You don’t need to travel to Europe to see some French chateaux or Italian castelli. There are some elegant European-style castles dotted all across the state of Vermont. From sprawling family homes to estates with moats, bridges and barns, Vermont’s castles are full of history and elegant features that are sure to thrill history buffs and architectural lovers. So, whether you want to stay in one, tour one, or get married in one, we’ve got you covered with our list of the best castles in Vermont.
7 Best Castles in Vermont
1. Wilson Castle – Proctor, Rutland County
The Wilson family built this castle in the middle of the 19th-century in the heart of the Green Mountains. Five generations of the Wilson family have called this castle home. The building has elements of English country castles, with the facade set with English brick and marble with no fewer than nineteen open proscenium arches. Other castle-like features include a towering turret, parapet, and balcony. The three-storey castle has 32 rooms, 84 stained-glass windows and 13 fireplaces. Set on 115 acres, the estate also has cattle barns, stables, a carriage house, and a glasshouse. The views of the Vermont countryside from the estates are incredibly pretty and scenic. It’s no wonder so many people choose Wilson Castle as their wedding venue. You can also take a tour of ‘Vermont’s Only Real Castle’. For those who like a scare, there are haunted tours too.
2. The Richardson Building – Burlington
Developer Albert Richmon constructed the Richardson Palace in 1895 in the style of a French chateau, as evident by its rounded bay windows surmounted by conical roofs and finials. However, technically it is of “Scoto-French” design as its style combines Scottish baronial revival with that of French Chateauesque. If you look closely, you’ll see that in the centre of all of the iron balconies is a capital letter ‘R’. Located right at the head of the Church Street Marketplace, this formidable four-and-a-half-story structure won an award for its “significant contribution to the physical or architectural quality of downtown Burlington”.
3. Gregoire Castle – Westmore, Orleans County
You’ll find the gorgeous Gregorie Castle, aka The North East Kingdom Castle and Irasburg Castle near Lake Willoughby in the town of Westmore in Orleans County. This beautiful Bavarian-style castle sits on 20 acres of landscaped grounds with breathtaking mountain views – sunsets from here are spectacular. The castle also has a moat – as all good castles should- and a pond complete with elegant fountains. There are walking paths through the woods so you can take in the tranquil natural surroundings. For warming up after your walk, there is a large bluestone terrace with a fire pit jutting out over the pond and there is a balcony from where one can wave at the loyal subjects below.
4. The Orchard House / Everett Mansion – Bennington
Wealthy Ohio businessman Edward Everett built this striking mansion in the 1910s. He based it on the style of the English feudal mansions of the 14th-century. The Everett family used it as their summer house. The outside is made from locally quarried blue limestone and the red terra-cotta roof tiles were made in Italy. The courtyard also features a cascade reminiscent of ornate Italian gardens. However, the main attraction of the house is the views. From the grounds, you can see the Bennington Monument, downtown Bennington, Mount Anthony and the steeple of the Old First Church. Inside, the old music room and dining room still have original tapestry wallpaper, sterling silver fittings – including a solid sterling chandelier – Cuban mahogany and local black marble. The Everett Mansion truly is one of the state’s architectural gems.
5. Mari-Castle – Randolph, Orange County
The architectural firm, George Edward Harding & Gooch built this summer estate in 1886 for Albert Brown Chandler. He was the president of the nationwide Postal Telegraph Company. They named the castle after his wife Marilla. The architectural firm designed the main building in the Queen Ann Victorian style, however, the workers extensively redesigned the building in the mid-1890s to give it a more Chateauesque appearance. In 1990, the government placed the castle on the National Register of Historic Places.
