These Beautiful Castles In California Are Brimming With European Charm, According To A Tourist

Having visited most of the countries in Europe and lived in Italy for a bit, I've stood in line at more than my fair share of castles. I've trekked cobbled streets to Edinburgh Castle and gazed at the crown jewels inside the Tower of London. I have also walked the vast grounds of Prague Castle, which is one of the enchanting tourist attractions in Prague (in the rain, too, and it was worth it). Even though I recommend exploring every bucket list item you can snag a plane ticket for, you don't need to go to Europe to see European-style castles. But if you are planning on doing so, check out Rick Steves' all-time favorite castles you can't miss on your trip to Europe.

There are plenty of European castles humming along in California, some hiding on residential streets while others see hundreds of thousands of visitors per year. I rounded up the prettiest California castles with the most authentic European nods, based on my personal experiences seeing Europe's most iconic castles. The castles on this list feature moats, stone towers stretching towards the sky, frescoes, gargoyles, and more. Learn more about how I assembled this list by reading the last slide of this article.

A castle isn't an obvious home for a San Francisco brewery that's less than a 30-minute drive from Haight-Ashbury. But it was to English immigrant John Hamlin Burnell, who constructed Albion Castle in 1870 to make way for Albion Porter & Ale Brewery. Inspired by the Norman castles that Burnell saw across the pond, his castle included a 6-story stone tower, 2- to 3-foot-wide walls, and two cisterns. Norman-style castles in England include the Tower of London and Windsor Castle. Although the Tower of London is much larger than Albion Castle, they both feature a central tower, a staple of Norman-style castles.

Burnell's efforts wouldn't thrive forever. He died 20 years later, and then the brewery battled an earthquake, Prohibition, and potential highway development. The castle hit another blow when plans to re-ignite the former brewery fell apart. But thanks to a former San Francisco Police lieutenant who was also a real estate investor, the property lives on as a 50-seat event venue. Guests can utilize its bedrooms, outdoor patio, dining room, and more, all with historic nods. Past guests have included cast members of "The Real Housewives of New Jersey" and Google employees.

Unless you have a booking, don't expect to catch a glimpse of this castle. Located on a residential street, it's surrounded by foliage, fences, and modern mansions. A better way to see it is by watching "Ghost Adventures," which featured the property in 2019.

Nothing is more European than a castle full of wine. That's just what Castello di Amorosa, a Calistoga winery that's a 35-minute drive from Santa Rosa, is. As the only medieval Tuscan-style castle in the United States, it's a blast from The Boot that even looks like it's situated in the Tuscan countryside. That authenticity is only natural, being that Italian winemaker Dario Sattui built the castle before opening it for business in 2007. And no, it's not just for show. Nearly all of the castle's rooms are used for the winery operation, including rooms with walls built of bottled wine that weren't quite up to par and those packed with French wine barrels.

Plenty of other European nods are also packed into this massive castle, which spans 141,000 square feet. It has stainless steel wine tanks from Italy, an armory with historic European armor, a Great Hall with Italian fresco replicas, and a barrel room with Roman cross-vaulted ceilings. In some ways, it reminds me of a mix of the Tuscan castles Palazzo Vecchio and Pitti Palace, both in Florence. Palazzo Vecchio has numerous colorful, detailed frescoes inside, while Pitti Palace is surrounded by vast gardens.

Visitors can see Castello di Amorosa by booking a tour and tasting, which costs $75. It's worth it, according to Tripadvisor users. "A special visit, in so many ways!" wrote one past visitor on Tripadvisor. "This is not an amusement park building but an actual, legitimate European-style castle."

Tourists who've spent time in England — or have seen select film and television productions — will think that they've seen Castle Lion Heart in Oak Glen before. And they're not wrong. Modeled after the over 600-year-old Bodiam Castle in East Sussex, England, Castle Lion Heart is a filming location that's a 40-minute drive from San Bernardino.

Here, those looking to see the backdrop to their favorite flicks will discover authentic European-style castle features, such as a sundial, a gargoyle fountain, and a drawbridge with a moat. They'll also see four stately, stone towers brimming with ivy that stretch six stories. Its Bodiam Castle inspiration, which dates back to the 1300s, also has a moat and several towers and has been used as a filming location. Parts of "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" were filmed on its grounds.

Even Castle Lion Heart's surrounding landscape feels European, as this secluded castle property includes grape vines, a stream, an apple orchard, and waterfalls on 7.5 acres. Inside, the space looks just as otherworldly, as it features oversized curved windows and exposed beams, making it seem straight out of a fairytale.

California businessman and rope company owner Alfred Lovering Tubb couldn't have been further from a Frenchman spending his evenings sipping on the best that Bordeaux and Champagne have to offer. But free of the ropes that constrained him during his working years, he built a winery about a 40-minute drive from Napa inside a castle based on his French travels after his retirement. Years after his death, and during the Prohibition, which halted the winery's operation for 13 years, his grandson renamed Tubb's winery "Chateau Montelena."

Despite several changes of ownership, what's now Chateau Montelena Winery in Calistoga continues to thrive from behind an ivy-covered stone façade. That unforgettable view is also featured on Chateau Montelena Winery's wine labels. Furthering its French country feel, the castle towers above 110 acres of vineyards. It's so authentically French that its wines beat out several French wineries in the 1973 Judgment of Paris.

You don't need to be a French wine connoisseur to appreciate the European flair that this castle possesses. One Tripadvisor user wrote in a review titled "Closest you'll get to a European Chateau": "We were unprepared for how beautiful the grounds are. We spent well over an hour strolling after our wine tasting in the Chateau. While they are known for their Chardonnays, be prepared for how beautiful the reds are. We were blown away. It was one of the highlights of our trip. We'll be back."

If you're ever asked to name a castle in California, the Hearst Castle in San Simeon, which is about a 15-minute drive from Cambria, is likely the first one that will come to mind — as it should. This colossal, historic castle dates back to the glory days of yellow journalism, when William Randolph Hearst was a newspaper magnate with money to spare. Named La Cuesta Encantada, which translates to "Enchanted Hill" in English, his castle, dating back to 1919, has 165 rooms, all set on 123 acres. It's built in a Mediterranean style and lifts inspiration from several notable European castles, like Santa Maria la Mayor in Spain.

Hearst Castle has plenty of other European touches. That's especially evident through the castle's art collection, which spans Greek and Roman antiques as well as Italian and Spanish carved and painted ceilings. Some of the pieces were taken from European castles, such as choir stalls from La Seu d'Urgell Cathedral in Spain. The exterior of the castle also looks like a work of art, as it's covered in decorative carvings and sculptures. Like many real European castles, Hearst Castle is encircled by colorful gardens.

Visitors can see Hearst Castle's European flair by booking tickets starting at $35 per adult and $18 per child. It's one of America's most quirky homes that offers unique tours. As one past visitor wrote on Tripadvisor, "This place totally gave me European castle vibes. definitely worth a stop! I'll be back again for sure!"

Today, Ledson Winery & Vineyard in Kenwood is an acclaimed winery, having garnered accolades such as the Wine of the Year award for its 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve. However, it wasn't founder Steve Ledson's priority to make wine. Instead, in 1989, he wanted to build a European-style castle in which he could live. But surrounded by vineyards — as well as curious passersby — it was only natural to make the castle into a winery, too.

Since then, the French Normandy-style castle and its wines have attracted countless visitors for tastings that start at $45 per person. With its gothic spires and towering archways, Ledson Winery & Vineyard has some resemblance to the Abbey of Mont Saint-Michel, a phenomenal floating French castle. That's all thanks to Ledson, who, as a former construction company owner, designed the 16,000-square-foot castle himself. With expansive staircases, Gothic windows, balconies, fountains, turrets, and hand-cut wood inlays and mosaics, it's a must-see sight that just so happens to offer amazing wines. It's even been nicknamed simply as "The Castle."

Just ask Tripadvisor users, who have given Ledson Winery & Vineyard 4.2 stars. "Ledson is definitely a must see. While I am inclined to spend my time tasting at the smaller boutique wineries this is without question a site you will want to see [sic]," wrote one past visitor on Tripadvisor who titled their review "A little taste of Europe on the Sonoma Highway." Ledson Winery & Vineyard is less than a 20-minute drive from Santa Rosa.

Many of us have flown home from a trip to Europe feeling inspired by age-old dwellings, ornate architecture, and stone walls that might as well speak. But Denise Antico-Donlon took that inspiration after visiting Scotland and did something with it. Also using her Italian background, Antico-Donlon renovated a ranch-style cabin and transformed it into Lobo Castle in 2008.

It cost $1.2 million and took nearly a decade to bring her dream of owning a Jacobean-style 17th-century castle to life. Located in the Santa Monica Mountains, about a 15-minute drive from Calabasas, Lobo Castle — also known as Castello Dontico — is now a spot for video productions, photo shoots, and overnight stays. It's been featured on everything from The Food Network to "Cribs" to Demi Lovato's music video for her hit song "Tell Me You Love Me."

People can stay in this stone castle that features winding staircases, a dungeon, iron chandeliers, and exposed beams by booking an overnight in the 30-foot guest tower. It's just how Antico-Donlon imagined it, based on how castle lords once invited their families and loved ones to visit for days on end. Perhaps that's also just how it went in other Jacobean-style castles such as Hatfield House and Aston Hall, both of which are in England.

When rail magnate Henry Harrison McCloskey's San Francisco home was destroyed in an earthquake, he made lemons out of lemonade. Instead of moving into another run-of-the-mill mansion, he built a medieval-style castle inspired by his wife Emily's former Scottish abode. Both fire- and earthquake-proof, the Scottish-like castle was safe, as well as grandiose, with 22 rooms and 4 square turrets. But after the family moved on — and the castle served as everything from a speakeasy to an illegal abortion clinic — the residence dating back to 1908 got even better.

Sam Mazza, an interior decorating contractor for 20th Century Fox, brought the castle back to its former glory in 1959. As the namesake of the castle today, he also adorned it with antiques and stunning décor before transforming it into a charitable foundation. Now, people can see every room of the European-inspired castle on a historian-led, 90-minute tour, which occurs once per month for $30 per person. Sam's Castle is a 15-minute drive from the San Francisco International Airport.

"I absolutely love this most unique and beautiful place," wrote one past visitor on Tripadvisor. "Everywhere you turn there's some well preserved antique. The presence of the space itself is beyond beautiful; it has a peaceful sense."

Since the creation of Disneyland in Anaheim, the hallmark of the park and the brand has been the surprisingly 77-foot-tall Sleeping Beauty Castle. With a fantasy-esque pink façade, blue towers, a grotto, a wishing well, and a moat, it is the culmination of the many fairy tales that Disney is known for. However, it took its inspiration in 1955 from something much more rooted in reality — the Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria, Germany, which is one of Europe's most mesmerizing cliffside castles.

Designed with medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque elements, Neuschwanstein Castle is a grand, larger-than-life destination with countless towers and a moat. The Sleeping Beauty Castle and Neuschwanstein Castle are so similar that the latter is also known as The Disney Castle." The Sleeping Beauty Castle also takes inspiration from other notable European structures, such as Notre Dame Cathedral, as the Anaheim castle has the same spire as the French church.

Since the castle's opening, people have been able to experience the story of Sleeping Beauty by touring the ornate castle, which is a 10-minute drive from Santa Ana. Walkthroughs are available nearly every day from 8 a.m. to midnight, which include 3D displays, special effects, and sounds. There is no extra fee to tour the castle, nor are reservations needed. "It doesn't matter how many times you have visited Disneyland, it is still a thrill to walk through the Sleeping Beauty Castle and into Fantasyland!" wrote one past visitor on Tripadvisor.

Lora Josephine Knight was English, but as a Scandinavian traveler, she knew a Scandinavian castle when she saw one. With the help of her nephew, a Swedish architect, the two built Vikingsholm in 1929 after a year of construction and with the aid of 200 workers. Located on the only island on Lake Tahoe, Vikingsholm is one of the best examples of Scandinavian architecture in America. Even the castle's location is fitting to the Nordic area, as Emerald Bay, where the castle calls home, looks like Norwegian fjords.

Knight was so committed to keeping Vikingsholm true to Scandinavian designs that she and her nephew visited Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Finland for inspiration. Perusing stone castles and wood churches, they designed Vikingsholm with Swedish-style granite boulders enmeshed in mortar and Nordic-style, hand-sewn timbers. The castle also features Nordic-style dragon carvings on the roofs and dragon beams on the living room ceiling. Although Knight couldn't buy the Scandinavian pieces she loved in museums, she had workers create them for the décor of the home.

As a frequent visitor to Norway, Vikingsholm reminds me of many Norwegian structures, such as Fantoft Stave Church in Bergen, which has dragon motifs. People can see Vikingsholm by taking a 1-mile hike or by boating to the 232-acre property. It's a 20-minute drive from Meeks Bay. Guides lead 30-minute seasonal tours of the State and National Historic Landmark for $18 per adult and $15 per child.

Sylvestre Dupuy lived the American dream in 1920s California by becoming a rich rancher. However, he never forgot his past growing up in the Pyrenees mountains of France. So, he brought the past to life by building what is now Wrensmoor Castle in Alhambra, a French Pyrenees-style château that's a 10-minute drive from Los Angeles. Now, the 8,500-square-foot castle sits on a 2.7-acre hill, just like how French Pyrenees-style châteaus tend to be in elevated positions. With all-encompassing views, the Dupuys called their castle "The House on the Hill."

However, it almost became the forgotten house on a hill. After Sylvestre died and the family moved out, the castle became an apartment building before being deserted. History continued to be unkind to the home as renovation projects fell apart, and later, its owner, Phil Spector, went to prison. In 2022, Wrensmoor Castle found new life as an overnight venue. It has been completely renovated and now, up to 24 people can stay overnight. The property continues to feature peaked, red-roofed towers, fountains, lion statues, carved staircases, exposed wood beams, and antique murals.

Guests can utilize its vintage amenities, like a ballroom with a dance floor and a speakeasy. The castle also has contemporary touches such as Wi-Fi, an electric vehicle charging station, memory foam beds, and Sonos speakers. The property, which dates back to 1925, can be booked on Airbnb for $4,862 per night. For a more affordable stay at an American castle, check out these castle-inspired hotels. 

While traveling throughout Europe, I always felt there was an ancient castle around every corner that dated back centuries longer than the United States has existed. From Italy to Prague, these castles are made in a variety of styles, but they always have one thing in common — they're elegant, massive, and foreboding. In America, we don't have the history or castle selection that our neighbors across the pond enjoy. But I rounded up the California castles with the most European charm, based on my own travels throughout the continent.

To find them, I scoured travel blogs and guides, reviews on sites such as Tripadvisor, and articles from news organizations. Then, I chose the castles that I've detailed here based on those that were inspired by European castles or had common European castle elements, like moats, towers, and impressive stonework.