What films were filmed at Castle de Haar? Review: Castle de Haar (Netherlands, Utrecht) - The largest and most luxurious castle in the Netherlands

If you are planning your trip to Amsterdam for several days, we recommend taking a look at ancient Utrecht, which is only 42 kilometers away. Here a real miracle awaits you - the largest and most beautiful castle in the Netherlands and undoubtedly one of the most beautiful in Europe - Castle De Haar.

A little history about De Haar Castle.

The castle was first mentioned in the 14th century as a tower, which was surrounded by moats and water, which belonged to the feudal lord Henrik Van Vianen. Gradually, the areas around the castle expanded, and now this is not just a building, but a whole castle, and the owners have changed. For fifty years now it has belonged to the powerful and wealthy De Haar family.
However, the last of the family had no heirs, so as soon as Josina van de Haar married Dirk Van Zuylen in 1449, ownership of the castle passed into the hands of the Van Zuylen family, which has been the copyright holder of the castle to this day.

Behind long history castle, it was attacked many times, attacked, there were many attempts at siege. De Haar suffered greatly in 1482 during a military conflict called the "War of the Hooks and Cods". The castle was also unlucky in 1674, when the building collapsed during a strong tornado, which also damaged the main cathedral in Utrecht.
In addition, time destroyed the castle... It was constantly passed from hand to hand to different branches of the Van Zuylen family until it simply fell into disrepair in the 19th century. At this time, the once majestic structure was only ruins.

Castle De Haar and the Rothschilds. Reconstruction.

In 1890, an event occurred in the life of the castle that turned the sad pages of its history and marked a new stage in its development. Baron Etienne Van Zuylen, who inherited the ruins from Gustav's father, married a representative of the richest Rothschild dynasty, Baroness Helene de Rothschild. Thanks to this, a huge fortune was in his hands, which made it possible to begin the reconstruction of the castle. The architect Peter Kuipers was invited, who was tasked with returning the castle not only to its former greatness, but also to equip it according to last word 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 installed, and the kitchen and utility rooms were equipped with 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 Zuylen family still have this tradition.

Lock De Haar currently.

Currently, the park complex and the castle itself belong to the Association for the Protection of Natural Monuments in the Netherlands. Only the chalet on its territory remains in the ownership of the Van Zuylen family. In 2012, after the death of Thierry Van Zuylen, the last male owner of the castle, his daughters decided that it would be right if all the furniture and utensils of the castle, as well as art objects, the value of which is estimated at approximately 10 million euros, were preserved in one place - at Castle de Haar. Therefore, a foundation was created, and on November 7, 2012, all utensils and art objects were transferred to its ownership.

Castle park complex.

Now De Haar Castle attracts tourists with its majestic beauty and magnificent interior decoration. Luxury in everything amazes 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 and all kinds of decorative reservoirs were dug, romantic paths were laid, which have been preserved to this day. Due to its splendor, the Castle complex is often compared to Versailles.

The castle is popular among young couples who have just gotten married. Everyone wants to take some romantic photos in front of it. In addition, numerous historical reconstructions are held on its territory, for example, knightly tournaments in the medieval style, when noble knights not only take part in staged battles, but also read poems about love to beautiful ladies.

De Haar Castle opening hours

Currently, the castle is open to the public every day 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 opportunity to visit the castle will cost 3.5 euros.
Tours of the castle are only possible with a licensed guide.

How to get to Castle De Haar.

Castle De Haar is located in the city of Utrecht. To get to the castle from Amsterdam, you need to take the 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.

At the end of the 19th century, large-scale reconstruction work was carried out on the building, as a result of which the castle acquired neo-Gothic features. The chapel and the park, located nearby, form a single architectural ensemble.

Some facts from the history of Castle De Haar

We find mentions of the castle already in documents dating back to the end of the 14th century. Initially, only one tower was built, surrounded by fortifications and a moat with water. Near this territory, which at that time belonged to the Van Vianen family, there was a tributary of the Rhine River. Gradually, other buildings appeared around the tower, designed to protect people from enemy attacks or designated as residential and utility premises. The next owners, after whom the castle was named, were the De Haar family. After 50 years, the lands came into the possession of the Van Zuylen family, whose representatives are considered the rightful owners to this day.

A large-scale reconstruction was carried out in the 19th century, after for a long time no one lived.

Like any other historical landmark in Europe, the fortress was repeatedly restored due to destruction. It is not difficult to imagine how badly the building was damaged due to a tornado that occurred in the 70s of the 17th century. Power struggles, uprisings and civil wars also became reasons for restoration work.

Restoration that lasted two decades

The legal heir, Etienne Van Zuylen, after a successful marriage to Countess Rothschild, received a huge fortune, thanks to which he was able to rebuild the family castle. For this purpose, he invited the famous architect Peter Kuipers, who coped well with the tasks assigned. The master, along with his son Joseph, carried out the project for 20 years. By the way, in one of the statues, currently located on the first floor, he was able to convey to his descendants his own appearance. Although the couple did not intend to make the fortress their family nest, the scale of the restoration work is impressive. The premises were equipped with all the innovations available at that time in European countries. A steam heating system was designed and installed, and a generator was used to supply the castle with electricity.

The kitchen deserves special attention, the walls of which are decorated with tiles with a pattern of the family coat of arms, made to order. Also, the owners did not skimp on kitchen utensils - judging by the rich collection of dishes, one can imagine how grandiose the festive meals were. A huge stove could quickly prepare gourmet dishes for the reception that the owners held every September. By the way, this tradition continued for quite a long time. The descendants of a noble family, their guests and staff lived within the walls of the fortress in early autumn.

This custom ceased only about 16 years ago due to the fact that all buildings and the surrounding area, together with the nearby village, came under the management of the Association for the Protection of Natural Monuments. Furniture, paintings, tapestries and other antiques (their total value, according to independent experts, is about $10 million) remained at the disposal of the family of the last owner. After his death, with the support of many world-famous organizations, a foundation was created in order to preserve the rich collection in one place - Castle de Haar. Now the Van Zuylen daughters only own the chalet located within the castle complex.

The interior, designed in neo-Gothic style, impresses with its luxury. Most of the wood sculptures and decorations are either by the architect Kuipers and his team, or produced in the Roermond workshops. Furnishings of the central hall of the room Catholic churches thanks to high window openings, mosaics and other elements. The dining room furniture complements the overall atmosphere.

When finishing, special attention was paid to symbolism. The coats of arms and signs of the families that controlled the castle at different times, as well as their family mottos, can be seen on the decorative elements of the rooms. Some elements, such as the Star of David in the Knights' Hall and the hand with five arrows, recall that Countess Rothschild had Jewish roots. Many visitors these days are attracted by the opportunity to see in person antique ceramics by Chinese and Japanese masters, tapestries dating back to the 16th and 17th centuries, and paintings dedicated to religious themes.

After a tour of the castle, you can stroll through the cozy park, created using the laws of classical English and French zoning styles. During World War II, vegetables were grown on its territory, and trees were used to fuel stoves. After some time, it was restored taking into account the elements of the original design. Nowadays, small ponds, bridges, groups of trees, in the shade of which it will be good to relax in hot weather, and a flower garden set the mood for a romantic mood. It is not surprising that it is in the vicinity of this castle that a fantasy festival is held every year, where fairies and elves come to life, and ladies watch knightly fights.

Castle de Haar is located in the Netherlands near the city of Urecht
Kasteellaan 1, 3455 RR Utrecht, Netherlands
+31 30 677 8515

Castle De Haar in the town of Utrecht is deservedly considered one of the most popular and visited places in the Netherlands. It is also the largest structure of its kind in the country. The castle has ancient history and attracts tourists with its original architecture and beautiful park area. In addition, annual knightly tournaments, fairs and other events are held within its walls that introduce people to the traditions of medieval culture.

History of Castle De Haar

The first mention of the huge medieval castle, located in the middle of the lake, date back to 1391. It is known that representatives of the de Haar family were its owners for 50 years. All this time, the area around the castle was constantly expanding. In 1449, the possessions passed to the van Zuylen family, at whose disposal De Haar was for many centuries.

Over the entire period of its existence, the castle was repeatedly subjected to serious destruction. It suffered particularly badly during the Hook and Cod War in 1482, and after a powerful tornado that swept through the country in 1674. As a result, by the end of the 19th century the castle was almost complete ruins.

In 1890, De Haar Castle became the property of Baron Etienne van Zuylen van Nijvelt van De Haar. He entered into a successful marriage with the Rothschild heiress and became the owner of impressive capital. The baron decided to invest most of the funds in the reconstruction of the ancient castle. To do this, he invited the famous Dutch architect Pieter Kuipers and his son Joseph Kuipers. It was these people who largely determined what Castle De Haar looks like today. Large-scale renovation work lasted 20 years. As a result, they not only restored the original appearance of the castle, but also made it comfortable for living. Thanks to this, the owners of the renewed fortress were able to come here for a while every year.

Today the castle no longer belongs to the van Zuijlens. In 2000, the entire architectural ensemble, as well as the park and nearby lands measuring 55 hectares, became the property of the Association for the Protection of Natural Monuments. The building itself contains many valuable works of art, which the van Zuylen heirs donated to the De Haar Castle Foundation.

Panorama inside Castle de Haar

Architecture and interiors

Despite the fact that Castle De Haar was often rebuilt, today it is a complete architectural ensemble. The building inherited all the most important features of a medieval fortress, made in the neo-Gothic style. It is perfectly complemented by a huge park, which is located right next to the castle walls. It is made in traditional English style and amazes with the variety of flora. The park includes a flower garden, a number of artificial ponds, and rare species of shrubs and trees.

Castle De Haar became famous primarily due to its luxurious interiors. The interior decoration of each room amazes with its grandeur and richness of decoration. When creating the interior, mainly neo-Gothic style techniques were used. They are displayed in carved architectural elements, stained glass windows, sculptures, and the design of window openings.

In the rooms you can see many luxury items: ancient sculptures, Japanese and Chinese antique ceramics, paintings, tapestries of the 16th century. Every detail, even the smallest one, that is inside the castle is a real work of art. In addition, the decoration of the rooms contains a lot of evidence about those to whom it belonged: the family mottos of the Rothschilds, the van de Haar and van de Zuylen families.

Schedule

• Entrance to the castle is open from Monday to Sunday, from 11:00 to 17:00. You can get inside no later than 16:15.
• Ticket office opening hours: from 09:00 to 16:30.
• You are allowed to stay in the park from 09:00 to 17:00.

Weekends and holidays:

• April 2, April 27, November 18, December 31 – the castle is closed to visitors
• April 13 and 14, May 24, 25 and 26, June 19, November 19 to 24 - opening hours and admission prices change
• On October 9 the castle closes at 14:00. Entry is open until 13:15.

You can always find out the latest information about the opening hours of Castle De Haar on the official website.

Ticket prices in 2019

Cost of visiting De Haar Castle:

• Adults - 17 €.
• Children from 4 to 12 years old - 11 €.
• Children under 4 years old are free.

Prices for group excursions start from 13.50 € for adults and 8.5 € for children.

Cost of visiting the park:

• Adults - 6 €.
• Children 4 - 12 years old - 4 €.
• Children under 4 years old are free.

Parking cost — 6 €

How to get to Castle De Haar in the Netherlands

Castle De Haar is located near the village of Harzeilens, in the town of Utrecht. It is approximately 34 kilometers from the Dutch capital. Therefore, everyone who decides to visit Amsterdam will not have any difficulty getting to this attraction. There are two main travel options:

• From Amsterdam train station, take the Intercity train to Utrecht and get off at Utrecht Centraal station. Transfer to the Sprinter train and get off at the stop called Vleuten. At the station of the same name, take bus number 127 and get off at Haarzuilens, Eikslaan station. Castle De Haar will be located 955 meters from this stop.
• Take the Intercity train to Utrecht. From the station Utrecht, CS Jaarbeurszijde, change to bus number 9 and get off at the stop Haarzuilens, Kasteel De Haar.

In addition to the methods listed above, tourists can be taken to Castle De Haar directly from Amsterdam by taxi. The cost of such a trip will cost approximately 80-100 euros. You can order a taxi using mobile applications Uber, TCA Taxi, My Taxi Centrale and others. In addition, there is always the opportunity to rent a car.

Castle De Haar on Google panoramas

Public transport map from Amsterdam to De Haar Castle

Video: De Haar Castle from above

Nestled in the heart of modern Holland is a magical corner of the Middle Ages that has risen 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. Castle De Haar, which survived the wars and natural disasters, acquired its modern appearance only late XIX century.

Castle De Haar - a neo-Gothic masterpiece

The first mention of the fortress, surrounded by a moat with water, dates back to the 14th century, when its owners were representatives of the noble De Haar family, who increased the territory occupied by the defensive structure. Since the last owner had no children, the powerful citadel soon passed into the hands of the aristocratic family of Van Zuylen, whose heirs still own the beautiful castle.

In the 15th century, the fortress was destroyed and burned during military operations, and two centuries later the castle was damaged by a powerful 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 nothing but ruins. At the end of the 19th century, the owner of the ruins successfully married a representative of the Rothschild dynasty, who invested a fortune in the restoration of the family nest, which lasted about 20 years. A delightful neo-Gothic masterpiece, which served as a summer residence, was equipped with modern technical innovations. Thus, the dream of the heir of a ruined family to recreate its former greatness came true.

Giver of second life

Everything that can be seen now is the work of the famous architect P. Kuipers, who restored many historical monuments of Holland. He gave a second life to the ancient building, which became the most luxurious in the country. Despite the fact that from the outside, De Haar Castle (Netherlands) looks like a medieval landmark, 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

Not only the external appearance of the beautiful building is striking, but also the splendor of the interior decoration in the spirit of the Middle Ages. Kuipers, who restored the beautiful De Haar Castle, was also involved in the restoration of the 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 sets from an English company.

In the mansion, everything was thought out to the smallest detail, from the luxury of 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, and that elevators still operate in a building with a centuries-old history.

Garden and park area

An integral part of the architectural ensemble is the colorful garden and wonderful park laid out around the castle. In order for the lovely land, which occupies more than 135 acres, to appear, the family-owned village had to be sacrificed: it was moved several hundred meters further, and new houses were built for the residents, where they moved in at the end of the 19th century. Mature shrubs and trees were brought into the territory from different regions of the country. Work in the “little Versailles”, designed in the classical English style, was carried out both day and night.

In the amazing flower garden, hanging bridges were built over figured ponds, and winding paths for walking were laid out. IN 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 to its original form and decorated with romantic gazebos.

The park area of ​​the castle consists of three parts:

• picturesque gardens in Baroque style;
• nordepark (northern park);
• Zuidpark (South Park).

Annual festival

Every year, the country estate hosts Europe's largest fantasy show, Elf Fantasy Fair, which attracts more than 25 thousand people. The ancient castle of De Haar, where you can feel the atmosphere of antiquity, comes to life: swords ring, people stroll along well-groomed paths beautiful ladies with courageous knights, lively merchants offering their products, colorful and cheerful performances are held in booths.

The estate is open to the public for 11 months

For a long time, the monument, under the care of a special fund, was inaccessible to tourists. And only after the Second World War, the owners of the magical corner of the Middle Ages opened a park of amazing magnificence for guests, and 17 years ago, De Haar Castle, the photo of which delights all connoisseurs of beauty, received its first visitors. The owners set a strict condition, which has been strictly observed for many years: in September, the owners leave the villa in France and hold receptions in a luxurious atmosphere, inviting aristocrats to join the celebration. At this time, the architectural complex is closed to public visits.

Once upon a time, famous people visited the mansion: singer, actors Roger Moore, Brigitte Bardot.

De Haar: how to get there?

You can get to the main attraction of the country from Amsterdam by train. The station you need is called Utrecht Centraal Station. Next, you need to transfer to bus number 127, departing once an hour, and get off at the Kasteel (Brink) stop, from which the journey to the castle takes 15 minutes on foot.

Tourists who have purchased tickets for the excursion will travel to the estate by transfer bus.

The De Haar family castle, which can only be reached with a guide, is open every day and welcomes guests from 11.00 to 17.00, and the park is open until 18.00. Tickets cost €14 for adults, while children under four years old are admitted free. Tourists need to know that taking photographs inside the castle is strictly prohibited.

Castle De Haar- one of the oldest and at the same time 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 De Haar Castle dates back to the 14th century, but during its existence it was conquered, destroyed, and rebuilt many times. In 1482, almost ruins remained of the castle.

At the end of the 19th century. lock inherited by Baron Etienne van Zuyulen van Nievelt van de Haar. Due to his advantageous marriage to Baroness Helena Betty Louise Caroline de Rothschild(a socialite, writer, from the family of famous Rothschild bankers), he had the opportunity to restore the family nest, turning to the famous architect P. Kneipers for help.

One of the legends says that 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 castle walls for hundreds of years, was decided to be moved a few hundred meters further.

Today, Castle De Haar looks like a real castle should - towers, turrets, suspension bridges, ditches around the perimeter. Architect P. Knypers was engaged not only in the architecture of the castle, but also in restoring the interiors in the spirit of the Middle Ages. The interior design exudes luxury and splendor of the baronial family: the architect P. Knypers designed all types 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 the English company Maple&Co. In the castle There were also innovations: elevator, running water with hot/cold 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 just 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 Hélène brought home from all continents on their travels.

Part of the overall ensemble is luxurious park. The baron did not want to wait for the trees to grow to the required size, so they were brought here already mature from all over the province (about 7 thousand trees), the trees were at least 40 years old, to create the impression of an old park. The park and gardens cover more than 135 acres of land: the Rose Garden, the 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.Northern Park (Nordepark), which is a combination of Baroque and English landscape park. The Grand Canal is surrounded by winding paths.
3.South Park (Zuidpark) - a real English landscape park. De Haar Castle Park is often called Little Versailles.

As in any castle, there is a ghost - there is a ghost wandering around the castle. ghost of knight Conrad, one of its former owners, who drowned in the moat of his own castle.

Helena Betty Louise Caroline de Rothschild- the only child, the daughter of Salomon James de Rothschild, was disinherited because she married a Catholic. At Etienne and Helena's had two sons: Helin van Zuylen van Nyevelt (1888-1912) and Egmont van Zuylen van Nyevelt (1890-1960). Etienne was fond of auto 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 receive a driver's license and even participated under the pseudonym “Snail” in the Paris–Amsterdam–Paris rally in 1898. The Baron also got his sons addicted to motoring. Helin's son died in a car accident near Antwerp at the age of 24. The parents were inconsolable; a rose garden and a white marble column at the intersection of paths are dedicated to this tragic event.
After the death of Baron Etienne (1934) the castle was inherited by the second son Egmont, who was a diplomat, traveled a lot, married Margaret Nametalla in Egypt. They were born three children: 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 considerable funds 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 into restoring the gardens and park. He died at the age of 78 and was buried in the castle church; the entire village of Harzyaulens followed him on his final journey.

Under Thierry were visiting the castle famous people: one of the greatest opera singers of the 20th century. Maria Callas; film actor, screenwriter, producer, James Bond actor Roger Moore; British actor, two-time Oscar winner Michael Caine; American actor, one of the most popular Hollywood stars of the 1940s-1960s Gregory Pack; French singer, film actress, fashion model and animal activist Brigitte Bardot; Dutch football player Marco van Basten.

Castle De Haar was completely closed to tourists for a long time and only after the Second World War it became a park. Then the castle was opened to the public, and in 2000 it was completely transferred to a specially created foundation. The family reserved the right to spend 1 month a year in the castle, therefore, in September it is closed to visitors. There is a restaurant in the former stables of the castle.

Address:
Kasteel de Haar Utrecht
Kasteellaan 1
3455 RR Haarzuilens

Opening hours: daily 10.00-17.00
You can only get to De Haar Castle with a guide!

Photography inside the castle is PROHIBITED!

Entry tickets: children under 3 years old free, from 4 to 12 – 9 EUR, adults 12.50 EUR.
The ticket includes admission to the castle and park.

Directions: by train from Amsterdam CS 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 about 15 minutes on foot.

Materials used
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H%C3%A9l%C3%A8ne_van_Zuylen
http://www.jewage.org/wiki/en
http://www.kasteeldehaar.nl/english-summary/