The Château de Guirbaden (or Girbaden) is a ruined castle in the commune of Mollkirch, Alsace. It is situated in the Guirbaden forest, near the village of Mollkirch on the left bank of the Magel River. The castle covers a larger area than any other in Alsace. Dating from the 11th century, over more than 500 years it suffered several attacks, destructions and reconstructions.
Out of the enclosure and the buildings, today only the main dwelling, the keep, sections of the surrounding wall and Saint Valentine’s Chapel remain. It offers a magnificent view of the Plain of Alsace and Bruche Valley.
References: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.