The original castle at Havre, a 12th century fortress surrounded by a moat, was leveled in 1578 by an artillery assault followed a few weeks later by a catastrophic fire. A new development campaign commenced two decades later in 1600, this time for a residential palace, financed by Charles Alexandre de Croy. Upon completion, it served for a time as a magnificent social gathering place, entertaining the likes of the painter Van Dyck, members of the Medici clan, the Duke of Marlborough, Marie of Hungary, and Eugene of Savoy. However, by 1839, the property had lost its lustre, and fallen into the possession of the province of Hainaut. A century and a half of neglect later, parts of the castle were beginning to collapse. The decay was forestalled due to the efforts of a charitable group formed in 1978, Les Amis du Chateau des Ducs dHavre. Restoration efforts continue today.
Phone: +32 / 065 87 25 35
Fax: +32 / 065 87 46 47