Not far from the Old Market Square stands Bielefeld’s oldest town church, Altstädter Nicolaikirche, which became an independent parish church in 1236. The interior of this Gothic hall church (1340) features a priceless wooden altar carved at the Antwerp workshops of the St. Luke’s guild in 1524. The carvings depict more than 250 figures in scenes from biblical stories.
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.