Porvoo, Finland
14th century
Helsinki, Finland
13th century
Rauma, Finland
1500 - 500 B.C.
Inari, Finland
Suomussalmi, Finland
3000-100 B.C
Kristiinankaupunki, Finland
120,000-130,000 B.C.
Raahe, Finland
2700-2200 B.C.
Salo, Finland
ca. 900-1100 AD
Ristiina, Finland
3000 - 2500 BC
Kökar, Finland
1000 BC
Kuhmoinen, Finland
12th century
Turku, Finland
12th century
Kokemäki, Finland
1324
The Gravensteen is a castle in Ghent originating from the Middle Ages. The name means 'castle of the counts' in Dutch. Arnulf I (918–965), Count of Flanders, was the first to fortify this place, building a medieval bastion on this high sand dune, naturally protected by the river Leie and its marshy banks. This bastion consisted of a central wooden building and several surrounding buildings, also in wood.
In the early 11th century, the wooden building was replaced by a stone residence, consisting of three large halls that made up three storeys, connected by a stone stairwell. The monumental stone staircase, the light openings, the fireplaces built into the walls and the latrines were signs of considerable luxury and comfort in those days. There was probably also a tower.