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Message:: [QUOTE="Jersey magic man, post: 26406270, member: 87624"]Mt daughter just returned from Belgium and gave me this token commemorating Belgian Heritage. It is the castle Gravensteen in Gent. Here is what AI has to say about it. [ATTACH=full]1684892[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]1684893[/ATTACH] A Quick Dive into Gravensteen’s Story•     Origins: The site was first fortified in the 9th century by Count Baldwin I to fend off Viking invasions.•     Transformation: In 1180, Count Philip of Alsace rebuilt it into the stone castle we see today, inspired by crusader fortresses he encountered during the Second Crusade.•     Architecture: It features a towering donjon (central keep), surrounded by a curtain wall with 24 projecting towers, a moat fed by the River Lys, and two baileys (upper and lower courtyards).•     Roles Over Time:•     Residence of the Counts of Flanders until 1353•     Later served as a court, prison, mint, and even a cotton factory during the Industrial Revolution•     Restoration: In the late 19th century, architect Joseph de Waele led a romanticized restoration, giving it a Gothic flair that wasn’t entirely historically accurate.•     Modern Use: Today, it’s a museum and landmark, hosting exhibits on medieval justice, weaponry, and Ghent’s history.[/QUOTE]