Château d'Olhain (Olhain Castle)

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Château d'Olhain (Olhain Castle)

According to some accounts, the original Château d'Olhain dates back to Hugues d'Olhain's return from the crusades in 1202 (the Olhain family is one of the oldest families of the Artois nobility).
The Château d'Olhain is impressively beautiful and is often considered the best preserved Medieval château in northern France.
Presiding impressively over its wide moats, it appears to be built on a kind of island in the middle of a lake. Two bridges lead to the oval-shaped lower courtyard, whose outer wall now only has a single remaining turret, on the east side. This courtyard is surrounded by farm buildings of different eras and styles.
The château itself, built entirely of sandstone with an impressive polygon layout, is accessed by the drawbridge located between two large towers set in the east wall.
The many modifications made to the château over time have converted it into a pleasant residence.
Inside, the staff room (with its sandstone chimney) and chapel (built in 1840 by Duke Alphonse de Berghes Saint Winoc and his wife, Princess Gabrielle de Broglies) are admirable.
Legend has it that the famous musketeer, D'Artagnan, married Louise de Berghes in this château and is even buried here.
In reality though, it was one of his cousins, Louis d'Artagnan, who married this young lady, because the famous hero himself was dead by that time. The names simply got mixed up. As for the musketeer's final resting place, that is still the stuff of mystery.
Château d'Olhain
62150 Fresnicourt le Dolmen, France.
Tel: +33 (0)1 39 18 33 14. Contact: Madame Capron.