Rebuilt and transformed several times by many families including Enghien and Croÿ, this old fortress and seigniorial residence will enchant you with its quadrilateral courtyard, the donjon with its bulb, the ogival chapel and flower gardens.
Surrounded by moats the castle enjoys a remarkable situation: 4,5 miles from Mons - European Capital of Culture in 2015, near the French border (12,5 miles from Maubeuge and 30 miles from Valenciennes) and less than 1 mile from the E19/E42 motorway.
Following the COVID-19 pandemic and the demands of the Belgian Government, wedding, ceremonies, birthdays, etc... had to be canceled. Likewise, the events that we usually organise (theme evenings, open-air theatre, Christmas market, ...) to raise the funds necessary for restorations had to be canceled. Our association suffers significant financial losses and survives for the moment thanks to its reserves.
Nevertheless, we are taking advantage of the cessation of our activities to finally complete the interior design of the "weapons room", restored in 2005.
THE RESTORATIONS
1979 : the pioneers discover the disaster : it is first necessary to clear and evacuate the evading vegetation.
1979-2005, with the help of an archaeologist, the volunteers cleared bricks and stones and reconstruct step by step.
The weapons room restorations :
The towers are covered with a temporary roof. The entrance small castles, the Kitchen tower and the Warden's tower are completely restored.
On the first floor of the Kitchen tower, the Médiévie association organizes animations for primary and secondary school students.
The Warden's tower is now a museum.
The Gothic room, the bakery and the Charles A. de Croÿ wing are regularly rented for events.
Until 2005 the restorations were realised by the volunteers and the workers enrolled by the association.
2005 : first major project: to roof the wing Charles Alexandre and Anne de Lorraine.
Purposes :
• Secure the exterior walls
• Security and conformity for public access, rental for events
2012-2015 : second major project: restoration of the Enghien Tower, master piece of the castle.
Purposes :
• To install a library with the archives of the writer Emile Poumon (from Havré who wrote a lot about Belgian heritage)
• Security and conformity for public acess, museum
The 1st phase was completed by the end of 2015 : reconstruction of the staircase turret - the pinion adjoining the Enghien tower, restoration of the frames and the roof, installation of window doors.
The tower of Enghien before and after the restoration
Click here for : MORE DETAILS
Minimum target : 10 000 € which will allow the association to finance part of the installation of a false ceiling and to supplement it by drawing on its provisions for restoration.
Step 1 : 10 000 € installation of a false ceiling in the weapons room and the entrance of the chapel
Wether the target is achieved :
Step 2 : 15 000 € will also allow the supply of sound insulation
Step 3 : 20 000 € will also allow the installation of lighting and fixtures as well as the necessary wiring for a sono.
Seeing the castle abandoned and to save it from disaster, some inhabitants of the village grouped and founded the non-profit-making association : Les Amis du Château des Ducs d’Havré. They were crazy, since 1979 they work for the restoration of the castle listed in 1936. With the help of the Belgian State – Walloon Region, 8 workers are employed and working full time in the association.
The work so far carried out as regards the safeguarding, reconstruction and maintenance of the castle, as well as the promotion and management of the site, has only been made possible by organising various events to ensure financial self-sufficiency. The numerous activities were made possible by the whole hearted help of a large and ever-increasing number of volunteers.
The association is run by unpaid volunteers.
Every year the castle and its gardens welcome more than 25.000 visitors.
Vous pouvez soutenir ce projet :
- by online donation on this page after registration and login on www.dartagnans.fr
- by bank transfert on this page after registration and login on www.dartagnans.fr
- by sharing a maximum on social networks
or contact us: [email protected]
The whole team: administrators, staff and volunteers thank you in advance for your support !
