Castle of the Counts hosts Gravensteenfeesten on 18 November
Published on 10/21/2026 at 15:15 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWSEvent and medieval structure
- Moeder Egmont lists Gravensteenfeesten at the Castle of the Counts and Sint-Pietersplein on 18 November 2026.
- The University of Ghent listing describes Gravensteenfeesten as a feast running from 2pm to 11.59pm.
- Philip of Alsace commissioned the present stone castle in 1180, according to Historische Huizen Gent.
The Castle of the Counts (Gravensteen) in Ghent will host Gravensteenfeesten on 18 November 2026, with the event also taking place at Sint-Pietersplein. The listing identifies Moeder Egmont as the organising association and describes the programme as a feast.
Gravensteenfeesten brings a November event to Ghent
The University of Ghent’s student activities service lists Gravensteenfeesten for 18 November 2026. The recorded start time is 2pm, while the listed end time is 11.59pm.
The venue entry names both the Castle of the Counts and Sint-Pietersplein. That gives the event a direct link to one of Ghent’s best-known historic buildings, rather than placing it only in the wider city programme. The listing does not provide a fuller programme description.
University event listing records Moeder Egmont as the association behind the event. Its entry classifies Gravensteenfeesten as a feast and names the two locations for 18 November 2026.
A medieval fortress frames the November gathering
The Castle of the Counts is a medieval fortress in central Ghent. Its present stone form was commissioned by Philip of Alsace, Count of Flanders, and an inscription above the entrance gives 1180 as the building year.
The fortress stands behind a moat and includes a gatehouse, ramparts, a keep, the count’s residence and stables. Historische Huizen Gent records a central tower 30 metres high and a surrounding wall with 24 watchtowers. Those elements explain why an event at this site has a setting shaped by defensive architecture rather than by a modern event hall.
The building’s role has changed repeatedly. It served as an administrative centre and court, later included prison spaces, and was converted into an industrial complex after the court moved elsewhere. Restoration followed the decline of the nineteenth century, and the castle opened to the public from 1907.
The official history of the castle links the 1180 construction to Philip of Alsace and records the later restoration and public opening.
What the venue adds to the event
The November date places Gravensteenfeesten alongside the site’s long association with civic and student history. Visit Gent notes that an annual Castle of the Counts procession in November commemorates the Battle of the Castle of the Counts, a 1949 student protest.
That historical connection does not define the programme listed for 18 November 2026, which is described only as a feast. It does show why the castle remains more than a preserved façade: its rooms, towers and surrounding spaces carry several layers of Ghent’s social history.
Visit Gent’s visitor information places the castle at Sint-Veerleplein 11 and identifies it as the only remaining medieval castle with a moat and largely intact defence system in Flanders.
Visiting Castle of the Counts: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- Gravensteenfeesten takes place on 18 November 2026 at the Castle of the Counts and Sint-Pietersplein in Ghent.
- The University of Ghent listing gives the event a 2pm start and an 11.59pm end, but does not state a separate visitor access arrangement.
- The castle is at Sint-Veerleplein 11 in central Ghent, while Sint-Pietersplein is the event’s second listed location.
- Visitors should expect a medieval structure with a moat, ramparts, a keep and narrow tower stairs.
Searching for Castle of the Counts on social platforms
These links open searches for Castle of the Counts on each platform.
Frequently asked questions about Castle of the Counts
When does Gravensteenfeesten take place at the Castle of the Counts?
Gravensteenfeesten is listed for 18 November 2026 at the Castle of the Counts and Sint-Pietersplein in Ghent.
What is the Castle of the Counts?
It is a medieval moated fortress commissioned by Philip of Alsace in 1180 and opened to the public from 1907 after restoration.
Where is the Castle of the Counts and how do you get there?
The castle is at Sint-Veerleplein 11 in central Ghent. The event listing also names Sint-Pietersplein as a venue on 18 November 2026.
