Castles in the United States

Dating back to 1838, the Lyndhurst Mansion in Tarrytown is a spectacular Gothic Revival home that looks like something out of a fairytale. Many of the rooms still contain their original furnishings, so visitors get a special look at American tastes and style during the 19th and 20 centuries.

The standard guided tour takes visitors through 19 of the mansion's ornate rooms, but if you want to see more, there are also special tours that lead through the kitchens, the gardens, and the observation tower.

Tours are offered April through December, and concerts, craft shows, and other special events are sometimes held in the mansion as well.

Lyndhurst Mansion, 635 S Broadway, Tarrytown, NY 10591, Phone: 914-631-4481

Also known as the Arthur Allen House, Bacon's Castle in Virginia was built in 1665, making it the oldest known brick dwelling in the country.

It's surrounded by a formal English garden that dates back to the 17th century, and there are several historic outbuildings on the property as well, including a smokehouse, two barns, and a slave dwelling constructed in 1830.

Visitors are welcome to explore the castle and the gardens on their own, and guided 45-minute tours are available for anyone who wants a more in-depth look at the stories of the people who used to live here.

Bacon's Castle, 465 Bacons Castle Trail, Surry, VA 23883, Phone: 757-357-5976

Nestled in the Napa Valley just outside the town of Calistoga, Castello di Amorosa is a unique winery housed inside a replica of a 14th-century Tuscan castle.

The castle consists of 107 rooms, 90 of which are used to either make or store wine, and the admission fee includes a wine tasting and access to two floors of the castle.

For an additional fee, you can take a guided tour instead, which will take you to the castle's armory, torture chamber, and majestic barrel room.

Food and wine pairings are available as well, and reservations are strongly recommended.

4045 St Helena Hwy, Calistoga, CA 94515, Phone: 707-967-6272, Map

If you love the idea of dining in a historic castle, Beardslee Castle is the perfect place to go.

Originally built in 1860, it's a replica of a traditional Irish castle, and although it's been refurbished twice over the years, it hasn't lost an ounce of its original charm.

The architecture is beautiful, but the inspired fine dining cuisine is worth a trip in and of itself, and it changes with the season to showcase the best ingredients the region has to offer.

There's also a cozy downstairs dungeon with a copper bar if you find yourself in the mood for a pre-dinner drink.

Beardslee Castle, 123 Old State Rd, Little Falls, NY 13365, Phone: 315-823-3000

Set on top of Vista Rock in New York's Central Park, Belvedere Castle is a miniature castle that offers stunning views of the surrounding park and the city skyline.

It was originally intended to be nothing more than a beautiful tourist attraction, and although it's now used as an official weather station, visitors are still welcome to come and enjoy the views from the top of the two-story staircase that leads to the top of the castle.

Since 1983, the castle has also housed a nature observatory filled with microscopes, paper mâché bird replicas, and other objects of interest.

Belvedere Castle, New York, NY 10024, Phone: 212-772-0288

Built for George Washington Vanderbilt II in the early 1890s, the Biltmore Estate in Asheville is one of the most spectacular Gilded Age mansions ever constructed.

The estate is still owned by the Vanderbilt family, but it's now a historic house museum rather than a private residence.

The admission fee includes access to the gardens and three floors of the mansion, and premium guided tours are available for visitors who want a closer look at parts of the mansion that aren't accessible on the regular tour.

Other highlights of the estate include the winery, the tropical conservatory, and the many dining options.

1 Lodge St, Asheville, NC 28803, Phone: 800-411-3812, Map

Found in Galveston's Historic District, Bishop’s Palace is an ornate Victorian-style mansion listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Also referred to as the Gresham House, it was built for the Gresham family in 1892, and it remained their private residence until it was purchased by the Roman Catholic Church in 1923 to serve as the home of a prominent bishop. Today, portions of all four floors are open to visitors who want to take a self-guided tour. Audio guides are available, and visitors can also make arrangements to take a private guided tour.

Bishop’s Palace , 1402 Broadway Avenue J, Galveston, TX 77550, Phone: 409-762-2475

Modeled after a Rhineland castle like those you see in Germany, the magnificent Boldt Castle has a surprisingly romantic history. Located on Heart Island, it was built by the wealthy businessman George C. Boldt as a testament of his love to his wife, who tragically died only four years after construction began. There are 120 rooms to explore, and the first floor is filled with exhibits about the history of the region and the lives of the Boldt family. The castle can be reached by boat from both the United States and Canada, and it's open for tours between May and October.

Boldt Castle, 1 Heart Island, Alexandria Bay, NY 13607, Phone: 315-482-9724

Sitting on a small, rocky island just off the eastern shore of the Hudson River, Bannerman Castle is a crumbling Scottish-style castle that was built to store ammunition at the turn of the 20th century. Of course, the castle is no longer used to store weapons, but it's now open to the public for guided tours between May and October. The standard tour includes a boat ride, but special kayak tours can sometimes be arranged as well. If you'd prefer to do a self-guided tour, you can visit on the third Sunday of the month, when a live music concert is held.

Bannerman Castle, Bannerman Island, Cold Spring, NY, Phone: 855-256-4007