De Gekroonde Hoofden, Renaissance house near Gravensteen Castle in Ghent, Belgium.
De Gekroonde Hoofden is a Renaissance building made of brick and white stone located on Burgstraat in Ghent. The structure rises through three levels plus a gabled top, with large cross-shaped stone windows marking the first and second floors, while the ground floor opens through two doors and two windows.
The building was constructed around 1560 and originally carried the name House of the Dragon. In 1917, architect Amand Robert Janssens oversaw restoration work that brought the structure back into good condition.
The facade displays fourteen stone medallions with portraits of Counts of Flanders spanning from Baldwin of Constantinople to Philip II, each marked with their initials. These portraits turn the building into a visual record of regional rulers that still catches the eye of passersby today.
The building sits within walking distance of Sint-Veerleplein and other nearby sights, making it easy to reach on foot. The surrounding streets have uneven pavement typical of historic neighborhoods, so comfortable shoes are a good idea when exploring the area.
The original name House of the Dragon suggests symbolic decorations or heraldic imagery that have since disappeared from view. This forgotten past invites visitors to imagine how the facade may have looked quite different in its early years.
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