Nine charming castles in the USA, which can be viewed both from the outside and from the inside

It's hard to imagine that there are castles in the USA. Typically when depicting castles - romantic, medieval or folkloric - they often symbolize remote corners of the world - remote places in the European countryside, on moated mountain peaks in Asia. In fact, there are many magnificent castles in the USA. Edition Conde Nast Traveler collected nine of them, including how to get there and what else to see in their radius.

Photo: IStock

Biltmore Estate, Asheville, North Carolina

This list simply wouldn't be complete without America's largest home.

In 1895, George Vanderbilt drew inspiration from the castles of the French Renaissance to create his far from modest home, sprawling over 8000 acres (3 hectares). Registered as a National Historic Landmark in 237, the mansion continues to impress with the addition of a winery and inn on a similarly themed property. Or visitors can plan a day trip.

Nearest airport: Asheville Regional Airport (AVL), 15 miles (24 km).

Things to do: Surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains, this mansion is one of the most idyllic places for hiking and spending time in nature. For gourmets, Asheville Center is a new culinary destination where chefs prepare dishes from all over the world.

Boldt Castle, Alexandria Bay, New York

This extravagant six-story castle was designed by New York owner of the Waldorf Astoria, George Boldt, for his wife Louise. When Louise died suddenly, the project was abandoned until the Thousand Islands Bridge Authority salvaged the property in 1977 and began rebuilding it. Picturesquely located on Hart Island, Boldt's Castle is only accessible by boat, making it an idyllic day trip for both American and Canadian tourists.

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Nearest airport: Watertown International Airport (ART), 35 miles (56 km).

Things to do: Visitors can reach Boldt Castle by private cruise boat, so rent a boat for the day and spend it exploring the Thousand Islands, a region made famous by the elite guests it attracted in the 19th century, including those invited by millionaire George C. Boldt.

Iolani Palace, Honolulu, Hawaii

Built in 1882 by King Kalākaua, Iolani Palace went largely unused for a decade before the island kingdom overthrew the monarchy in 1893. According to the site, this XNUMXth-century splendor exists as "the spiritual and physical multicultural epicenter of Hawaii." Visitors can choose from several guided tours of the Palace, ranging from self-guided audio visits to booking Royal Heritage, a private tour for a small group of one to four guests.

Nearest airport: Honolulu Airport (HNL), 5 miles (8 km).

Things to do: As one of Hawaii's five main counties, Honolulu is full of nature and history, from Waikiki Beach to Pearl Harbor. Once you've experienced everything the island has to offer, it may be worth moving on to another county - Maui, Hawaii, Kauai and Kalawao, each offering their own unique adventures.

Hearst Castle, San Simeon, California

Long before Cinderella's Disneyland castle became the West Coast's royal landmark, Hearst Castle, then known as Enchanted Hill, was the talk of the town. It all started with a 40 acre (000 ha) ranch in 16 that grew into a 187 acre (1865 ha) estate with 250 rooms, 000 acres (101 ha) of gardens, two swimming pools, and today, most importantly , the castle exists as a museum displaying 171 artifacts of Egyptian antiquity in addition to old master European paintings and Italian Renaissance carved ceilings.

Nearest airport: San Luis Obsipo (SBP), 42 miles (67,5 km).

Things to do: take advantage of the hillside by driving part of the Pacific Coast Highway; spot elephant seals, picnic in one of the secluded beach bays between San Luis Obispo, and head to Monterey and Carmel-by-the-Sea for the most breathtaking views of soaring cliffs against the blue of the ocean waves.

Fonthill Castle, Doylestown, Pennsylvania

Archaeologist, anthropologist and ceramicist, Chapman Mercer built himself a castle in the center of Bucks County (Pennsylvania). The home became a canvas for his signature Moravian tiles. Fonthill Castle is now a museum dedicated to the life of the artist, which includes the castle itself - a mixture of medieval, Gothic and Byzantine architectural styles.

Nearest airport: Trenton-Mercer Airport (TTN), 26,7 miles (43 km).

Things to do: while Mercer's work is reason enough to visit this small town, the Michener Museum of Art is also worth a visit here to see the work of contemporary artists. The museum has an impressive sculpture garden for peaceful contemplation.

Kentucky Castle, Versailles, Kentucky

Not only is Versailles here, but like its French counterpart, a castle worthy of attracting a crowd. In fact, you can even spend the night here. Although the castle was only built in 1969, its storied past includes construction problems that left the unfinished building empty for almost 30 years, a fire, and a series of ownership changes before the castle was completed in its current grandeur as a boutique hotel. .

Nearest airport: Lexington Airport (LEX), 7 miles (11 km).

Things to do: the area is bustling with award-winning distilleries that are part of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail (Buffalo Trace, Four Roses), and Keeneland Racecourse is one of the most famous racetracks in the world where you can place your bet.

Gresham Castle, Galveston, Texas

This Victorian-style castle is furnished with all the essentials of the royal family, including stained glass windows, a silver-trimmed fireplace and bronze sculptures that were commissioned for the original owner, Colonel Walter Gresham.

Listed as one of the 100 most important buildings in America by the American Institute of Architects, the building is open for self-guided tours daily from 10:00 am to 17:00 pm.

Nearest airport: William P. Hobby Airport (HOU), 40 miles (64 km).

Things to do: Known for its beaches along the Gulf of Mexico, Galveston is the place to kick back and catch up on quality reading with your toes in the sand. You can also try local, southern dishes, including fresh fish, shrimp, grits and gumbo.

Loveland Castle, Loveland, Ohio

Built in a medieval style, Loveland Castle, also known as Château Laroche, showcases German, French and English architecture, complete with a dry moat and hand-tiled ceilings. Tours are conducted on a self-service basis. But Loveland also offers recreational activities such as picnics that you can enjoy throughout the area.

Nearest airport: Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Airport (CVG), 40 miles (64 km).

Things to do: Loveland is a typical small town with beautiful natural spots that make for great outdoor adventures. You can head to the Great American Ball Park or walk the John Roebling Suspension Bridge.

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Joslyn Castle, Omaha, Nebraska

In 1903 this Scottish baronial style mansion with gabled gables, battlements and small turrets was completed as the private home of George and Sarah Jocelyn with 35 rooms. Today, the surviving building is on the Nebraska National Historic Landmarks list. In addition to public visits, "The Castle", as it is colloquially known, is available for private tours and events, from weddings and photo shoots to corporate dinners.

Nearest airport: Omaha Eppley Airfield Airport (OMA), 7 miles (11 km).

Things to do: downtown Omaha is adorned with public art murals tucked away in its individual neighborhoods (such as Old Market and Axarben Village).

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