Another important sight of Ghent, which attracts tourists with its frightening name and mystical past, lies on the banks of the River Scheldt, a kilometer from the Gravensteen and a stone's throw from the Saint Bavo's Cathedral. It is the Geeraard, the Devil Castle, (Geeraard de Duivelsteen), one of the oldest and most impressive buildings in the area.

The history of the castle began in the 13th century. It was built for the descendant of the Zeger dynasty, the knight Geeraard Vilain, who was nicknamed the Devil (the castle is named after him). The story of how the owner of the building became the character of local folklore, urban horror stories, and legends is unknown. According to the most popular version, Geeraard had five wives, and as divorce was prohibited at that time, he had to kill each previous spouse to have a new one. Locals believe that he also became the prototype of the main character of the French folktale "Bluebeard." There are indeed some similarities between them: both are wealthy representatives of noble families whose ex-wives disappeared mysteriously.

The Geeraard, the Devil Castle, is considered the oldest stone building in Ghent. It has been established that the limestone used in the construction was brought from the town of Tournai in the south-west of Belgium.

Despite its intimidating name and formidable appearance, the building looks more like a manor than a castle. It has many windows that overlook the streets of Ghent and let in a lot of sunlight. Such design would not make it possible to withstand even the weakest siege.

The initial appearance of the castle has changed a lot over time. Its austere medieval style has become softer and more elegant as it has undergone many reconstructions. Parts of the authentic interior are represented only by the first floor with a vaulted ceiling in the east and west wings of the castle, which was completely renovated in 1981.

After the death of the son of Geeraard the Devil, his possessions passed to the city. The castle housed a prison, a monastery, a psychiatric hospital, a school, a fire station, a knight's court, an armory, a shelter, and other institutions. Today, the premises of the castle are occupied by the Municipal Archives of Ghent.