根特 伯爵城堡

Ghent Gravensteen

伯爵城堡是根特最大的旅遊熱點，除了根特居民可以免費參觀，記者都可以，比利時的火車訂票系統更有免費記者票，看來比利時十分優待記者啊。

伯爵城堡是中世紀建築，做過城堡、議會、監獄、工廠，歷盡滄桑，十九世紀末根特市政府買回城堡，清空城堡周邊的違例建築，開始翻新工程，時至今日，後園的翻新工程仍在進行，如今伯爵城堡是個博物館，遊客可以入內參觀，甚至登頂遠眺。

城堡內的圓形彩窗最漂亮，陽光折射後變成彩色，好夢幻呀！

Gravensteen is the biggest tourist attraction in Ghent. Resident in Ghent can visit it for free as well as the REPORTERS! There even is a ‘free reporters ticket’ section in the Belgian train ticketing system. It’s seem that reporters are well-treated in Belgium.

Gravensteen is a Middle Age building. It had been a castle, courthouse, prison and factory. It had experienced vicissitudes. The Ghent government bought back the castle in the late 19th century and clear away all illegal buildings around the castle and start a renovation project. The renovation is still taking place in the back garden today. Gravensteen is now a museum and tourist can go in to visit and even climb to the top for a good view of city Ghent.

I love the little circular windows in the castle. Sun light became colorful beam after refraction, amazing!