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Castle and Museum Pas-de-Calais, Hauts-de-France Château d’Hardelot
Castle and Museum Pas-de-Calais, Hauts-de-France Château d’Hardelot
A historic jewel between France and England
A place steeped in history
Built from 1222 on the remains of an earlier fortress, the Château d’Hardelot is located near Condette, south of Boulogne-sur-Mer in the Pas-de-Calais. Destroyed several times, it was rebuilt in the 19th century in a neo-Tudor style by Sir John Hare, then extended by Henry Guy, whose daughter became a famous composer. At the end of the 19th century, John Whitley turned the château into the heart of an elegant seaside resort for the Anglo-French aristocracy.
Cultural Centre of the Entente Cordiale
Since 2009, the château has housed the Cultural Centre of the Entente Cordiale, managed by the Department of Pas-de-Calais. It showcases the historic ties between France and England through period furniture, museum artefacts from the Louvre and regional museums, and thematic exhibitions.
An iconic Elizabethan theatre
In 2016, an innovative and striking theatre was inaugurated in the park: the first permanent neo-Shakespearean theatre in France, designed by architect Andrew Todd. It features a circular auditorium seating 352 to 388 spectators, built from curved timber and surrounded by a bamboo enclosure, combining heritage charm with modern structural prowess.
Gardens and natural surroundings
The estate spans a vast 44-hectare park, with English-style gardens, wetlands, and the “Lake of Mirrors.” Visitors can discover remarkable flora and fauna, linked to the nearby Opal Coast.
Visiting the château today
The Château d’Hardelot is far more than just a monument: it is a vibrant symbol of Franco-British friendship, open to culture through art, exhibitions, and a one-of-a-kind theatre — all set within a refined natural environment.
A place steeped in history
Built from 1222 on the remains of an earlier fortress, the Château d’Hardelot is located near Condette, south of Boulogne-sur-Mer in the Pas-de-Calais. Destroyed several times, it was rebuilt in the 19th century in a neo-Tudor style by Sir John Hare, then extended by Henry Guy, whose daughter became a famous composer. At the end of the 19th century, John Whitley turned the château into the heart of an elegant seaside resort for the Anglo-French aristocracy.
Cultural Centre of the Entente Cordiale
Since 2009, the château has housed the Cultural Centre of the Entente Cordiale, managed by the Department of Pas-de-Calais. It showcases the historic ties between France and England through period furniture, museum artefacts from the Louvre and regional museums, and thematic exhibitions.
An iconic Elizabethan theatre
In 2016, an innovative and striking theatre was inaugurated in the park: the first permanent neo-Shakespearean theatre in France, designed by architect Andrew Todd. It features a circular auditorium seating 352 to 388 spectators, built from curved timber and surrounded by a bamboo enclosure, combining heritage charm with modern structural prowess.
Gardens and natural surroundings
The estate spans a vast 44-hectare park, with English-style gardens, wetlands, and the “Lake of Mirrors.” Visitors can discover remarkable flora and fauna, linked to the nearby Opal Coast.
Visiting the château today
The Château d’Hardelot is far more than just a monument: it is a vibrant symbol of Franco-British friendship, open to culture through art, exhibitions, and a one-of-a-kind theatre — all set within a refined natural environment.