The 20 Most Beautiful Castles in the United States

If you’re looking for a beautiful castle in the United States, you’re in luck. From centuries-old fortresses to grand estates to tragically beautiful ruins, castles of various shapes and sizes are scattered across the country. We’ve put together a list of 20 of the greatest castles in the United States to help you find your match.

1. Hearst Castle

The Golden State has its fair share of lavish estates, but if you can only visit one castle in California, consider Hearst Castle in San Simeon. Built between 1919 and 1947, Hearst Castle was the home and vision of publishing magnate William Randolph Hearst, who named his property La Cuesta Encantada, which means the enchanted hill in Spanish. The name is fitting: the castle is perched on a hillside with breathtaking views of the surrounding hills, and the elaborate design of the estate maintains a fantastical atmosphere.

Hearst and his architect, Julia Morgan, drew from various influences to achieve the castle’s look, including Spanish Renaissance and Mediterranean Revival styles. Today the castle serves as a museum and offers a variety of tours exploring areas such as the grand rooms, upper floor suites, and even the cottages and kitchen.

2. Bacon’s Castle

This castle in Virginia may look more like a house than a castle, but the building boasts more history than any other entry on this list. Built in 1665, Bacon’s Castle is one of the oldest brick dwellings in North America. Located in the town of Surry near the James River, the grand structure was built by Arthur Allen as a family home, but its fame comes from its occupation by followers of Nathanial Bacon for several months in 1676 during Bacon’s Rebellion. The house was nicknamed Bacon’s Castle, and the nickname stuck.

Bacon’s Castle is a rare example of Jacobean architecture in the U.S. Other notable features of the property include a slave quarters built in 1830 and a reconstructed 17th-century English garden. Both guided indoor and outdoor tours are available to the public.

3. Thornewood Castle

Have you ever wished you could live in a castle? That fantasy might be out of reach, but staying in one as a guest might be the next best thing. And the good news is that a number of castle hotels in the U.S. are ready to help you fulfill your dreams of relaxing like royalty. For authenticity, Thornewood Castle in Lakewood, Washington, might be the best option for you.

In 1907, Chester Thorne purchased a 400-year-old manor in England before having it dismantled and shipped in pieces to the United States as a gift for his wife. The following years were spent reassembling the estate, which shows charming Tudor and Gothic architectural styles. A variety of rooms and suites are available, many featuring luxuries like fireplaces and bathtubs.

4. Bannerman Castle

Castles can take many forms. Some are fortresses, others are opulent estates, and others are crumbling ruins. Bannerman Castle falls in the last category. Located on the tiny Pollepel Island in the Hudson River in New York, Bannerman Castle was built by Francis Bannerman beginning in 1901. In reality, the structure served as a secure warehouse for Bannerman’s business, which sold surplus military goods. Bannerman, a Scotsman, designed the warehouse’s appearance as a nod to his heritage.

Bannerman died in 1918, and construction of the castle was never completed. Over the years, a series of accidents devastated the storage space, leaving it in its current condition. Today, the property is preserved by a trust that welcomes visitors through tours and events, including live music, movie nights, and farm-to-table dinners on the island.

5. Biltmore Estate

Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina, is technically not a castle, but it is the largest private home in the U.S. and an undeniable grand example of a Gilded Age mansion. The main house was built for George Washington Vanderbilt II between 1889 and 1895, and the estate has been a major tourist attraction for decades.

The estate offers a wide variety of tours, from small-group guided hikes to self-guided garden visits to behind-the-scenes looks at the estate’s winery. Biltmore is known for its special Christmas celebrations and numerous wedding venue options. Overnight guests can choose among cottages and two hotels on the estate, which encompasses about 8,000 acres of outdoor space. Outdoor activities include hiking, mountain biking, fishing, falconry, and carriage rides.

6. Bishop’s Palace

One of the most beautiful castles in the U.S. might also be one of the sturdiest. Completed in 1892, the Bishop’s Palace in Galveston, Texas, was built primarily of stone that proved strong enough to withstand the 1900 hurricane that devastated much of the island. The palace became the Bishop’s Palace after the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston purchased the property in 1923; originally, the house belonged to the Gresham family.

Also known as Gresham’s Castle, the palace is a stunning example of late Victorian style and was named one of the 100 most important buildings in the country by the American Institute of Architects. Self-guided tours with audio narration are available, as well as special tours from basement to attic that take visitors into parts of the house generally off-limits.

7. Fonthill Castle

Henry Chapman Mercer was a noted ceramist, archaeologist, anthropologist, and antiquarian. It’s no surprise that this artist and scholar wanted to live in a beautiful place. Mercer’s solution was to build his own home in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, and although it’s not technically a castle, the size and design of the structure earned it the widely used nickname Fonthill Castle. Built from 1908 to 1912, the castle is architecturally significant for its early use of poured reinforced concrete.

Today, Fonthill Castle operates as a museum. One-hour guided tours of a portion of the castle are available, but don’t worry: even a partial tour of the house offers visitors some fascinating spots. The castle, with 44 rooms, 18 fireplaces, and more than 200 windows, is decorated with handmade ceramic tiles by Mercer. The remarkable architectural blend of Byzantine and Gothic styles in the house attracts more than 30,000 visitors annually.

8. The Breakers

When you hear the word cottage, it’s unlikely you think of an estate whose grandeur can rival that of European castles. However, for wealthy families who rose to prominence in the United States during the Gilded Age, summer cottage was the preferred term for some opulent homes in Newport, Rhode Island. One of the most visited of these cottages is called Breakers. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Breakers was commissioned by Cornelius Vanderbilt II as a summer residence for his family.

Built between 1892 and 1895, the Breakers features 70 rooms and was designed to mimic the architectural style of 16th-century Italian palaces. The house and grounds are open to the public for self-guided tours via an audio tour app. A separate whimsical audio tour is available for children under 13.

9. Castillo de San Marcos

The word castle doesn’t just mean a lavish and grand residence; traditionally, a castle is a large fortress that protects its inhabitants from invasion. While fortresses may conjure visions of imposing medieval structures, you don’t have to leave the U.S. to find one with hundreds of years of history. Located in St. Augustine, Florida, the Castillo de San Marcos was built over several years starting in 1672 and today is the oldest masonry fortress still standing in the country.

Now a national monument, the Castillo de San Marcos was built by the Spanish to defend Florida and the Atlantic trade route. The fort is now a popular tourist attraction, and visitors can experience the site in many ways. Tours and demonstrations of historic weapons are available, and costumed rangers and volunteers are happy to educate and interact with guests.

10. Iolani Palace

Iolani Palace is unique among castles in the United States for being the only palace in the country that was a royal residence. Located in Honolulu on the Hawaiian island of Oahu, Iolani Palace was built between 1879 and 1882 and was the official home of King Kalakaua and his sister and heir, Queen Liliuokalani. After the monarchy’s fall in 1893, the palace became the seat of the provisional government until 1969.

Iolani Palace was restored in the 1970s before opening to the public as a museum. The palace displays a unique design style known as American Florentine, which combines elements of Italian Renaissance and Hawaiian architecture. A variety of tours are available, including special tours like the White Glove Tour and a tour exploring Hawaii’s royal ties to Japan.

11. Kentucky Castle

Would you expect to find a vast stone castle in the middle of Kentucky? The Kentucky Castle, fittingly located in a town called Versailles, hasn’t existed for long, but its lack of history hasn’t stopped the property from offering guests a sumptuous experience. The castle’s original owners began construction in 1969 after being inspired by European architecture during a trip. The property has changed hands several times over the years, but the castle was recently renovated into a boutique hotel.

Guided tours are available, but the best way to see Kentucky Castle is to book an overnight stay. In addition to elegant rooms and opulent furnishings, the castle property boasts a acclaimed farm-to-table restaurant providing food from on-site farms and gardens. The Kentucky Castle Spa features a sauna, cryotherapy chamber, Reiki treatments, and more.

12. Hammond Castle

Castles throughout history have been built to defend territories and house royal leaders. Often, castles in America are conceived by visionary individuals inspired to create imposing structures to live and work in. Scientist and inventor John Hays Hammond Jr. was one such individual, and the castle he designed on the coast of Gloucester, Massachusetts, is a testament to his genius.

Hammond was a knowledgeable expert in European art and architecture and designed his castle to appear medieval, also incorporating features he invented himself. The castle was built from 1926 to 1929 and served as Hammond’s home and laboratory during his lifetime. Today, Hammond Castle operates as a museum. Hammond was a passionate collector and left a vast collection of art and artifacts. Both self-guided and guided tours are available, as well as weekly spiritualism sessions and candlelit tours.

13. Singer Castle

One of the best parts of visiting a castle is being able to imagine what living in such a grand home must have been like. Singer Castle in Chippewa Bay, New York, doesn’t have a moat and drawbridge, but it is located on its own island in the St. Lawrence River, so the setting is undeniably picturesque. The castle was commissioned by Frederick Gilbert Bourne in 1903 and takes its name from the sewing machine company Bourne was president of.

Singer Castle hosts tours and group events, but the real attraction is the castle’s Royal Suite experience. Visitors booking this package gain exclusive access to an entire wing of the castle, plus a private tour and a prepared dinner. With 28 rooms and seven acres of Dark Island to explore, guests will feel at least a bit like royalty.

15. Castello di Amorosa

Centuries-old castles can be beautiful, exciting, and educational, but the passage of time inevitably causes damage, whether from regular wear or significant devastation due to accident or weather event. If you want to experience the authentic style of a medieval castle without tiptoeing around a fragile property, consider a destination like Castello di Amorosa. Opened in 2007, this castle winery is fully ADA-compliant, unlike most older castles.

Winemaker Dario Sattui’s passion for 13th-century Tuscan architecture is clearly visible in Castello di Amorosa. Sattui’s vision of authenticity required using handmade materials and construction methods from hundreds of years ago. The impressive final result includes a moat and drawbridge, defensive bastions, towers, stables, a chapel, an armory, and 107 distinct rooms. Various tour and tasting options are available to visitors, including those wishing to abstain from alcohol.

Castello di Amorosa

16. Boldt Castle

The St. Lawrence River, which forms the border between northern New York and Canada, is dotted by over 1,500 small islands known as the Thousand Islands. One of these tiny pieces of land is Heart Island, the setting of Boldt Castle. Accessible only by boat between May and October, Boldt Castle is an impressive example of a castle with extensive restoration work.

Hotelier and millionaire George Boldt wanted to build a grand Rhine-style castle as a gift for his wife. Construction began in 1900 but was abandoned in 1904 when Boldt’s wife died. Boldt never returned to the island, and the castle suffered from weather damage and vandalism for the next 70 years. Since then, it has been carefully restored and today the castle is a major tourist attraction. Noteworthy features include an elaborate ballroom and a great hall with a stained glass dome.

Boldt Castle

17. Lyndhurst

This mansion located on the east bank of the Hudson River in Tarrytown, New York, may not technically be a castle, but its Gothic Revival style and 67-acre estate are grand enough to compete with the real thing. Designed in 1838, Lyndhurst was initially built as a country villa for William S. Paulding Jr. The building’s asymmetrical layout and turret features led critics to call it “Paulding’s Folly“. The house was expanded and redecorated by subsequent owners before opening to the public as a historic site and museum in 1965.

The estate offers a variety of tours for visitors and a daily pass to the gardens from May through November. The Classic Mansion Tour and Backstairs Tour explore the history of the house, its residents, and the people who worked there. Special events such as theatrical performances and holiday-themed tours are scheduled seasonally.

Lyndhurst

18. Smithsonian Institution Building

A castle in the United States is itself a rare sight; a castle in Washington, D.C., is downright surprising. Who would expect to find something like a royal residence a few blocks from the White House? Yet it’s not uncommon to hear the word “castle” near the National Mall. The castle in question is the Smithsonian Institution Building, a majestic structure made of red sandstone from Maryland.

Completed in 1855, this castle was the first structure of the Smithsonian Institution and remains its iconic building to this day. The elegant Gothic Revival architecture of the castle originally housed a natural history collection, a gallery, a laboratory, and more. Today the castle hosts the Smithsonian Visitor Center, complete with high-tech interactive tools to help visitors plan their institution tours.

Smithsonian Institution Building

19. Belvedere Castle

If you’ve ever been to New York’s iconic Central Park, you’ve probably noticed a small castle perched atop a spectacular rock overlooking a pond. This is Belvedere Castle, located on Vista Rock, the park’s second highest natural point. Completed in 1872, Belvedere Castle was initially built as a folly, designed to be a focal point in the park and a lookout for visitors to enjoy the surrounding panorama.

Over the years, the castle has had various purposes. In 1919, the folly was converted into a weather station. The weather service left in the 1960s, and the castle fell victim to vandalism and decay. A major restoration was completed in 2019, and today the castle houses a gift shop and visitor center. Belvedere’s elegant mix of Romanesque and Gothic styles continues to be a popular tourist attraction.

Belvedere Castle

20. Castle in the Clouds

Born in 1859, Thomas Gustave Plant was an industrious man who rose through the ranks to become owner of the world’s largest shoe factory. Like many wealthy men, Plant dedicated part of his fortune to creating a comfortable home for himself and his family. The 6,300-acre estate was called Lucknow, built from 1913 to 1914 in Moultonborough, New Hampshire.

A later owner renamed the property Castle in the Clouds, a nod to its mountaintop location, and opened it to the public. The house still carries the name today, and the estate offers a wide range of activities, from dining to hiking trails, skiing, and snowshoeing in winter. The villa itself offers tours to enlighten visitors on the house’s history and Arts and Crafts architectural style.

Castle in the Clouds

You may not be able to climb a medieval tower or try to catch a glimpse of royalty through a palace window anywhere in the United States, but you really don’t need to to get that majestic feeling a castle can evoke. The United States offers vast historic estates and properties built by people who love old castles enough to recreate one at home.