These romanticized castles live on today in the imaginations of filmmakers, comic book artists, illustrators, and game designers.
A castle adorned with battlements, drawbridges, and turrets fascinates young and old alike. The creators of these “dream castles” draw their inspiration from 19th-century buildings. A fine example in the Netherlands is Kasteel de Haar near Utrecht, restored by the renowned architect Pierre Cuypers.
He drew his inspiration from Château de Pierrefonds in France. Etienne, Baron van Zuylen van Nijevelt van de Haar, dreamed of an imposing residence in which the power and splendor of his ancestors would come to life. Pierre Cuypers and his son Joseph succeeded brilliantly in their endeavor. Knights, damsels, and minstrels adorn the walls, windows, and corbels. De Haar Castle still reflects the luxurious high-society life of yesteryear.