The Castle of the Counts (Gravensteen) in Belgium's Ghent, from its earliest predecessor to the castle we see today, is more than a thousand years old. Throughout the centuries, the fortress has taken on countless different forms and functions. From defensive stronghold to comital residence. From courthouse to prison and house of torture. From industrial complex to tourist attraction.

This guide tells the entire story, including numerous illustrations, some of which have never been published before. Readers and visitors are also given practical information about what there is to see in the surroundings of the Gravensteen and a guided walk through the fortress itself, highlighting all the details that can still be admired today.