Despite the fact that fairytale castles are more commonly associated with medieval EuropeUnited States
is home to many magnificent castles, mansions, and palaces – you just need to know where to find
them. We’re rounding up America’s most enchanting castles, from Hearst Castle in California to the
grand Biltmore Estate in North Carolina. Discover more ancient cities and historic architecture with our
Mini Trips collection. Explore the forts and palaces of Malaga and Granada, or discover the artistic side
of Barcelona with a cultural trip

Biltmore Estate, North Carolina

The Blue Ridge Mountains outside of After George Vanderbilt toured the region in 1889 and decided to
build there, the Biltmore Estate near Asheville, North Carolina, took six years to complete. I was
charmed by the beauty of it. The 250-room French Renaissance hotel was created by architect Richard
Morris Hunt. Castle, while renowned landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted envisioned the grounds
surrounding the castle, including the 15-acre (6 ha) azalea garden, which is home to some of the most
beautiful native azaleas in the country. Today the estate has a vineyard and cellar, producing awardwinning wines, and offers tours of the chateau, including the majestic banquet hall and bowling alley.

Boldt Castle, New York

This Rhenish-inspired castle sits on a small island in the Thousand Islands region of upstate New York,
which in its day served as a haven for celebrities and the wealthy. Hotel tycoon George C. Boldt started
constructing the castle in 1900 for himself and his cherished wife, Louise, to use as a vacation residence.
Residence. Sadly, Louise passed away months before Boldt Castle was finished, and a distraught George
abruptly ended it. The castle had been abandoned and was now whims of nature for over 70 years until
the Thousand Islands Bridge Authority acquired it and restored it to its present glory. The Alster Tower,
a drawbridge, and the 120-room castle are part of the island estate. The Authority organizes tours of the
castle and Heart Island, which it occupies.

The Breakers, Rhode Island

Another creation of the Vanderbilt family designed by architect Richard Morris Hunt, The Breakers is
one of Newport’s most notable summer homes, built in the late 19th century, when the quaint coastal
town of Rhode Island was the playground of America’s wealthiest families. Drawing inspiration from the
Italian Renaissance palaces of Genoa and Turin in the 16th century, Hunt included the excellent dining
room with its towering ceiling in the 70-room estate. They created free-standing columns and gilded
cornices and recruited contemporary talent, such as the Austrian-American sculptor Karl Bitter to create
relief sculptures. It is open to visitors year-round and is owned and operated by the Preservation Society
of Newport County.

1892 Episcopal Palace, Texas

The Bishop’s Palace, often called Gresham’s House, was built in 1892. sits in the historic East End district
of Galveston. It was built at the end of the 19th century for a lawyer with the Gresham family, an
entrepreneur. Generally seen as being among the most crucial buildings in the world by architectural
historians United States, the 1892 Bishop’s Palace was designed by famed local architect Nicholas J
Clayton, who built the Victorian-style steel mansion and stone – a tough mix that endured the Great
Galveston hurricane that destroyed much of the city. The opulent interior of the mansion includes a
dramatic mahogany stairwell, numerous stained glass windows, and decorative wood carvings. You can
look around or see areas that are usually closed to the public with a basement-to-attic tour.

Bannerman’s Castle, New York

The remains of Bannerman’s Castle are framed by a tiny island that is located approximately 60 miles up
the Hudson River from New York. Scottish-American munitions dealer Francis Bannerman planned the
early 20th century building as an armory. The castle was built to replicate strongholds seen in medieval
Scotland.

After Bannerman’s death in 191

8, the structure fell into disrepair, and much of it was destroyed by a fire that started in 1969. As of this
now, Bannerman Castle Trust controls the island and offers tours of the island in summer. It also hosts
events such as barbecue picnics and concerts.

Amorosa Castle, California

In the northern part of Napa Valley, California, the Castello di Amorosa can be deceiving, like many
castles in the United States; Although it looks like a 13th-century castle straight out of Tuscany, it
opened in 2007 after a 15-year construction period. Designed by fourth-generation owner and
winemaker Dario Sattui as a wine estate, the chateau is encircled by acres of vines that produce famed
Italian-style wines. A drawbridge, and a great hall with 107 rooms, the majority of which are used for
winemaking, are all included. Reproductions of Italian frescoes and even a prison and torture chamber.

Fonthill Castle, Pennsylvania

In Doylestown, Pennsylvania, at Fonthill Castle, an anthropologist and potter Henry Chapman Mercer.
Designed by Mercer and built between 1908 and 1912 to showcase his vast collection of tiles and prints,
it is a pastiche of medieval, Gothic, and Byzantine styles and includes 44 rooms, 18 fireplaces, and over
200 windows; it became a museum after 1930 saw his passing. The history of American Lake in
Lakewood, Washington, is considerably older. Famous local banker Chester Thorne and by Mercer in
1912 and located on the same grounds as Fonthill Castle, is where many of the tiles on show were
produced.

Iolani Palace, Hawaii

The only recognized royal home in America is Iolani Palace, built in 1882 in central Honolulu by King
Kalakaua to enhance the prestige of the ancient kingdom of Hawaii as a modern nation abroad. When
the United States overthrew the Hawaiian monarchy in 1893, the palace served as the Capitol building
until it underwent a complete renovation and reopened as a museum in 1978. Inspired by European
palaces, it is considered the only example of American Florentine architecture – a blend of Italian
Renaissance and native Hawaiian architectural styles. It’s considered a cultural center in Hawaii, and
special tours are available, including a white glove tour in search of treasures ranging from cabins to the
mansion’s penthouse.

Lyndhurst Mansion, New York

The Lyndhurst Mansion was built in Tarrytown, New York, on the shore of the Hudson River. Famed
architect Alexander Jackson Davis built it in 1838. One of the greatest is the neo-Gothic structure.
Buildings in America and had several resident notables. Since its construction, including New York Mayor
William S Paulding Jr and railroad tycoon Jay Gould. Tours of the palace, including its art gallery, which
features paintings such as La Madone des Roses by French artist William-Adolphe Bouguereau, are
available on Fridays and weekends.

Thornewood Castle, Washington

Although built in the early 20th century, Thornewood Castle – on the shores of the history of American
Lake in Lakewood, Washington, is considerably older. Popular local banker Chester Thorne and builder
dreamed of building a house in the Tudor Gothic style and, after buying an English mansion 400 years
ago, painstakingly dismantled, transported, and rebuilt it with the help of the architect Kirtland Kelsey
Cutter. Now an inn, Thornewood Castle offers guests access to the estate’s private dock, lakeside beach,
and beautiful sunken “Secret Garden” designed by the famed Olmsted Brothers, sons of Frederick Law
Olmsted.

Hammond Castle, Massachusetts

Inspired by his time in England as a child and falling in love with the region’s castles, American inventor
John Hays Hammond Jr built the magnificent Hammond Castle for him between 1926 and 1929. It serves
as his home and workshop. Built using a combination of native stone and various Roman, Medieval, and
Renaissance artifacts that Hammond collected during his travels in Europe, the castle overlooks the
scenic Gloucester Harbor in Massachusetts and is now a museum. Today you can visit its enchanting
rooms, such as the exclusive inner courtyard made up in part of medieval display cases that Hammond
found on a trip to France and ramen born in the United States.