Castle of the Counts hosts Winter Wonder Castle from 4 December

Castle of the Counts (Gravensteen) in Ghent becomes Winter Wonder Castle from 4 December 2026 until 3 January 2027. The winter programme places festive decoration, lighting and music inside one of Belgium’s best-known medieval fortresses.

Winter Wonder Castle starts on 4 December in Ghent

Visit Gent lists Winter Wonder Castle as an event at the Castle of the Counts. The public programme runs from 4 December 2026 to 3 January 2027, giving visitors a winter-themed version of the fortress during Ghent’s seasonal celebrations.

The event includes festive decoration and lighting throughout the castle. The programme also features recorded stories by Flemish comedian Wouter Deprez, a winter bar and views across the illuminated city centre from the top of the keep. Winter Wonder Castle programme names the date, venue and listed elements together.

Medieval towers frame Ghent’s winter programme

The fortress stands at Sint-Veerleplein in the historic centre of Ghent. Its gatehouse, ramparts, keep, count’s residence and stables are open to visitors, while the event adds seasonal decoration to those medieval spaces.

Visit Gent describes the Castle of the Counts as the only remaining medieval castle with a moat and a largely intact defensive system in Flanders. The complex includes 24 towers and presents a view of twelfth-century heraldic culture. Its history reaches back to an earlier settlement beside the River Lys. Castle history and visitor areas connect the keep, ramparts and stables with the site’s current visitor experience.

An inscription above the entrance states that Count Philip of Alsace built the castle in 1180. That date places the winter programme within a fortress whose surviving architecture was created to express the authority of the Counts of Flanders.

From industrial complex to restored city landmark

The castle later changed role. In 1807, it housed a cotton mill, while its outbuildings provided basic accommodation for workers’ families. After the factory and residents left, the complex fell into serious disrepair and faced possible demolition.

Restoration returned the fortress to public use and helped establish it as a major attraction in Ghent. The custodian, Historische Huizen Gent, describes the building as a medieval fortress in the city centre, with narrow tower stairs, large battlements and historic rooms. custodian’s description of the fortress confirms those physical features.

Visiting Castle of the Counts: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• Winter Wonder Castle runs at the Castle of the Counts from 4 December 2026 until 3 January 2027.
• The programme changes the setting with winter decoration, festive lighting, music, recorded stories by Wouter Deprez and a winter bar.
• The address is Sint-Veerleplein 11 in Ghent city centre, beside the historic River Lys.
• The visit includes narrow tower stairs, ramparts, the keep, the count’s residence and the stables.

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Frequently asked questions about Castle of the Counts

When does Winter Wonder Castle take place at Castle of the Counts?

Winter Wonder Castle takes place from 4 December 2026 until 3 January 2027.

What is Castle of the Counts?

It is a medieval fortress in Ghent with a moat, a largely intact defensive system, 24 towers and surviving residential and military spaces.

Where is Castle of the Counts and how do you get there?

The fortress is at Sint-Veerleplein 11 in Ghent city centre, beside the River Lys.