From reading fairytales as a child to dreaming of restoring a historic French chateau, many of us have longed to live in a palatial castle at some point in our lives. While many of these properties are homes of the super-rich, each one is privately owned and has once been on the market, meaning they are all within reach should the funds become available.
From a rustic New York castle in the heart of the Adirondack Mountains to an enchanting hillside Castello in the Italian Alps, these remarkable properties are what dreams are made of. Grab your tiara and click or scroll on to explore some majestic castles we’d love to call home…
Fonmon Castle, Vale of Glamorgan, UK
You’d never run out of space again if you owned Fonmon Castle. This sprawling estate is situated in the Vale of Glamorgan, South Wales, and occupies nearly 950 acres of land. Dating back to the 12th century, the Grade I-listed Norman castle no doubt once belonged to a prestigious family. However, in recent years it has been used as a wedding and events venue.
While the castle’s pretty façade is decorated with ivy, the interior is colorful and eclectic. It measures 12,000 square feet and boasts an impressive entrance hall, endless reception rooms and countless bedrooms. Plus, everywhere you look you’ll spot incredible features, such as herringbone timber floors, soaring ceilings, vintage light fixtures and full-height bay windows that flood the rooms with natural light.
As well as the sprawling main castle, the estate also benefits from eight houses and cottages, several farm buildings and outbuildings, all of which could be converted into additional accommodation. Last for sale with Savills, the remarkable British home was listed for a cool $14.6 million.\
Sauerburg Castle, Rhineland–Palatinate, Germany
Germany is jam-packed with gorgeous castles and Sauerburg is just one of them. Positioned in the heart of the Rhine Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this enchanting fortress features a soaring, weathered tower and a main brick castle decorated with pretty pitched roofs.
Enclosed by towering trees, the property sits on almost two-and-a-half acres of land and comes with a quaint courtyard garden that offers the perfect welcome. It’s thought the castle was built sometime between 1355 and 1361 by Count Ruprecht, who sought permission from Archbishop Gerlach of Mainz.
Over the years, it has been used as a hunting lodge and as a defensive fortress. Today, it’s a unique home in the midst of one of Germany’s most impressive regions.
As for the interior, it stretches 7,965 square feet and encompasses 19 bedrooms and 10 bathrooms, as well as a banqueting hall, a vaulted stone cellar and plenty of living rooms decorated with European fireplaces and built-in bookcases.
Thanks to a recent renovation, the interior is fresh and modern, but there are plenty of authentic period features throughout, too, including stained-glass windows depicting coats of arms, wood-paneled walls, ornate metalwork, intricate chandeliers and statement ceilings.
Mountainside castle, Utah, USA
Positioned on a mountainside above Salt Lake Valley, this majestic modern castle is also minutes from seven world-class ski resorts. Providing incredible views from almost every window, it was built in 2005 and no expense was spared in its design or construction.
Outside, there’s almost an acre of land, while inside you’ll find 10,000 square feet of space. As soon as you step through the front door, you’ll be blown away. Every bit as impressive as its façade, the interior offers exposed stone walls, arched doorways, wrought-iron work and medieval-style light fixtures, which make the house appears older than it is.
As for rooms, you’ll find an impressive entrance foyer, an enormous kitchen with a never-ending ceiling, a grand living room, a formal dining room, five bedrooms and four bathrooms. Plus, there are plenty of amazing extras you might not expect, including a movie theater, storage cellar, indoor pool and spa, games room, fitness center and observatory, where you can take in the night’s sky. It was recently for sale for $3.7 million.
Thornbury Castle, Gloucestershire, UK
Thornbury Castle is the epitome of the classic English castle. In fact, it was here that infamous King Henry VIII and his second wife Anne Boleyn honeymooned in 1535. The ill-fated couple spent 10 days at the property as part of their belated honeymoon tour, and we can certainly see what drew them to the place.
The Tudor castle can be found in Bristol, Gloucestershire, and dates back to the 1520s. It was constructed by Edward Stafford, the “only man to rival King Henry VIII’s wealth and status at that time,” according to the castle’s official website. Of course, the fiery king saw this display of status and wealth as a direct insult and Edward Stafford was soon found guilty of treason. Henry VIII took control of the castle and it became a beloved retreat for him and his future wives.
The royal home later passed through the hands of Henry VIII’s children, Edward VI and Queen Mary Tudor. Today, it’s a successful hotel and wedding venue. Of course, there are plenty of majestic rooms where guests can relax and soak up the splendor of 16th-century luxury. Every single room is gorgeously presented, with some featuring decorative ceilings, stone fireplaces, four-poster beds and dramatic chandeliers. There’s also a grand ballroom and a dungeon dining room.
The Castle in the Forest, British Columbia, Canada
If you’re not one for traditional, then The Castle in the Forest is sure to appeal to you. Located in scenic Christina Lake, British Columbia, on an enchanting mountainside plot, the property was constructed in 1976 and boasts a storybook façade that makes it totally one of a kind.
The eye-catching home gets its unique shape thanks to multiple layers of steel mesh and reinforced concrete plaster. In fact, it’s very similar to classic bubble homes that were built during the 1970s, only this property was designed to resemble a modern castle. It was also crafted to last for centuries and this traditional building technique renders it resistant to fire, rot and even insects.
Measuring 2,620 square feet, the wonderful white house features colored concrete floors, pretty arched doors and windows, vaulted ceilings and stained-glass elements. As for rooms, there’s a lounge, a kitchen, a music room and a mezzanine office. Yet the home’s best feature is likely its three-story tower, where you’ll find all of the property’s three bedrooms, which are connected via a spiral staircase.
Earlshall Castle, Fife, UK
Earlshall Castle was built in the 16th century and has lost none of its grandeur. The castle is enclosed by 53 acres of parkland near St. Andrews in Fife and has a rich and fascinating history. For starters, it once played host to the infamous monarch, Mary Queen of Scots. Plus, it’s got plenty of space: six reception rooms, 10 bedrooms, six bathrooms and even three cottages for guests. It’s no wonder the pad comes with an eye-watering price tag of $10.1 million.
Undeniably one of the UK’s most remarkable homes, the castle was devised by Sir William Bruce, a “gentleman architect” who’s said to have effectively founded classical architecture in Scotland. Work began in 1546 and he added plenty of defensive elements, like musket loops and small, strategically placed windows as insurance against future invasions. He named the stately home after the hunting lodge of The Erlishall, which was owned by the Earls of Fife, who were relatives of King Robert de Bruce.
Montestrutto Castle, Piedmont, Italy
Located on top of a rocky outcrop overlooking the peaks and troughs of Piedmont and the Aosta Valley, Montestrutto Castle was built in neo-Gothic style, around a 9th-century tower. Truly one of the most romantic castles in the world, the historic gem can be reached via a panoramic staircase that leads to the castle’s enchanting gardens.
Stretching just over 8,600 square feet, the dreamy residence has a large entrance gallery, a living room, a formal dining room, an adjacent kitchen, a stateroom, a studio room, eight bedrooms and three bathrooms. Of course, every single space is decorated beautifully, from painted frescoes that reflect the history of the building, to parquet floors, stained-glass details and huge European fireplaces.
The Castle, Ontario, Canada
With a very apt name, The Castle lies on half an acre of land in the Canadian city of Mississauga, Ontario. Truly impressive, it boasts a seriously dramatic façade, with a fairytale tower, battlements and other dreamy storybook design details. And that’s just the exterior!
The amazing Canadian home has an equally remarkable interior. Constructed in 1976, the pad stretches 2,620 square feet and comes complete with sprawling living spaces, finished with high-end materials and designer furnishings. There’s an entrance hall, several formal living rooms, a dining room, five bedrooms, six bathrooms and two home offices. The huge attic is also waiting to be transformed into a dreamy master suite, while the fully-finished basement is currently the ultimate man cave.
Glenborrodale Castle, Scottish Highlands, UK
Fit for a king or queen, Glenborrodale Castle is situated in the Scottish Highlands and was built using red Dumfriesshire sandstone in 1902. A fine example of a Scots Baronial mansion, the property soars up five stories and boasts everything a VIP could ever need – and much more!
The pad hit the market in summer 2020 for a snip under $4.7 million, but the lucky buyer didn’t just gain a new castle. The listing included 133 acres of land and a private island known as the Isle of Risga. They also gained more than 15,000 square feet of interior space, including 16 bedrooms, three reception rooms and a games room, all kitted out with refined period details. Think marble floors, oak paneling, arched windows and ornate cornicing.
34-bedroom chateau, Franche-Comte, French
Located in Jura, in the French region of Franche-Comte, this incredible 34-bedroom castle sits inside an almost 200-acre walled park and, as well as the five-story castle itself, there’s also a square tower and six outbuildings.
The huge castle was listed in 2018 for around $32.3 million, but is now back on the market with Prestige Property for an undisclosed sum. But we’re sure the price is still eye-watering, especially considering the chateau provides 75,347 square feet of interior space. Fit for a monarch, there’s a grand entrance hall with a Gothic staircase, a Napoleonic drawing room, a billiard room, a library and a summer dining room that opens onto a courtyard garden. Of course, that’s just the tip of the iceberg!
Harold Tower, Isle of Man, UK
This beautiful Gothic castle was built in 1833 and can be found on the coast of Douglas on the Isle of Man. Known as Harold Tower, the remarkable residences has everything you could ask for a private setting within walled grounds, plenty of bedrooms, a separate coach house, a cottage for VIP guests and, of course, wonderful sea views. \
Positioned on an elevated plot overlooking the bay at Douglas Head, the castle is said to be named after King Harold and it isn’t hard to understand why – it’s certainly fit for a royal family. The property was once owned by English painter and engraver John Martin, who created The Plains of Heaven and The Great Day of His Wrath. It was later used as a hotel.
Knockdrin Castle, County Westmeath, Ireland
Once hosting the likes of Sir Winston Churchill, the incredible 18th-century Knockdrin Castle is located in County Westmeath in Ireland. The Gothic Revival property is situated within a scenic parkland estate, stretching more than 1,000 acres. Let’s take a closer look..
The huge castle was built by Sir Richard Levinge, who commissioned Sir Richard Morrison to design the imposing structure in 1810. However, neither of Morrison’s two designs were built and the castle we see today has been credited to James Shiel, assistant to Francis Johnston, one of Ireland’s best-known architects. However, according to the listing, the exterior of the castle was influenced by Morrison’s discarded designs.