Olhain Castle

Olhain Castle, locally known as Château d'Olhain, lies in the village of the same name in the Pas-de-Calais department in France.

The current castle was preceded by an earlier castle built in the early 13th century by Hugues d'Olhain, who was a captain in the Fourth Crusade and present at the fall of Constantinople.

In 1387 the lordship passed to Jean de Nielles, when he married Marie d'Olhain. Jean and Marie then rebuilt the castle around 1400 in its current appearance, as it had been partially destroyed and burnt during the Hundred Years' War. Jean was treasurer for John the Fearless, Duke of Burgundy.

In the early 15th century, Alix de Nielles married Jean I de Berghes, thus transferring the lordship to the latter. The descendants of the De Berghes-Saint-Winock family would retain Olhain Castle until its sale in 1900.

The De Berghes, now Lords of Olhain, became Protestants during the 17th century, when the region was part of the Spanish Netherlands. Probably because of this, as Protestantism wasn't tolerated by the Spanish Crown, they had to leave the castle. For in 1641, the castle was occupied by Spanish troops, who were massacred after a surprise attack by French forces from nearby Arras. In 1654, during the Battle of Arras, the castle was besieged again, during which the Spaniards destroyed a tower of the castle. This tower would have stood at the edge of the terrace, which now overlooks the lake at the westside.

In 1710, during the War of the Spanish Succession, troops of the Grand Alliance, led by the Dutch, besieged nearby Béthune. They also damaged Olhain with artillery fire.

In the first half of the 19th century, the De Berghes-Saint-Winock family again resided in the castle and had work done there, such as the construction of a chapel in the southeast tower. Shortly after 1870, however, they moved to Rânes Castle in Normandy.

The castle has a circular plan and it situated in a small lake. It is connected to a, partially moated, circular bailey by a drawbridge.

Olhain Castle can be visited for a fee, but only on Sunday afternoons, from April to November, since it is still a private property. A beautiful castle, recommended.

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