after a fire or not. My husband has visited several castles in the past and he was impressed with this one. The climbing and going down stairs was a bit of a mission with the 2 year olds, but we managed. We enjoyed the exhibits and walking around. The views from the roof top are so worth it. Definitely recommend visiting this place if you're in the area.

This is fun for people of every age. The castle has been lovingly restored and the unguided tour lets you go at your own pace, explore, and read the little placards. Be forewarned that there are a lot of stairs and tiny conifer places. You need to be able to climb and descend several times. The most fascinating room was the one with swords and daggers and chain mail in glass cases. Pick up one of the laminated explanatory sheets as you enter to fill you in on the use and history behind different types of weapons. These are works of art, many of them inlaid with mother of pearl or precious metals. The room full of torture paraphernalia was also engrossing, if sad. They even have a guillotine! Walking the ramparts you get incredible views. Definitely worth the 10 euro admission price! It should take you about an hour to an hour and a half. Tell the kids to keep their eyes peeled for the medieval latrines!

This imposing fortress is both architecturally impressive and historically significant. Seat of the counts of Flanders and shield against Viking raiders, it looms over the old town. There are excellent views of Ghent's medieval skyline from the top, particularly at dusk. The audio tour is amusing and informative, although it felt like some topics were glossed over a bit. This may be because of the format was thematic, relating to the purpose of each chamber, rather than a narrative arc of the castle's history. The castle is a bit hemmed in by the town and tram wires in some places. But you can get great shots from across the water if you cross Rekeklingestraat bridge. (Both from the bridge and from a viewpoint on Sint Widostraat, on the west side of the waterway.)

Splendid architecture - for a prison. You read it right. Our tour guide said this castle was a fortress and a dungeon mainly. Ghent is geographically strategic, so there were some military histories such as canons and fortresses. This one is famous for the armory room and "torture room". (Cough cough). No, I didn't pay €10 to see that.

IMO, downtown Ghent has two major attractions: the Van Eyck altarpiece at St. Bavos Cathedral and Gravensteen Castle, aka the Castle of the Counts.  It's about 2 blocks off the main square and easy to find by the typical castle turrets looming above the skyline.  Our day there  was a cold rainy Saturday.  Since it was in early November we thought it wouldn't be crowded, but we had not realized that France, Italy and Germany have school holidays during this week.  We hadn't made reservations and there was a substantial line.  BUT.... the line moved and we were able to get an entry time at 3:15 with only one half hour wait.  The castle closes at 5pm in the winter and the typical visitor spends 45 minutes to an hour in the castle so we just made it!  Whew.  The price (12 Euros each) comes with an audio guide.  Yay!  We wouldn't just be looking at empty stone walls.  The castle is really big with a wonderful history and a moat around it dating initially from about 1180.   It was the residence of the Counts of Flanders until 1353 and was subsequently re-purposed as a court, prison, mint, and even as a cotton factory. It was restored over 1893-1903. And putting those canals to good use, it also has a moat all around it.  But what made our visit really special was the audioguide.  No litany of dry dates, the speaker was funny and his stories really interesting.  It is geared to all ages and is perhaps the best audio guide of a castle I have heard in all my travels, and I've been around.  :-)  There was a clear path from room to room and tales and facts for each one.  A delight.  The castle is totally unfurnished except for some modern tapestries in some rooms to illustrate the stories.  The audio tour also includes the ramparts (with wonderful views over Ghent) and the yard (with a wooden catapult).  It was marvelously done.  And they were spot on.  We spent about an hour there.  And still chuckling over some of the clever stories, we started walking back to the train station to take the next train back to Bruges.

A must see for any tourist visiting Gent. Gravensteen Castle is a restored castle in the heart of Gent. I urge you to pay the few Euros to get in. Kids are free. Make sure you use the bathrooms before you embark on the 16-17 stop tour through the castle and property. Bring a snack as well if you tend to get hungry (there are picnic benches towards the end of the tour stops). Gravensteen has a magnificent view of Gent once you get to the top...a must see because you see all four sides of the city from the rooftop lookouts. Check out the torture rooms (with the torture equipment), the dungeon, the ancient bathrooms, crazy spiral stairwells...so much to do and not enough time to read and see everything if you're just in Gent for a couple of hours. Wear walking shoes and bring water. It's a nice hike up to the top. And don't get stuck in the medieval dungeon! Memories of GoT!!

Easily the highlight of our trip to Ghent! The Gravensteen is an old Medieval castle built for a local count and, later, a crusader with all the innovations of technology and pleasures of luxury at the time. Seriously, I loved to hear the audio tours explanation of the construction of the fireplaces and chimneys built for the castle! The audio tour is free of charge and takes you slowly through the history of the castle and its inhabitants, with a combination of witty story-telling and interesting facts. Despite being over 800 years old, the castle is in good shape (probably due to a lot of restoration) and immerses visitors in its history and architecture. We loved that we were able to tour almost the entirety of the interior and then to walk along the walls. Plus, it's in the heart of Ghent, so it's a short work to food and other attractions. Overall, my favorite place we visited in Ghent and a great way to immerse yourself in the history of the city!

This is the castle in Ghent, and it was so much fun to tour! First of all, castles are cool and this one is definitely at the top of the list of other castles I've visited. Second of all, this tour has the best audio guide I've ever listened to. The narrator of the audio guide was hilarious, and it was full of a combination of facts, stories, and jokes. The castle was set up so well for the tour and is suitable for all ages (there are lots of stairs though so be aware of that). There is a great view of the city from the top of the tower also! The tickets were affordable and I would 100% do it again!

It's a very cool castle to visit. The audio tour is free and is both informative and entertaining to listen to. They do bring up sex a couple times mostly using euphemisms and talk of a little of torture but not explicitly. Thus, for very young children it might not be appropriate.

Castle Gravensteen I came here not knowing what to expect. When I think of castle, I think Disneys' prince and princess, I also think castle and fortress with its relation to war. Enter Gravensteen " departures" This castle, self led tour focuses on death, forms incl man inflicted torture and as you leave the tour, you're introduced to portraits of real people born in our generation that have moved on ( departed) Each portrait tells a brief story including how the person felt before they died. It's real life and death but I wasn't expecting this to be the theme. There are exhibits of swords, iron armor, and weapons. Non in English btw but hey, we're not in America. Great views from the open spaces ( roof top) lotsa of photo ops. cons: not for anyone claustrophobic - Not handicap accessible - hard for those of us with big feet (10) b/c steps are narrow/ steep/ spiral and short. - come here BEFORE having a few biers - I would leave kids at home. Very dark theme, dark corners even in early day, may give them nightmares also, large spaces without railings/ guard where a child could fall. Interesting experience, this is a place to visit once, and call it a day. Friendly staff. Cost is 10€ !!!!!!read the brochure for information on each numbered spot.

Okay, this isn't the original castle - that was destroyed a long time ago - and they are still in the process of restoring it (you can see parts of it where it was damaged by fire and it doesn't seem that they have got around to repairing it just yet, despite the fact that the restoration began decades ago), but it is mostly intact and you do get to visit a pretty large chunk of the place. They have a pre-defined route through the castle which you technically don't have to follow, but it does take you right through the castle and makes sure that you see everything. There are also a couple of rooms in the castle which are basically a museum, including one dedicated to torture equipment (the castle became a courthouse and a prison at one stage). The view is pretty decent, but watch out for the binoculars - they don't work and gobble your money.

While not the original castle (it was restored after a fire in 1176), Gravensteen is fun to visit. It doesn't take long, but does cost a bit for what it is (10€ adult admission). Had it not been so cold and windy, I would have spent more time on the rooftop, which gives you small glimpses of the town via window slivers cut through the stone. The main draw is the torture museum, which features instruments of all sorts to make the criminals and the mentally unstable suffer (because in that era they did not distinguish between the two). The most impressive piece is by far the guillotine, reconstructed but for the blade. An alternative to those who can't stomach the torture chambers is the boat tour. You can see the castle's impressive architecture from its moat and the entry gates into the city.

An incredible piece of medieval history to explore, right in the heart of the city. It's so imposing and impressive, and not far from the other sights around town. Climb to the top to check out a panoramic view of the city. A definite must-see!

There may not be a more centrally located medieval castle than this - right in the center of Gent, a really excellent city. Price of admission comes with an ipod that shows a movie about the castle. But what happens is that there's this little story they tell - even with a silly *mise en abyme* - which takes place sequentially in each room in the castle. So as you are touring, you are watching this little film take place in the room you're standing in. Even without that, the castle is a really great visit. We did see a kid faint in the "torture room" so maybe a head's up on that one. Kids are free and adults are 10 EUR each.

Gravensteen, or Castle of the Counts, is part kitschy, part cool. Because it is so large and looming, it is a spectacular part of the skyline that can't be missed. Visiting it is another story. The focus of this attraction is kind of scattered all over the place. There are informative placards throughout, but with translations in four separate languages, there is maybe not as much information as could be included about everything. The self-guided tour is well-organized, with arrows clearing pointing where one should go, or not go. There are rooms with weapons and armory, and another room housing the museum of torture instruments. I guess what I didn't like was that it was such a mixture of things, since the castle/fortress served multiple purposes, depending on the time, and there was no clear timeline established as to when it was one thing or another. So while it was cool, I don't feel like I walked away with any more retained knowledge regarding the history of the place. That aside, it's good for families with children, The top of the fortress is also great, with plenty of good views out around the city.

Amazing castle architecture but of course, part of it was under construction. Its still worth the walk off the beaten path of Ghent. Its a beautiful building, picture worthy!

This tour requires a bit of climbing very narrow, winding stairs so it's not for kids, elderly, or disabled people. It is interesting to see and you get great views of the city. 10 euros for adult entrance. I really wanted to go, but it wasn't crazy impressive. There are many more fun things to do in Ghent, but this isn't terrible.

Guided audio tour at your own pace. Atmosphere is amazing, people are friendly, and during COVID - there were only 3 other people also touring. So much to do surrounding the castle in the city as well. A lot of great local food!

Incredible experience and value for your money. Make sure to get the audio guide it is very entertaining. It's a beautiful castle and very interesting history. We didn't take our time but was still there for two hours.

A must-visit attraction in Ghent. People aged 26 and under get a significant discount from the entry fee of 10 euros. The castle and the views from the tower is beautiful, and I learned a lot of about the history of the city.

This castle turns out to be bigger on the inside than you expect, and will keep you occupied for longer than you might at first think, making better value of the reasonable entrance fee. Largely you're free to wander about at your own leisure. Many of the rooms are empty or fairly minimally decorated, you don't find yourself confronted with many information boards but you still get a good feel for what it must have been like back in its day nevertheless. Some parts are well renovated, while other parts feel like ruins. At some points in the past it was used as a factory, so it has the scars of industrialisation as well as genuine castle stuff. There's an unhealthy preoccupation with instruments of torture and violence, which children of a certain age might appreciate and others may not enjoy at all- not for the squeamish, certainly. From the top rampants it's also a good spot to get some rooftop photos of Ghent while you're there.

If you're coming to Ghent as a day trip from Brussels, I'd recommend a visit to Gravensteen over the Belfry of Ghent. The Belfry costs 5€ for entry and gives you a view that's only slightly higher than what you get atop the castle. It makes more sense to pay for the castle entry and get the view as a bonus! The castle itself is interesting and well laid out. Information is presented frequently on placards in multiple languages, although the descriptions are very basic. Entry is 8€ for adults.

This castle makes an interesting stroll. Most of the rooms were vacant but the infrastructure was well preserved. There was a display on armor and weaponry that was intriguing. There were a couple of rooms that focused on medieval torture that effectively demonstrated the brutality of the age. The grounds were interesting to meander to get a better overall sense of the size and layout of the estate. There was a great city view from the tower that was worth taking in. There was also a temporary exhibit on death and dying that included a slide show of death pictures. These were interesting as they demonstrated a different approach to grieving and remembrance from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The thing I found the most interesting was a photo essay of life and death pictures of various people with terminal illnesses. The subjects provided end-of-life statements that made fascinating reading. Overall, this site was definitely worth the €10 admission and should be a consideration for any Ghent itinerary.

What a fun place to visit! The castle is really cool to walk through and the flow of the exhibits is well thought out. The reason I didn't give it 5 stars is simply because there is a huge focus on torture and weaponry of the era (which is fascinating!) but they neglect to give much information on the inhabitants and other history of the structure. The views from the top of the castle though are simply spectacular and worth every penny of the visit for.

This is the real deal. Dark and foreboding..this is how a medieval castle should feel. I've toured many castles in Europe and Gravensteen is easily one of my favorites. It's a well done self-guided tour, but you can go where you'd like and spend as much time as you need. I went on a slow day and really bonded with this place. It is restored but has some original infrastructure. The medieval toilets and stone work in the horse stables were highlights. And then the view of the city is spectacular. Be prepared for a lot of stairs, displays of torture. It is the best tour in Gent!

I do love a castle and this doesn't disappoint. The entry fee is reasonable, under ten euro. This is a self guided tour with informational placards throughout as well as a variety of printed material in various languages. You can view the dungeons, dining rooms, outdoor areas/porticals used for defense and safety. While not hugely extensive as other castles I've been to in other countries, this is still a beautiful site with great views.

The Gravensteen, or Castle of the Counts, is situated at the junction of two canals in the centre of Ghent. If you approach it on foot, watch out for the spooky giant spider web, which is illuminated at night. The castle has an interesting selection of exhibits, including instruments of torture, armour and weapons. There are some spectacular views of Ghent from the towers, and equally spectacular views of the castle from a number of the canal boat tours that run from the area by the Waterhuis. There are self-guided tours and walks around the ramparts.

Okay, So I did like visiting this castle. It was very interesting to see how it had been redone since it had been discovered a way back when although maybe a little cheeky the way parts were reconstructed to make it look more medieval for tourists....The thing was, it was quite clear they had basically rebuilt the castle and tried to make it look as though it had been this way since... always. Then they have photos of then and now to show how much they rebuilt (so I guess credit is due in that they're not hiding that fact!) There is a nice view out over Ghent from up on the roof area though it is a bit of a climb to get there. There are a few bits and bobs to read though not a lot of it is in English. Some of the exhibitions are good, but the weirdest part was their Christmas theme. They were advertising it everywhere as Winter Wonderland. It really wasn't. They'd added a Christmas tree and a christmas 'feast', they'd put a polar bear statue in the dungeon (um, weird), and a few other stuffed animals on a sloping area with white material that was pretending to be snow.... They also made sure it was clear the animals were dead when found and then stuffed for educational purposes. That was all a bit weird and the whole Christmas theme seemed a bit wrong, a bit forced but also very half-hearted. If you're under 26 years old it's only 6 euro to enter which is great! Good to have seen the castle but I won't be back.

Loved this castle. Yes, there are stairs to climb but it gives a great feel for how life was in the past. No wasted space, no luxurious lifestyle. The deep cellar where it looks like the moat comes in (I think labeled area 12) had original 11th century bricks/stones!!! That's amazing!!! We appreciated the descriptions in several languages including English. They understand people come from all over and make sure there are no language barriers.

Loved this well-preserved medieval castle and all the torture/execution instruments inside. Would have gladly paid just to tour the castle itself. Definitely don't miss it in Ghent. Also, if deciding between Ghent and Bruges, go to Ghent. It's bigger, more fun and there is more to see and do.

Fun little castle. Only took about 45 minutes and gives you a nice view of the city, especially if you don't want to climb the belfry (which is also eight Euro). Definitely not for the handicapped or anyone who can't handle a little workout. Charming square right at the base for a beer.

Great castle, in my opinion it is a must see in gent. There are discounts for people under 26. You must use the audio guide, which you can get at the info desk, as the written descriptions are only in flemish.

While in Ghent, Belgium, it's a good idea to spend a couple hours here too. This is a real castle with a real dungeon and you can just imagine how bad it was for those people down in there... and you can happily through a penny down there for good luck now. Anyway, like other Yelpers have added, you can walk around the entire castle wall without feeling guilty about potentially falling off.. .there are no safety signs that you would find in North America. Also you can tap into your inner Knight and siege movies. A cute little castle for exploring at 8 EUR can't go wrong. That torture room with the chair is just wrong - a must see.

More imposing from the outside than it is on the inside, I would recommend taking pictures in front and not buying the entrance. The inside has space artifacts to show, mostly blank stone walls. There is a decent view from the top of the tower, it is one of the tallest buildings in town but the best view of all is from the outside looking in.