Dulle Griet (Mad Meg Supergun), Ghent
Dulle Griet, aka Mad Meg, is a demon of Flemish folklore. She leads an army of women to pillage hell. "Griet" was a name commonly given to an enraged shrewish woman. Much like the "Karen" appellation used today.
There is another Dulle Griet. It is a super gun of the middle ages, called a "bombard." Bombards were often used as siege guns. They had a very large caliber, large enough to hold a man.
The bombard was developed in the 15th century from 32 long bars wrapped in 61 iron rings. The Ghent bombard, Dulle Griet, was used in the siege of Oudenaarde in 1452. The Ghent attackers were forced to retreat but they left the monster gun behind. It was returned by the Oudenaarders in 1578.
The big gun dates from 1431. Jean Cambier, major arms dealer for Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, was probably the gunmaker. It could fire balls with a diameter of 64 cm, weighing perhaps 295 kg. The gun is massive. Originally it was about 12,500 kg. It has lost some mass through rusting. It is now 12,250 kg.
The Ghent bombard was originally called "Rode Duyvele", the Red Devil, because of its color. It is still red. It rests on bluestone brackets in Grootkanonplein ("Big Gun Square").
There is another Dulle Griet. It is a super gun of the middle ages, called a "bombard." Bombards were often used as siege guns. They had a very large caliber, large enough to hold a man.
The bombard was developed in the 15th century from 32 long bars wrapped in 61 iron rings. The Ghent bombard, Dulle Griet, was used in the siege of Oudenaarde in 1452. The Ghent attackers were forced to retreat but they left the monster gun behind. It was returned by the Oudenaarders in 1578.
The big gun dates from 1431. Jean Cambier, major arms dealer for Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, was probably the gunmaker. It could fire balls with a diameter of 64 cm, weighing perhaps 295 kg. The gun is massive. Originally it was about 12,500 kg. It has lost some mass through rusting. It is now 12,250 kg.
The Ghent bombard was originally called "Rode Duyvele", the Red Devil, because of its color. It is still red. It rests on bluestone brackets in Grootkanonplein ("Big Gun Square").
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Dulle Griet (Mad Meg Supergun) on Map
Sight Name: Dulle Griet (Mad Meg Supergun)
Sight Location: Ghent, Belgium (See walking tours in Ghent)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Ghent, Belgium (See walking tours in Ghent)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Ghent, Belgium
Create Your Own Walk in Ghent
Creating your own self-guided walk in Ghent is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Ghent Introduction Walking Tour
Some historians believe "Ghent" comes from the Celtic word, "ganda." "Ganda" meant a confluence, as with two rivers. There are traces of human settlements as far back as the stone age at the confluence of the rivers Scheldt and Leie in Belgium.
With the Frankish invasions at the end of the 4th century AD, the Celtic language was replaced by Old Dutch and this... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.7 Km or 1.1 Miles
With the Frankish invasions at the end of the 4th century AD, the Celtic language was replaced by Old Dutch and this... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.7 Km or 1.1 Miles
Ghent's Historical Buildings
The medieval city of Ghent is full of wonderful old buildings, some dating back as far as the 12th-13th centuries. Medieval buildings are indeed everywhere here, and if you're interested in the heritage fit to capture you imagination, you will find plenty of it in Ghent鈥檚 historic downtown.
And you won鈥檛 have to look far for the World Heritage worthy of its name either. The Castle of... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.8 Km or 1.7 Miles
And you won鈥檛 have to look far for the World Heritage worthy of its name either. The Castle of... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.8 Km or 1.7 Miles