Château d'Olhain, Medieval castle in Fresnicourt-le-Dolmen, France.
Château d'Olhain is a castle built on a lake and surrounded by wide moats, with a drawbridge connecting two large defensive towers. The structure has an unusual five-sided shape and contains underground vaulted cellars that run beneath the main buildings.
The castle was founded around 1200 by Crusader Hugues D'Olhain and underwent major rebuilding in the late 15th century under Jean de Nielles. This reconstruction reshaped the structure significantly and blended elements from different building periods.
The chapel inside the keep shows how military fortresses and religious life were intertwined in medieval times. Visitors can still walk through the vaulted rooms that reveal how people once lived within these walls.
Visits are possible from April to October, so plan your trip during the warmer months when the site is fully open. Guided tours led by knowledgeable guides explain the interior spaces and the building's history.
The five-sided floor plan stands apart from the typical rectangular or circular castles found in northern regions. This unusual geometry was a rare choice at the time and makes the building architecturally distinctive.
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