The 11 most beautiful castles in America

Most of these weren't built for royalty, but you'd never know the difference

The 11 most beautiful castles in America

Most of these weren't built for royalty, but you'd never know the difference

Driving through California鈥檚 Napa Valley, you鈥檇 never expect to happen upon a 13th-century Tuscan castle. But if you head about 3 miles south of Calistoga, that鈥檚 exactly what you鈥檒l find. While construction on only began in 1994, you鈥檒l feel like you鈥檝e been transported to medieval Italy while you sip wine in its period-inspired tasting room. Given the deep-rooted history of most European royal families and the palaces that housed them, it's not surprising that the castles in the U.S. weren't exactly built for royalty鈥揵ut they are so beautiful you鈥檇 never know the difference. Here, our top picks for the palaces, chateaux and castles across the country鈥揳nd where to find them.

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Belvedere Castle

Belvedere Castle

Where: New York, NY

You鈥檇 never expect to come across a , but Central Park鈥檚 co-designer Calvert Vaux decided to place this Gothic structure in the middle of the park in 1865 as a whimsical landmark for people to discover. In 1919, the castle became a National Weather Service station and it also now serves as a Central Park visitor center that's open to the public.

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Bannerman Castle

Bannerman Castle

Where: Beacon, NY

Take the Metro North train north from Grand Central and you will probably notice the ruins of this . Francis Bannerman VI, a Scottish-born owner of a military surplus supply company, built his namesake castle in 1901 as a place to store his company鈥檚 cannons, munitions and other supplies.

It has been in ruins ever since a fire destroyed the castle鈥檚 interior in 1969, but the Bannerman Castle Trust, Inc. provides walking tours of the island accessible by a tour boat or kayak for those curious to explore it.

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Iolani Palace

Iolani Palace

Where: Honolulu, HI

Located in downtown Honolulu, is the only official royal residence located in the United States. Hawaii鈥檚 last two monarchs lived here from 1882 to 1893, including King Kalakaua and his sister, Queen Liliuokalani, who succeeded him. While it fell into disrepair over the years, it was renovated and reopened to the public for tours in 1978.

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Scotty鈥檚 Castle

Scotty's Castle

Where: Death Valley National Park, CA

Even though Walter E. Scott—a con man and gold prospector—never lived in or owned this in the northern part of Death Valley, it was nicknamed after him since he was the one to convince a Chicago couple, Albert and Bessie Johnson, to build it. Unfortunately, Scotty鈥檚 Castle is closed to visitors until 2019 since a 2015 flash flood left several feet of mud and rocks inside the building. Keep a lookout for its reopening if you're looking to take a tour on an upcoming visit out west.

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Montezuma Castle

Where: Camp Verde, AZ

Built approximately 800 years ago by the Sinagua people, this located 70 feet up a limestone wall gets its name from settlers who thought they had discovered ancient Aztec ruins and associated it with the emperor Montezuma鈥� mistakenly. While you can no longer go inside the structure, this national monument located about 26 miles south of Sedona is still worth exploring.

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Castle Gould

Castle Gould

Where: Sands Point, NY

Modeled after Kilkenny Castle in Ireland, this was built as the main residence at the Sands Point Preserve Estate for Howard Gould and his wife, actress Katherine Clemmons. But when she decided she didn鈥檛 like it, they built another opulent mansion on the property and used Castle Gould as their stable and servants鈥� quarters instead.

Castle Gould is mostly used now as a sound stage for film and TV production, but the medieval-inspired Great Hall can be rented for weddings.

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Castello Di Amorosa

Castello di Amorosa

Where: Calistoga, CA

It took 15 years to build this located in the middle of California鈥檚 Napa Valley that not only has a Great Hall with hand-painted frescoes and a medieval chapel, but also comes complete with a drawbridge and torture chamber (upbeat, we know).

A $25 general admission ticket includes access to the upper levels of the castle, plus a tasting of five types of their Italian-style wine.

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Lyndhurst Castle

Lyndhurst Castle

Where: Tarrytown, NY

Designed in 1838, this just north of New York is one of the country鈥檚 best examples of Gothic Revival architecture. Built for New York City Mayor William Paulding, it was later used as a summer house by railroad tycoon Jay Gould. While nobody lives there today, it is open to the public as a museum and can also be rented out as a wedding venue.

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Hearst Castle

Hearst Castle

Where: San Simeon, CA

Newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst—who founded Harper鈥檚 Bazaar鈥檚 parent company—commissioned this on the Central California coast as his private residence. While he had to leave the enormous 165-room castle in 1947 before it was completely finished due to his failing health, the estate is currently open to the public as a museum.

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Smithsonian Institute Castle

Smithsonian Institute Castle

Where: Washington, D.C.

Located near the center of the National Mall, this , made from red sandstone in 1855, served as the home and office for Joseph Henry, the first Secretary of the Smithsonian. Today it is used as the visitor center for the Smithsonian Institute.

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Boldt Castle

Boldt Castle

Where: Alexandria, NY

The proprietor of New York鈥檚 Waldorf Astoria Hotel, George C. Boldt, commissioned this 120-room for his wife, Louise, at the turn-of-the-century. But before the castle could be completed, Louise died unexpectedly and Boldt was too heartbroken to ever return to the island. While the castle remained abandoned for 73 years, the Thousand Islands Bridge Authority eventually restored and opened it to the public in 1977.

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