Geeraard de Duivelsteen (Castle of Gerald the Devil), Ghent
The Castle of Gerald the Devil (Geeraard de Duivelsteen) is a medieval fortress located in Ghent. Built in the 13th century, this Gothic-style edifice with Romanesque elements was originally constructed to defend the Portus aan de Reep, a trading settlement that marked the origins of the city of Ghent. The fortress's defensive features include thick walls, turrets, and a reduit for monitoring and protecting the area against attacks.
Despite its ominous name and appearance, no devil ever resided within its walls. The castle was named after Geeraard Vilain, a knight and the son of the 15th Viscount of Ghent, Zeger III. Vilain, known as "Geeraard the Devil" due to his dark hair and complexion, lived in the castle, which remained the residence of his descendants until the early 14th century when it transitioned to municipal ownership.
Over the centuries, the Castle of Gerald the Devil has served numerous roles. It has been a gathering place for noblemen, an arsenal, a monastery, a school, an episcopal seminary, and a prison. In 1807, it was repurposed as an orphanage for boys, and from 1815, it served as an asylum for the mentally ill. By 1830, the castle became a fire station. Towards the end of the 19th century, it was acquired by the Belgian government to house a national archive, with a new wing added for this purpose. The castle continued as an archive until 2015.
Currently, there are plans to transform the Castle of Gerald the Devil into a luxury block of flats and a youth center, marking yet another chapter in the long and varied history of this iconic medieval fortress.
Despite its ominous name and appearance, no devil ever resided within its walls. The castle was named after Geeraard Vilain, a knight and the son of the 15th Viscount of Ghent, Zeger III. Vilain, known as "Geeraard the Devil" due to his dark hair and complexion, lived in the castle, which remained the residence of his descendants until the early 14th century when it transitioned to municipal ownership.
Over the centuries, the Castle of Gerald the Devil has served numerous roles. It has been a gathering place for noblemen, an arsenal, a monastery, a school, an episcopal seminary, and a prison. In 1807, it was repurposed as an orphanage for boys, and from 1815, it served as an asylum for the mentally ill. By 1830, the castle became a fire station. Towards the end of the 19th century, it was acquired by the Belgian government to house a national archive, with a new wing added for this purpose. The castle continued as an archive until 2015.
Currently, there are plans to transform the Castle of Gerald the Devil into a luxury block of flats and a youth center, marking yet another chapter in the long and varied history of this iconic medieval fortress.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Ghent. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
Geeraard de Duivelsteen (Castle of Gerald the Devil) on Map
Sight Name: Geeraard de Duivelsteen (Castle of Gerald the Devil)
Sight Location: Ghent, Belgium (See walking tours in Ghent)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Ghent, Belgium (See walking tours in Ghent)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Ghent, Belgium
Create Your Own Walk in Ghent
Creating your own self-guided walk in Ghent is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Ghent Introduction Walking Tour
Some historians believe "Ghent" comes from the Celtic word, "ganda." "Ganda" meant a confluence, as with two rivers. There are traces of human settlements as far back as the stone age at the confluence of the rivers Scheldt and Leie in Belgium.
With the Frankish invasions at the end of the 4th century AD, the Celtic language was replaced by Old Dutch and this... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.7 Km or 1.1 Miles
With the Frankish invasions at the end of the 4th century AD, the Celtic language was replaced by Old Dutch and this... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.7 Km or 1.1 Miles
Ghent's Historical Buildings
The medieval city of Ghent is full of wonderful old buildings, some dating back as far as the 12th-13th centuries. Medieval buildings are indeed everywhere here, and if you're interested in the heritage fit to capture you imagination, you will find plenty of it in Ghent’s historic downtown.
And you won’t have to look far for the World Heritage worthy of its name either. The Castle of... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.8 Km or 1.7 Miles
And you won’t have to look far for the World Heritage worthy of its name either. The Castle of... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.8 Km or 1.7 Miles