If you are looking to visit castles in America, you’ve come to the right place! While fairytale castles may be more associated with medieval Europe, however, the United States holds dozens of stunning chateaus, mansions, and gorgeous estates, whether you hit the East or West coast, or even feel like roaming the Midwest. All the USA’s most enchanting castles are unique and have plenty of historical significance as well as amazing views and architecture.
So, if you want to go sightseeing across the USA, especially with kids, then head on down to the most charming castles in America. All the following listed castles can be easily reached with a personal vehicle. Even if you don’t have one, you can rent a car to explore these wonderful sites. In this post, we have listed the top seven castles in the United States that you can visit to truly immerse yourself in the scenery around you. From the grand Biltmore Estate in North Carolina to California’s Hearst Castle, there is a lot for you to discover.
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01 Hearst Castle, California
Perched high on a hilltop overlooking the Californian town of San Simeon, the Hearst Castle Estate was built between 1919 and 1947. The famous newspaper mogul William Randolph Hurst designed the castle with architect Julia Morgan, and it is a sight to behold. It took over twenty years for the castle to be completed, which comprised four buildings, 165 rooms and 127 acres of beautiful terraced gardens, two large swimming pools, a wine cellar, and an airstrip used by the Hearst family.
The castle also hosted the world’s largest private zoo once, which housed many exotic animals like zebras, giraffes, kangaroos, lions, tigers, and more. Now owned by the State of California as a historical monument and museum, Hearst Castle is a must-see spot for its stunning architecture and artwork from around the globe.
02 Biltmore Estate, North Carolina
Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains outside Asheville, North Carolina, Biltmore Estate marks it as one of the most beautiful castles in America. Architect Richard Morris Hunt designed the 250-room French Renaissance chateau while acclaimed landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted envisioned the beautiful grounds surrounding the castle including the beautiful 15-acre Azalea Garden, as home to some of the finest native azaleas in the nation.
Notable sights within the Biltmore Estate include the Banquet Hall, furniture from the 17th century, an indoor pool, a bowling alley, artwork from the 16th century, along with an amazing library with over 10,000 books. The castle also features stunning gardens and a vast vineyard, where, in 1971, William Cecil- George Vanderbilt’s grandson began a tradition of winemaking that still carries on to this day.
03 Boldt Castle, New York
Tucked away on a tiny isle in upstate New York’s Thousand Islands region, hotel magnate George C. Boldt had a mission to construct one of the most beautiful castles in America out of love for his wife, Louise, in the year 1900. Although it is located on the Heart Island in New York, this castle had a heartbreaking beginning, as Louise died in 1904, long before the castle was finished. And, Boldt, feeling broken and distressed, never returned to the location, stopping all construction of the castle he’d planned. For almost 73 years, it sat unused and incomplete until 1977 when the Thousand Islands Bridge Authority acquired the castle and decided to take on the task that was left undone. Now, the beautiful island estate includes the 120-room castle, its drawbridge, and the pretty Alster Tower.
04 Castello di Amorosa, California
Although it looks like something straight out of a fairy tale, this castle is located in the northern reaches of California’s wine country Napa Valley and was completed in 2007. Owned and designed by fourth-generation winemaker Dario Sattui, Castello di Amorosa functions as a 171-acre acre of vineyards producing award-winning Italian-style wines. Built over 15 years, Castello di Amorosa represents the style of a 13th century Tuscan castle, with major medieval elements including a moat, drawbridge, an armory, stables, and more.
It also features 107 rooms, most of which are used for winemaking, a great hall with replica Italian frescoes, and even its dungeon and torture chamber. After using over 8,000 tons of stone and almost a million bricks that were shipped from Europe, Castello di Amorosa stands tall and proud.
05 Iolani Palace, Hawaii
Explore the grandeur of Iolani Palace in beautiful Honolulu, Hawaii. Completed in 1882 under King Kalākaua, the castle remained the official royal residence until the Hawaiian monarchy was overthrown in 1893. Since then, the Iolani Palace served as the capitol building until it underwent extensive renovation and reopened as a museum in 1978. The palace is known for being the only building in the world built in the American Florentine style, combining Renaissance attributes with traditional Hawaiian architecture. Earlier, it was considered innovative and impressive due to its installation of the telephone, indoor plumbing, and electric lighting. Now, Iolani Palace is open to the visitors for tours and events, to see how the royal family of Hawaii lived and reigned all those years ago.
06 Lyndhurst Mansion, New York
Located on the edge of the Hudson River in Tarrytown, New York, the Lyndhurst Mansion was built by architect Alexander Jackson Davis and home to William Paulding in 1838. Originally named “Knoll,” this American castle is said to be one of the finest Gothic Revival mansions in the nation, and has been home to many different families over its long past. Tours of Lyndhurst Mansion – including its Art Gallery, home to paintings including French artist William Bouguereau’s 1866 work First Caresses – are available on Fridays and weekends.
It has even been used as a filming location for various TV shows and movies, including Project Runway, The Blacklist, Winter’s Tale, Reversal of Fortune, Gloria, and more. You don’t want to miss the most iconic castles in America!
07 Hammond Castle, Massachusetts
This castle in America was completed in 1929 that overlooks Gloucester Harbor and is nestled amid beautiful tall trees. Constructed from a mix of local stone and various Roman, medieval, and Renaissance-era artifacts John Hays Hammond had collected during travels to Europe. The castle is now a museum, where visitors are free to tour its captivating rooms like the beautiful inner courtyard, which was partly made from medieval storefronts that Hammond found on a trip to France.
Hammond Castle incorporates several of Hammond’s original ideas to make his home stand out from the rest of society. Hammond Castle blends several architectural styles and periods, creating a structural hybrid that is both rare and extraordinary. Hammond Castle has earned its reputation for being one of the most interesting castles in America, and will give you an experience you’ll never forget!