Elf fantasy fair

I have been googling pictures of Haarzuilens; most pictures I find are from the Elf Fantasy Fair. The castle is the yearly location of this event. Which is in my perception a ridiculous event. A few days of the year the town is flocked with elfins, hobbits, devils, Goths and whatever fantasy figures. I was ones at the train station when the fair just ended, so the station was full with this creatures, harmless really, but I can't help feeling a bit commiserate. Then a train load of football supporters arrived…….. They made such a fool of the dressed up people it was hilarious.

Griffins

At the entrance of the castle itself are two big griffins. Fascenating creature, it is also a local surname, but there is no relations with these griffins. This is actually an old photo, they have been cleaned lately.

Part of the garden

I am sure this type of garden has a name. But I don't know how it is called. Together with a photo taken from the air.


(unfortunately I didn't made this photo)

For your guests

Another shot of the guest house. It is for invited guests only.....

Arms

In some corner of the castle garden is a stone with the Haarzuilen arms and a French text. I had to learn French (and English and German) at high school. I think it says:

This rose garden is created as a memory of our son Helin.
That these roses may stay
Every time when they bloom
Our love for him/ them? There I lose it… his death.

I think it talks about the owners son or daughter who died in WWI I suppose.

In the Castle Park

There were quite a few people visiting the castle park. It is a great location for strolling, relaxing on a bench, chat, picknick etc. These two woman were chatting away and didn't notice me taking a picture. My guess would be they were talking about relationships.

Castle Haarzuilens

Around the castle is a park you can wonder around, for hours. It is also a location often used for wedding pictures. This is a view on the east-side. The part in the left of the picture are the guest housings.

Entrance Gate

I should start with the entrance to the castle. I remember that when I was young that the castle garden was always open for free. Now a days when the owners are not at home the gardens and castle are run commercially.

The family comes over from France one month a year. Then the castle is closed. They say it's a real happening; the baron comes with all his staff which includes about 8 chefs, so they told me.

The wapon of Haarzuylens is everywhere displayed over the place and the towns around it. I could find only one picture of it however.

Castle Haarzuilens

The castle of Haarzuilens is very close to Woerden and a place where you take friends from abroad to. It is a beautiful castle. Old and young, it originated in 1300, but by the end of 1800 is was a ruin. The young baron Etienne van Zuylen van Nijevelt rebuild his ancestors castle in 1895. Partly by original design, partly by romantic ideas. He was married to a Rothschild so he had the means to make it a prestigious project. It is still property of this family.

I will post some pictures of the castle in the coming days.

St. Jan

This is an inside shot, it's a hughe church and so many things to picture that I decided not to do so. I wasn't officially allowed to take pictures, so I sneeky did a few.


This is a stand which was near the entrance with stuff they found during restaurations, a helmet, keys, pipes, coins, pottery, and at the bottom, ieeek a human skull and a 'upper leg' bone....

This was my last picture on my little trip to Gouda, tomorrow I will post pictures of a castle which is close to Woerden.

Stained Glass

This is the detail of a window, it says the coronation of Anna van Buuren, at least I think, I am not sure who the character is, I enlarged the image, and it says Margarita of Austria, ruler over Germania something-ish. Must have been important long ago.

The details are very nice; I have uploaded a high resolution.

Stained Glass

The St. Jan has a extraordinary collection of stained glass windows. Some windows survived the reformation, to good to destroy, that’s quite special, considering almost all Catholic expressions were removed those days.
It is beautiful, but to be honest, I didn't know where to look. There are so many details and so many impressions that it is like it's there and at the same time isn't captured & mapped by your brain. Something like that. I took one shot of something I recognized from the history lessons, which I will post tomorrow.


The St. Jan has a website where you can check out more.

Enjoying the sun

This was a nice shot, if you don't have a balcony...

St.Jan

A shot of the church (partly then) the church is so big I couldn't capture it in one shot. The most notable thing of the St. Jan is that it's 'breaths' the centuries.
The stained glass windows are very impressive.

St Jan

On my way to the entrance of the St. Jan, I passed by this little 'pass way'? It's very peaceful and quiet.

Sint Jan

The next stop is the Saint John of Sint Jan. A magnificent church which so much history, you just feel it when you enter the building. This is a picture from the (small) tower.

House

The backside of a house, I like this picture for it's simpleness.

Bikes

I am still visiting Gouda, and post today a picture of a very common site for me/ us who live in Holland, a canal with lots of bikes (not common is the good wheater).

Shop sign

Above the entrance is the 'shop sign' of the tabacco store. An indian with a pipe, smoking must have been once the new thing to do imported from the colonies.

Museum de Monriaan

This picture is of museum de Monriaan. It is a building from 1617 and originated as a grocery store, after that it became a sugar refinery. In the 1700's it became a tabacco store and remained that until in 1965 when it became a museum. The shop's interior from 1680 is still in place. The building leans forward on purpose, to prevent the rain dripping down via the façade.

Amazing, but the wheater is too good to go to a museum!