Gent - Geerard Duivelsteen
 

Planning on spending a day in Gent. We will probably start the day at the Gravensteen castle and work our way through the town sites. At the opposite end of the tourist district there is another castle, the Geerard Duivelsteen. I don't find much about it in the guidebooks or online for that matter.

What do you know about it? Can it be toured, etc.? Other thoughts? Thanks!

The building houses the National State Archives. Only the reading room is open to the public.

Thank you Myriam. I have a couple younger kids that want to see as many castles as possible. This one will be viewed from the outside only.

The Gravensteen castle is right out of an Errol Flynn movie, battlemounts, dungeons, huge great rooms! You and you're kids will love it. Ghent itself is in the middle of an urban renewal project to make it look more like Brugge, lots of streets are ripped up and even some tram and bus lines are disrupted. We were there in Jan.

Thanks everyone. The central area is complete mess and a little dangerous, with construction equipment intermingling with pedestrians.

We really enjoyed the Gravensteen. Also, St. Bavo's (I think) with its soaring ceiling, art and chapels. St. Mark's (I think that was it) looked very interesting, but we couldn't figure out how to enter.

Is it worth visiting Ghent now? Are the works in the central Medieval area? Is it easy to walk between the main attractions? Can anyone suggest a good central hotel? Max budget is £100 per night

Any info would be very welcome

My experience is limited to the day trip referenced above.
I'm glad we went, because of the castle and church, but if you had could wait a bit it would be advisable. (Or go to Bruges instead of that isn't already on your itinerary).

The Gent main center was torn up, with heavy machiner literally within feet of pedestrians. It was dusty and just difficult to enjoy the main square(s). The walk along the river/canal was still nice, though.

The Museum of Fine Art in Ghent is also wonderful, a couple of Bosch's, a couple of Brueghel's, lots of early masters.

Here's hoping that the construction is completed by early October!