The 20 Most Beautiful Castles in the United States

If you are looking for a beautiful castle in the United States, you are in luck. From centuries-old fortresses to grand estates to tragically beautiful ruins, castles of various shapes and forms are scattered throughout the country. We have compiled a list of the 20 largest castles in the United States to help you find the right one.

1. Hearst Castle

The Golden State has its fair share of lavish estates, but if you can visit only one castle in California, consider Hearst Castle a San Simeon. Built between 1919 and 1947, Hearst Castle was the home and vision of publishing magnate William Randolph Hearst, who called his property La Cuesta Encantada, which means the enchanted hill in Spanish. The name is fitting: the castle is perched on a slope overlooking breathtaking views of the surrounding hills, and the estate’s elaborate design preserves 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, the upstairs suites, and even the cottages and the kitchen.

2. Bacon’s Castle

This castle in Virginia might look more like a house than a castle, but the building boasts more history than all other entries 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 river James, the majestic 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 United States. Other notable features of the property include a slave quarters built in 1830 and a reconstructed 17th-century English garden. Both interior and exterior tours are available to the public.

3. Thornewood Castle

Have you ever wished you could live in a castle? That fantasy is probably 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 United States are ready to help you realize your dreams of relaxing like a king. If you want authenticity, Thornewood Castle in Lakewood, Washington, might be the best choice 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 mansion, which showcases charming Tudor and Gothic architectural styles. A variety of rooms and suites are available, many of which boast luxuries like fireplaces and bathtubs.

4. Bannerman Castle

Castles can take many forms. Some are fortresses, others opulent estates, and others dilapidated ruins. Bannerman Castle falls into the last category. Located on the tiny island of Pollepel in the Hudson River in New York, Bannerman Castle was built by Francis Bannerman starting in 1901. The structure actually served as a secure depot for Bannerman’s business, which sold surplus military goods. Bannerman, a Scottish man, designed the appearance of the warehouse 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 protected 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, in North Carolina, is not technically a castle, but it is the largest private home in the United States 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 property offers a wide variety of tours, from small guided group excursions to self-guided visits to the gardens, as well as behind-the-scenes looks at the estate’s winery. Biltmore is known for its special holiday celebrations and the myriad of options for wedding venues. Overnight guests can choose from 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 United States might also be one of the strongest. Completed in 1892, the Bishop’s Palace in Galveston, Texas, was primarily built from stone which 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 an extraordinary example of late Victorian style and has been considered one of the 100 most important buildings in the country by the American Institute of Architects. Self-guided tours with audio narration are available, along with special tours from the basement to the attic, which take visitors to parts of the house typically off-limits.

7. Fonthill Castle

Henry Chapman Mercer was a well-known ceramicist, archaeologist, anthropologist, and antiquarian. It’s no surprise that this artist and scholar wanted to live in a beautiful place. The solution for Mercer was to build his own home in Doylestown, in Pennsylvania, and although it is not technically a castle, the size and design of the structure have 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 part of the castle are available, but don’t worry: even a partial tour of the house offers visitors some fascinating spots. The castle, which has 44 rooms, 18 fireplaces, and more than 200 windows, is decorated with handmade ceramic tiles by Mercer. The extraordinary architectural blend of Byzantine and Gothic styles draws more than 30,000 visitors each year.

8. The Breakers

When you hear the word cottage, you are unlikely to think of an estate whose size could rival that of European castles. However, for the 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, in Rhode Island. One of the most visited of these cottages is called Breakers. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Breakers was commissioned by Cornelius Vanderbilt II as a summer residence for his family.

Built between 1892 and 1895, the Breakers has 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 does not only mean a lavish and ornate residence; traditionally, a castle is a large fortress that protects its inhabitants from invasion. While fortresses may evoke visions of mighty medieval structures, you don’t have to leave the United States to find one with hundreds of years of history. Located in St. Augustine, in Florida, the Castillo de San Marcos was built over several years beginning in 1672 and today is the oldest masonry fortification 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 today a popular tourist attraction and visitors can experience the site in many ways. Tours and historical weapons demonstrations 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 served as 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 fall of the monarchy in 1893, the palace became the seat of the provisional government until 1969.

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

11. The Kentucky Castle

Would you expect to find a vast stone castle in the middle of Kentucky? The Kentucky Castle, aptly located in a town called Versailles, it hasn’t existed for a long time but its lack of history hasn’t stopped the property from offering guests a sumptuous experience. The original owners of the castle 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 the Kentucky Castle is to book an overnight stay. In addition to elegant rooms and opulent furnishings, the castle property boasts an acclaimed farm-to-table restaurant that provides food from onsite farms and gardens. The Kentucky Castle Spa features a sauna, cryotherapy room, reiki treatments, and more.

12. Hammond Castle

Castles throughout history were built to defend territories and host royal leaders. Often, castles in America are conceived by visionary individuals who were inspired to create imposing structures where they could live and work. The scientist and inventor John Hays Hammond Jr. was one of those individuals, and the castle he designed on the coast of Gloucester, in Massachusetts, is a testament to his genius.

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

13. Singer Castle

One of the best parts of visiting a castle is being able to imagine what it must have been like to live in such a grand residence. The Singer Castle a Chippewa Bay, New York, does not have a moat and drawbridge, but it is situated on its island in the St. Lawrence River, so the setting is undeniably picturesque. The castle was commissioned by Frederick Gilbert Bourne in 1903 and is named after the sewing machine company of which Bourne was president.

Singer Castle hosts tours and group events, but the real attraction is the castle’s Royal Suite experience. Visitors who book this package gain exclusive access to an entire wing of the castle as well as 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 royal.

14. Gillette Castle

Located in East Haddam, in Connecticut, and perched atop a hill on the shore of the Connecticut River, stands the Gillette Castle, the former residence of William Gillette. Gillette was an actor, playwright, and stage director, perhaps best known for his stage portrayal of Sherlock Holmes around the end of the century. Today, the 184-acre estate on which the castle sits is a designated state park and one of Connecticut’s.

most popular tourist attractions. The eccentric personal touches of Gillette can be seen throughout the building, whose exterior was designed to resemble a medieval castle. Its distinctive features include a large number of unique doors and wooden locks, carved wooden light switches, a water tower, and built-in sofas. Castle tours are available year-round, and visitors can also enjoy the park’s hiking trails and picnic areas.

15. Castello di Amorosa

Centuries-old castles can be beautiful, exciting, and educational, but the passage of time inevitably leads to damage, whether from normal wear or significant devastation due to an 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 the Castello di Amorosa. Opened in 2007, this castle winery is fully ADA-compliant, unlike most older castles.

The winemaker’s passion Dario Sattui for 13th-century Tuscan architecture is clearly visible at Castello di Amorosa. Sattui’s vision of authenticity required the use of 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 for visitors, including those who prefer to abstain from alcohol.Sattui

16. Boldt Castle

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

The hotelier and millionaire George Boldtwanted to build a large Rhine-style castle as a gift for his wife. The construction began in 1900, but the project was abandoned in 1904 when Boldt’s wife died.Boldt. 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 large hallway with a stained glass dome.

17. Lyndhurst

This residence located on the eastern bank of the Hudson a River in Tarrytown, New York, may not technically be a castle, but its neo-Gothic style and 67-acre estate are grand enough to compete with one. 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 structure offers a variety of tours for visitors and a daily garden pass from May to November. The Classic Mansion Tour and the Backstairs Tour explore the history of the house, its residents, and the people who worked there. Special events such as theatrical performances and themed holiday tours are scheduled seasonally.

18. Smithsonian Institution Building

A castle in the United States is in itself a rare sight; a castle in Washington is definitely astounding. Who would expect to find something akin to a royal residence just a few blocks from the White House? Yet it is not uncommon to hear about a “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 castle’s elegant neogothic architecture originally housed a natural history collection, a gallery, a laboratory, and more. Today the castle houses the Smithsonian Visitor Center, complete with high-tech interactive tools to help visitors plan their tour of the institution.

19. Belvedere Castle

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

Over the years, the castle has had various purposes. In 1919, the folly was turned 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. The elegant mix of Romanesque and Gothic styles of the Belvedere continues to be a popular tourist attraction.

20. Castle in the Clouds

Born in 1859, Thomas Gustave Plant was an industrious man who climbed the ranks to become owner of the world’s largest shoe factory. Like many wealthy men, Plant dedicated a portion 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, in New Hampshire.

A later owner changed the property’s name to 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 variety of activities, from dining to hiking trails, skiing, and snowshoeing in winter. The villa itself offers tours to enlighten visitors about the house’s history and the “Arts and Crafts” architectural style.Arts and Crafts.

You might not be able to climb a medieval tower or try to sneak a peek at some royals through a palace window anywhere in the United States, but it’s really not necessary 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.