Castle de Haar
Castle de Haar – a masterpiece of medieval architecture of the Netherlands, which is the country's largest and most luxurious castle. The castle was erected in XIV and named after the first owner of the stone fortress - Baron Van Zeilen Van Nefelt de Haar. The palace was repeatedly destroyed, it was restored, rebuilt, rebuilt, rebuilt, compared with a phoenix bird that repeatedly rose from the ashes.
Today's appearance of the architectural structure is the creation of architect Peter Kuipers, he made the dream of the heir to the famous kind a reality, restoring his family nest. For 20 years, reconstruction lasted, after which the castle appeared in dizzying splendor of a neo-Gothic style. Outwardly, de Haar Castle retained the appearance of the Middle Ages, and internal design can safely be called the top of aesthetics. Here, everything, starting with magnificent halls, rooms for servants and ending with furniture, dishes and clothes, was designed to the smallest detail. A special dish design has been created. Porcelain services brought from Japan and China, paintings from Florence.
In total, the castle has about 200 rooms, of which 30 are only bathrooms. The rooms are equipped with electricity, elevators, there is central heating, hot and cold water. Despite all the innovations, coal-fired stoves have been preserved.
The castle de Haar is surrounded by a small pond, a beautiful park with many arbors and trees, of which there are more than 7 thousand copies, is equipped on the territory. They were taken from all of Niederland. To equip a parkland, I had to demolish a village located near and build away. The park is considered an integral part of the architectural ensemble, which is called « Little Versailles ». Near the castle there is a chapel.
There is an opinion that the ghost of the knight Conrad – one of the former owners of the palace in the Middle Ages, who tragically drowned near the castle, lives in the castle.
To date, everyone can admire the object of the family with many interesting collections and family emblems. Tours are accompanied by a guide daily throughout the territory. Excursions for children are organized separately. Only once a year in September, when, following traditions, hereditary heirs come to the castle, the palace is closed to visitors.
Having visited the territory of de Haar Castle, you can take a walk through the park, have a picnic or a romantic date and fully feel the spirit of the Middle Ages.
