Castle De Haar / De Haar- one of the oldest and at the same time the most modern castles in the kingdom in neo-gothic style. It is located near the city of Utrecht, near the village of Haarzuilens. The first mention of the De Haar castle dates back to the 14th century, but during its existence it was conquered, destroyed, rebuilt many times. In 1482, almost ruins remained of the castle.
At the end of the 19th century lock succeeded Baron Etienne van Zuylen van Nievelt van de Haar. In connection with his advantageous marriage to Baroness Helena Betty Louise Caroline de Rothschild(to a socialite, writer, from the family of famous bankers Rothschild) he had the opportunity to restore the family nest, turning to the famous architect P. Kneipers for help.
One of the legends says that the restoration of the castle was a wedding gift Helena to her husband. The restoration of the castle and its renovation lasted for several years - from 1892 to 1912. The village of Haarzuilens, which existed near the walls of the castle for hundreds of years, was decided to move a few hundred meters further.
Today, De Haar Castle looks like a real castle - towers, turrets, suspension bridges, moats around the perimeter. Architect P.Knipers He was engaged not only in the architecture of the castle, but also in the restoration of interiors in the spirit of the Middle Ages. The interior design exudes luxury and splendor of the baronial family: architect P. Knipers designed all kinds of furniture and decorations for the castle. Helena herself did not stand aside from the creation of interiors, actively furnishing the premises with furniture of different styles produced by English firm Maple & Co. In the castle There are also innovations: lift, hot/cold running water and central heating. The castle was used mainly as a place for receiving guests and summer residence.
The family today still enjoys all this luxury for only one month a year. Every September they come, stay at the castle and invite guests to join them in this luxurious atmosphere. The castle's 200 rooms display many works of art, a collection of masterpieces that Baron Etienne and Baroness Helene brought home from all over the world on their travels.
Part of the overall ensemble is luxury park. The baron did not want to wait for the trees to grow to the right size, so they were brought here as adults from all over the province (about 7 thousand trees), the age of the trees was at least 40 years old to give the impression of an old park. The park and gardens cover more than 135 acres of land: Rose Garden, Romanesque Garden, ponds and canals, many bridges, alleys and walking paths.
The park consists of 3 parts:
1. Baroque gardens in combination with other garden styles.
2. North Park (Nordepark), which is a combination of baroque and English landscape park. The Grand Canal is surrounded by winding lanes.
3. South Park (Zuidpark) - a real English landscape park. De Haar Castle Park is often referred to as Little Versailles.
As in any castle, there was a ghost - wandering in the castle the ghost of the knight Conrad, one of its former owners, drowned in the moat of his own castle.
Helene Betty Louise Caroline de Rothschild- the only child, the daughter of Salomon James de Rothschild, was disinherited because she married a Catholic. Etienne and Helena had two sons: Helin van Zuylen van Nyevelt (1888-1912) and Egmont van Zuylen van Nyevelt (1890-1960). Etienne was fond of motor racing, was one of the first champions and chairman of the Automobile Club de France. The Baron organized several car rallies, and his wife Helena became the first woman to get a driver's license and even participated under the pseudonym "Snail" in the Paris-Amsterdam-Paris rally in 1898. The Baron and his sons became addicted to motorism. Son Helin died in a car accident near Antwerp, at the age of 24. Parents were inconsolable, this tragic event is dedicated to the rose garden and the white marble column at the intersection of paths.
After the death of Baron Etienne (1934) the castle was inherited by the second son Egmont, who was a diplomat, traveled a lot, married in Egypt to Margaret Nametal. They were born three kids: Marie-Helene van Zuylen van Nyevelt (1927-1996), Baroness Sybil van Zuylen van Nyevelt (1929-1939) and Thierry van Zuylen van Nievelt van de Haar(Baron, 1932-2011), who was the keeper of the castle until January 2011, Baron Thierry invested heavily in the restoration and maintenance of the castle. In 2007, Thierry invested all the proceeds from the sale of the car collection to the National Museum in the restoration of the gardens and the park. He died at the age of 78 and was buried in the castle church, in the last days the whole village of Harzeyulens accompanied him.
Under Thierry visited the castle famous people: one of the greatest opera singers of the 20th century. Maria Callas; film actor, screenwriter, producer, performer of the role of James Bond Roger Moore; British actor, two-time Oscar winner Michael Caine; American actor, one of the most sought-after Hollywood stars of the 1940s-1960s Gregory Pack; French singer, film actress, fashion model and animal rights activist Brigitte Bardot; Dutch footballer Marco van Basten.
De Haar Castle was completely closed to tourists for a long time, and only after the Second World War, at first the park. Then the castle was opened to the public, and in 2000 it was completely transferred to a specially created fund. The family reserved the right to spend 1 month a year in the castle, therefore, in September it is closed to the public. There is a restaurant in the former stables at the castle.
Address:
Kasteel de Haar Utrecht
Kasteellaan 1
3455 RR Haarzuilens
Opening hours: daily 10.00-17.00
De Haar Castle can only be reached with a guide!
Photography inside the castle is FORBIDDEN!
Entry tickets: children under 3 years old free of charge, from 4 to 12 - 9 EUR, adults 12.50 EUR.
The ticket includes admission to the castle and the park.
Directions: by train from Amsterdam CS to Utrecht Centraal Station, then bus 127 towards Breukelen/Kockengen.
(departs once an hour, on Sundays every two hours).
Get off at Haarzuilens at the stop "Kasteel" or "Brink". Then about 15 minutes on foot.
Materials used
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H%C3%A9l%C3%A8ne_van_Zuylen
http://www.jewage.org/wiki/ru
http://www.kasteeldehaar.nl/english-summary/
In the heart of modern Holland, a magical corner of the Middle Ages is comfortably located, which rose from the ashes several times. One of the most luxurious architectural masterpieces in Europe is located just half an hour from Amsterdam, in the province of Utrecht. De Haar Castle, which survived wars and natural disasters, acquired its modern look only at the end of the 19th century.
Castle De Haar - Neo-Gothic masterpiece
The first mention of a fortress surrounded by a moat dates back to the 14th century, when its owners were representatives of the noble family De Haar, who increased the territory occupied by the defensive structure. Since the last owner had no children, the powerful citadel soon passes into the hands of the aristocratic family of Van Zeulen, whose heirs still own the most beautiful castle.
In the 15th century, the fortress was destroyed and burned during hostilities, and two centuries later the castle was damaged by a strong tornado that damaged buildings in the town of Utrecht, located in the province of the same name. Having changed many owners, De Haar Castle is gradually falling into disrepair and is just ruins. At the end of the 19th century, the owner of the ruins successfully marries a representative of the Rothschild dynasty, who invests a fortune in the restoration family nest lasting about 20 years. A delightful neo-Gothic masterpiece, which served as a summer residence, was equipped with modern technical innovations. So the dream of the heir to the ruined family of recreating the former greatness came true.
Giving a second life
All that can be seen now is the work of the famous architect P. Kuipers, who restored many historical monuments in Holland. He gave a second life to the old building, which has become the most luxurious in the country. Despite the fact that De Haar Castle (Netherlands) looks like a medieval landmark on the outside, inside it is a well-equipped house suitable for habitation. The architect, using multi-colored bricks, smoothed out the difference between the new walls and the old ones, carefully restored the hanging bridges, numerous towers and even unique sculptures, and soon a real work of architectural art in the neo-Gothic style appears.
Luxury interior decoration
It is striking not only the external appearance of the most beautiful building, but also the splendor of the interior decoration in the spirit of the Middle Ages. Kuipers, who restored the beautiful castle of De Haar, was also engaged in the restoration of interiors. He decorated all the halls in the estate, but the hostess did not trust him to decorate the bedrooms, considering that the gloomy style was unacceptable here, and ordered headsets from an English company.
In the mansion, everything was thought out to the smallest detail, from the luxury of the bedrooms and halls to the design of furniture and dishes that were created exclusively for the castle. Even The Royal Family lived much more modestly than the owners of the estate. It is striking that the architect, who kept pace with progress, thought out a system of electricity and steam heating, as well as in a building with a long history, elevators still work.
Garden and park area
An integral part of the architectural ensemble is a colorful garden and a wonderful park around the castle. In order to create a charming land occupying more than 135 acres of land, the village owned by the family had to be sacrificed: it was moved a few hundred meters further, and new houses were built for the inhabitants, where they moved in at the end of the 19th century. Mature shrubs and trees from different regions of the country were brought into the territory. Work in the "little Versailles", designed in the classic English style, was carried out both day and night.
Hanging bridges are built over figured ponds in an amazing flower garden, winding paths for walking are laid. AT war time the park and rose garden were abandoned, vegetables were grown in the garden, and rare species of trees were used as firewood for heating. And only in the 50s of the last century, the green oasis was restored in its original form and decorated with romantic gazebos.
The park zone of the castle consists of three parts:
- picturesque baroque gardens;
- nordepark (northern park);
- Zuidpark (South Park).
annual festival
Every year, the country estate hosts Europe's largest fantasy show, Elf Fantasy Fair, which gathers more than 25,000 people. The ancient castle of De Haar, where the atmosphere of antiquity is felt, comes to life: swords clash, people stroll along the well-groomed paths lovely ladies with courageous knights, brisk merchants offer their products, colorful and cheerful performances are arranged in booths.
Estate open to the public for 11 months
For a long time, the monument, which is under the care of a special fund, was not accessible to tourists. And only after the Second World War, the owners of the magical corner of the Middle Ages opened a park that struck with splendor for guests, and 17 years ago, De Haar Castle, whose photos delight all connoisseurs of beauty, received the first visitors. The owners set a strict condition, which has been strictly observed for many years now: in September, the owners leave the villa in France and arrange receptions in a luxurious atmosphere, inviting aristocrats to join the celebration. At that time architectural complex closed for public visits.
Once upon a time, famous people visited the mansion: singer, actors Roger Moore, Brigitte Bardot.
How to get to De Haar?
You can get to the main attraction of the country from Amsterdam by train. The desired station is called Utrecht Centraal Station. Next, you need to transfer to bus number 127, which leaves once an hour, and get off at the Kasteel (Brink) stop, from which it takes 15 minutes to walk to the castle.
Tourists who have purchased tickets for the tour will reach the estate by transfer bus.
The De Haar family castle, which can only be reached with a guide, is open every day and awaits guests from 11.00 to 17.00, and the park is open until 18.00. Tickets for adults are 14 euros, while children under four years old are admitted free. Tourists should be aware that photography inside the castle is strictly prohibited.
As promised, I continue to talk about the castles of the Netherlands. After we couldn't get inside the Zuylen castle, we went to the next castle, located nearby and even closer to Utrecht. This is de Haar Castle - the largest, most famous in the country and the most visited by tourists.
Magnificent, as always in the Netherlands, the road led us directly to a huge parking lot. Entry to it is free, but exit is only with special tokens worth 5 euros, which are bought at the box office along with tickets to the castle.
For cyclists, who are always a priority in this country, parking is free and is located right under the castle walls. Further, beyond the gates of the castle territory, the entrance is only on foot.
Tickets are of two types. A visit to the castle and a wonderful very large and multifaceted park around it costs 16 euros, as a bonus they give out a map of the park, folded in the form of a small bright book. If you are not going to go inside the castle, then a ticket to visit the park costs 5 euros.
Between the parking lot and the castle, as expected, a moat with water and a wall. We enter through beautiful antique gates with turrets and weather vanes.
From the side of the courtyard, the gate looks different, but also very pretty.
Behind the gate is a courtyard, completely devoted to the needs of tourists.
Around a nice, perfectly trimmed green meadow, there are low buildings made in the same style with red and white shutters, which house the services necessary for tourists: toilets, a cafe, a souvenir shop, ticket offices.
The line for tickets was decent, but it goes very quickly and in an organized manner, so in a few minutes we were already on the territory of the castle de Haar.
A beautiful path leads to the castle itself, surrounded by marble statues.
The territory of the park is very large, so there are no crowds of people. Everyone is busy with their own business and no one bothers anyone to take pictures, walk or just lie on the grass.
The castle, surrounded on all sides by a moat, is huge and looks very beautiful and solid.
Let's slowly go around it from all sides, admire the architectural delights, but for now I'll tell you a little about its history.
The first mention of the castle in these places dates back to the end of the 14th century. Then there was just a tower surrounded by a moat with water. It belonged to the feudal lord Hendrik van Vianen. The next owner of the castle was the de Haar family, whose name the castle received.
Under him, the tower was gradually overgrown with new buildings. But the trouble is, the owners of the castle did not have a son, which means that the de Haar family ended. The daughter of the de Haars in the middle of the 15th century married Dirk van Zuylen van Harmelen, respectively, from then until 2011, the de Haar castle and the lands around it began to belong to the Van Zuylen family.
The grandiose prosperous castle did not spare time. Wars, uprisings, natural elements destroyed such beauty. Moreover, the Van Zuylen clan was impoverished and was unable to restore what had been destroyed and to late XIX centuries, instead of the castle, only sad ruins remained in the bosom of beautiful nature.
The splendor that today attracts thousands of tourists to the castle is due to Baroness Helene de Rothschild. A representative of the Van Zuylen family married the heiress of the Rothschild billions, which allowed him not only to restore the castle, but also to equip it with last word technology for living with unprecedented comfort at that time.
Let's go inside and see what the Rothschild money was invested in.
The majestic front staircase is decorated with sculptures of griffins holding the coats of arms of the owners of the castle.
Having passed the door with an iron lifting grate, you find yourself in a huge luxurious hall with high ceilings and involuntarily freeze from the opened picture. The space is adorned with huge Gothic windows framed by white moldings, statues, stone carvings, stained glass windows. Feeling like you are in a temple.
In this room, you can see the interior items of the 19th century, which have been preserved since the second birth of the castle.
The carved oak ceiling of the central hall also evokes admiration.
And this is what the doors leading to the interior look like.
Stairs and balconies do not lag behind them in splendor.
This is what the dining room looks like. The dining table stands next to a magnificent fireplace, decorated with embossing depicting scenes from life. There are many tourists in the castle, but due to the fact that the premises are quite spacious and there are no group tours, no one interferes with anyone, you can safely come closer to the detail of interest and examine it. Each hall has laminated cardboard sheets with a description of this hall. True, there is no Russian language, but there is English.
This is how the table is set. I was fascinated by the rose shaped napkin. Simple but very cute.
From the dining room we pass into the library, decorated with oak panels.
There is also an interesting fireplace, decorated with coats of arms and embossing.
The next room, which looks very solid, is called the Ridderzaal (large hall). Its center is decorated with knightly armor.
But the next room surprised me a little. This is the ballroom. Beautiful ceiling, priceless tapestries on the walls, but small for a ballroom, long and narrow. The castle has much more spacious rooms suitable for balls.
Adjacent to the ballroom is the Kapsalon (beauty room) where the ladies could get their hair and beauty done.
And now, through a beautiful gallery, decorated with sculptures and stained-glass windows, we will go to the chambers of the owners and the guest rooms.
There were many bedrooms in the castle and each was furnished in a different style, but always with great luxury and comfort. Choose which one you like best.
Each bedroom has an adjoining toilet room.
Do you want breakfast in bed?
And this monumental bed with a wood-carved back is clearly intended for a man.
Now let's go down to the lowest floor, where the huge kitchen room is located. What only kitchen utensils are not here.
Restoring the ruined castle and furnishing it with such chic, the owners did not expect to live in it permanently. Traditionally, for many years they spent September there, arranging magnificent balls and inviting numerous guests. For most of the year, the castle stood empty.
In 2011, the castle with the richest collection of art objects, as well as magnificent parks, became the property of the Netherlands Association for the Protection of Monuments. Only the outbuilding remained in the ownership of the Van Zuylen family. But what an outhouse! Here he is in the photo below.
Tourists are not allowed to enter it, it is a private territory. The Zuilen family traditionally spends the month of September in this wing.
And now let's go out through another gate and admire the castle park.
Between the entrance to the castle grounds and the castle itself there is a French-style garden with smooth geometric shape paths and flower beds, neatly trimmed bushes and numerous sculptures.
Behind the castle begins a very large garden in the English style, which I personally much prefer. There are shady winding paths with ancient trees along them.
Numerous ponds and streams
scenic bridges,
Suddenly appearing sculptures
Cozy benches overlooking the castle or pond.
If you take a leisurely walk in the park, you can spend the whole day here. We saw several cafes on the territory, there is a paddock with deer, many cozy nooks where it is so nice to relax.
The territory of the park is so large that people are almost invisible here. The majority of tourists gather in the clearings around the castle and arrange photo shoots there.
We liked Castle de Haar very much. And although it does not feel the breath of antiquity and you clearly understand that it is essentially not very old, but, nevertheless, it was very interesting to see how billionaires arrange their life.
Castle De Haar is a beautiful castle from a fairy tale. This beautiful medieval creation is located in the town of Utrecht (Netherlands).
This is a real castle, where there are all the signs inherent in it - suspension bridges, all kinds of towers and spiers, defensive ditches, impregnable powerful walls and ghosts. It really is a masterpiece of medieval architecture, and in all of Old Europe you will not find a more luxurious and picturesque castle. The castle is surrounded by a small lake surrounded by beautiful parks and gardens. Its history dates back to the 14th century, when a certain Van Zeulen Van Nefelt de Haara was the owner of the then stone fortress. Hence the name of the castle. 
But here are some more historical facts.
The castle belonged to the de Haar family for a short time, just over 50 years, since the last heir was childless. But in the 15th century, one of the representatives of this kind, Josina, became the wife of Dirk van Zeulen. And from that time on, the castle began to belong to the Zeilen family, who are still its owners. History decreed in its own way, and the fate of the castle was in her hands. The castle was destroyed more than once: first it was in 1482, when a quarrel arose between the bishop and the city of Utrecht, then in 1672, during the French occupation. Of course, it was restored and rebuilt, but for two centuries it was in complete oblivion and desolation after the last destruction. 
And finally, he lived to his prime. This happened in 1892, when Baron Etienne van Zuylen van Neuevelt van de Haar married Helene Rothschild, a wealthy daughter of the famous Rothschild banker dynasty, i.e. the funds of the wealthy heiress were a kind of wedding gift and served to restore the baron's family nest. The dream of the heir of the once ruined family of recreating the former greatness came true.
And these incredible funds were invested in the restoration of the castle, which was carried out by the famous architect Peter Kuipers. Therefore, I would especially like to note that today's image of the castle is the result of that grandiose work, because it was raised almost from ruins. 
Not only the external beauty of the building is striking, but also the interior decoration, which was given special importance. And this can be considered the height of aesthetics and grace. Here everything was calculated to the smallest detail, starting with the splendor of the halls, bedrooms, rooms for servants and ending with furniture, clothes, dishes that were created specifically for the de Haar castle. And even the ceiling in the Knight's Hall keeps the history of a noble family. And in the hairdressing salon, all things and paraphernalia are located, just like a century ago. 
Kuypers thought out a system of electricity, steam heating and even elevators, but outwardly it is a medieval monument!
And a lot of attention was paid to the surroundings of the castle. A magnificent park was laid out here, numerous trees of which were transported from different parts of the country, luxurious Rose and Roman gardens, beautiful ponds with swans, canals, bridges, alleys and all kinds of walking paths and paths.
Today, De Haar Castle is open to tourists from all over the world, where many of the most interesting things of the family family, a collection of Flemish paintings and family coats of arms are presented. Although it was closed to the public for a long time, only after the Second World War was the park opened, and in 2000 the building itself. But since the castle is still owned by the Zeulen family, according to tradition, once a year, in September, they spend in the castle, so at this time it is closed to visitors. 
And every year, the surroundings of the castle become witnesses of knightly tournaments, and an interesting medieval life comes to life.
The castle is open for visiting: daily from 10.00 to 17.00
Excursions are conducted only with a guide!
Photography inside the castle is prohibited.
You can get to the castle by train from Amsterdam to Utrecht Centraal Station, then by bus 127 in the direction of Breukelen/Kockengen. (departs once an hour, on Sundays every two hours).
Get off at Haarzuilens at the stop "Kasteel" or "Brink". Then walk about 15 minutes. 
http://www.zamkimira.rf/
De Haar Castle is akin to a Phoenix bird
Castle De Haar is akin to a Phoenix bird. He is just as beautiful and has risen from the ashes a huge number of times. Today, you will not find a more luxurious and picturesque castle not only in Utrecht, where it is located, but throughout Holland. 
All that can be seen in the castle today is the creation of the famous architect Peter Kuipers, who restored the lion's share of architectural monuments in Holland. In 1892, the Rothschild family invested a fabulous sum in the reconstruction of the castle, and the ruins turned into an example of the neo-Gothic style. The history of the castle is dramatic. In 1391, the stone fortress became the patrimony of the De Haar family. But the castle belonged to this noble family for a short time. 
After 50 years, the heir to the title died childless, and the castle became owned by the Zoulen family, who came from the same family branch. In 1482, only ruins remained on the site of the fortified stronghold. De Haar Castle was taken by storm and burned. Only minor defensive structures remained. At the beginning of the 16th century, it was rebuilt, but the unlucky star again played its role. In 1641, Johan van Zoulen van der Haar died, and the castle began to slowly die. 
A miracle happened in 1890 when Baron Etienne van Zaulen van Nievelt van de Haar inherited it. , and he was married to Baroness Helen de Rothschild. The rich heiress decided to give her husband a truly royal gift. She decided to restore his family nest. Kuypers, it took 20 years for De Haar Castle to appear in its dizzying splendor. The castle has 200 living quarters, 30 bathrooms. Only a small number on the ground floor are open for viewing.
As for the depths of history, the 14th century is just the time in which the first mention of this castle appeared. All major work was commissioned by its owner at the end of the aforementioned 19th century. Then its owner was the baron Etienne van Zaulen van Nievelt van de Haar, who turned to the then-famous Dutch architect Kuypers with a request to restore the family nest. In the end, the castle acquired a look as amazing and ornate as the name of its owner.
The castle retains the appearance of a medieval monument, but in fact it is a mansion, equipped with modern developments. Kuipers conducted electricity, steam heating. The castle has its own generator, designed by the architect, which both illuminates and heats the gigantic room. The castle has elevators. The architect made all industrial innovations invisible. For example, huge six-meter stoves, which are heated with peat and coal, have been preserved in the kitchen. 
Crockery is all old copper. The tiles on the walls are decorated with the coats of arms of the ancient family of De Haar and van Zoulen. Kuipers, using multi-colored bricks, smoothed out the border between the old and new walls, especially so that the remake would not be conspicuous. The interior of the castle is richly decorated with carvings in the Roman Catholic style. Kuipers even designed the ware for the castle himself. The Rothschilds moved many of their collections to De Haar, including antique porcelain from Japan and China, tapestries from Flemish and religious paintings. 
An interesting detail is that Peter Kuipers captured his image in one of the statues on the ground floor of the castle. There is also such a thing as "De Harr gardens" they are compared with Versailles. Almost 7,000 trees, over a hundred years old, were brought here from all over the country. In order to break up this park, they even demolished and moved the village of Haarzoulens for one and a half kilometers. The park was decorated with romantic pavilions, and the village was built in a pseudo-medieval style.
Every year, a fairy-tale illustration comes to life in the vicinity of the castle. Swords clash on the lists, spears break, sophisticated ladies listen to medieval poets, brisk merchants strive to sell their goods at a motley fair, vaudeville is played in booths. De Haar Castle hosts the largest open-air fantasy show in Europe - Elf Fantasy Fair.
Like any ancient castle, De Haar Castle has its own ghost - it is the ghost of the knight Konrad, who was the owner of the castle in the Middle Ages, but as the legend says, he drowned in the moat of his own castle. And since then, he tirelessly wanders the chambers of the castle, instilling fear and horror in its inhabitants.
Everything that is inside the castle is in absolute harmony - the main halls, guest rooms and everything else has its own specific meaning. So the history of the Van de Haar family can be "read" on the ceiling of the Knights' Hall, and the attributes of the hairdressing salon have been located only in their places for more than a hundred years.
An integral part of the general ensemble of the castle is its luxurious park, it is also called Little Versailles. At one time, work on the arrangement of the park was carried out day and night. To create the feeling of a century-old park, trees were brought here from different parts of the province, whose age was at least forty years. Even the small village of Haräjulens, which had been near the castle walls for several hundred years, was moved from behind the park, a few hundred meters from the castle walls.
If you are planning your trip to Amsterdam for a few days, we advise you to look into the old Utrecht, which is only 42 kilometers away. Here you will find a real miracle - the largest and most beautiful castle in the Netherlands and undoubtedly one of the most beautiful in Europe - De Haar Castle.
A bit of history about the castle De Haar.
The castle was first mentioned in the 14th century as a tower surrounded by moats and water, which belonged to the feudal lord Henrik Van Vianen. Gradually, the territories around the castle expanded, and now this is not just a building, but a whole castle, and the owners have changed. For the past fifty years it has belonged to the powerful and prosperous De Haar family.
However, the last of the family had no heirs, so as soon as Josina van de Haar married Dirk Van Zeulen in 1449, the ownership of the castle passed into the hands of the Van Zeulen family, which has been the owner of the castle to this day.
During the long history of the castle, it was attacked many times, attacked, there were many attempts to siege. De Haar suffered greatly in 1482 during a military conflict called the "War of Hooks and Cod". The castle was also unlucky in 1674, when the building collapsed during a severe tornado, which also damaged the main cathedral in Utrecht.
In addition, the castle was destroyed by time…. It was constantly passed from hand to hand to different branches of the Van Zeulen family, until it simply fell into disrepair in the 19th century. At that time, the once majestic building was only ruins.
Castle De Haar and the Rothschilds. Reconstruction.
In 1890, an event took place in the life of the castle, which turned the sad pages of its history and marked a new round in its development. Baron Etienne Van Zeulen, who inherited the ruins from his father Gustav, married a representative of the wealthiest Rothschild dynasty, Baroness Helene de Rothschild. Thanks to this, he had a huge fortune in his hands, which allowed him to begin the reconstruction of the castle. The architect Peter Kuipers was invited, who was instructed to return the castle not only to its former grandeur, but also to equip it with the latest technology of that time.
As a result of restoration work that lasted 20 years, De Haar acquired a majestic appearance, acquired a magnificent park complex, electricity was provided, and the kitchen and utility rooms were equipped according to the latest technology of the 19th century. It was important that guests could visit the castle until September. By the way, the heirs of the Van Zeulen family still have this tradition.
Lock De Haar at present.
Currently, the park complex and the castle itself belong to the Association for the Protection of Natural Monuments in the Netherlands. The Van Zeulen family owns only a chalet on its territory. In 2012, after the death of Thierry Van Zeulen, the last male owner of the castle, his daughters felt that it would be right if all the furniture and utensils of the castle, as well as art objects, estimated at about 10 million euros, were stored in one place. - Castle de Haar. Therefore, a foundation was created, and on November 7, 2012, all utensils and art objects were transferred to its ownership.
The park complex of the castle.
Now De Haar Castle attracts tourists with its majestic beauty and magnificent interior decoration. Luxury in everything is striking at first sight.
Around the castle there is a beautiful park complex, which was created in accordance with the English landscape trends of that time. Then more than 7,000 plants were planted, ponds, all kinds of decorative ponds were dug, romantic paths were laid, which have survived to this day. Due to its splendor, the Castle Complex is often compared to Versailles.
The castle is popular with young couples who have just married. Everyone wants to take some romantic photos with him in the background. In addition, numerous historical reconstructions are arranged on its territory, for example, knightly tournaments in the medieval style, when noble knights not only take part in staged battles, but also read love poems to beautiful ladies.
Opening hours of De Haar Castle
Currently, the castle is open daily for visits from 10.00 - 17.00
The cost of a ticket to the castle itself and the park complex is 12.5 euros, a ticket to the park without the possibility of visiting the castle will cost 3.5 euros.
Tours of the castle are only possible with a licensed guide.
How to get to De Haar Castle.
Castle De Haar is located in the city of Utrecht. To get to the castle from Amsterdam, you need to take a train to Utrecht, and then transfer to bus 127, which departs every hour towards Kockengen. To get to the castle itself, you need to get off at the Kasteel (or Brink) stop and walk for about 15 minutes.
And the easiest and most pleasant thing is to go with us to, during which, accompanied by the best guide in the Netherlands, we will go to Utrecht, where we will definitely get to know the history of De Haar Castle, and also take many beautiful photos against its background.
