Miniature Castles Megapost
We’ve explored many castles in the past on Google Sightseeing – whether large, illegal or remote – but there are many more diminutive castles out there worth exploring.
Nunney Castle in Somerset may be historic, but is barely larger than many houses in the village that surrounds it.
Broadway Tower in Worcestershire may be tall, but it’s only large enough for one room on each of its three floors.
Burg Rabenstein is one of Germany’s smallest castles, again barely larger than nearby houses.
While an Englishman’s home may be his castle – that’s literally true for the residents of this home in Georgia, which is slightly less venerable than the castles mentioned above.
Constructed from local granite and marble, at around 140 square metres the castle is actually a fairly modest size compared to most suburban residences constructed these days.
The Street View car passed by under gloomy skies, giving the castle a brooding air as would befit a rather more historic castle in the old world.
No self-respecting castle would be complete without a moat, and here it even opens up into a swimming pool behind the house, visible on Live Maps. There’s even something resembling a gate house (which I assume is actually a pool house), and the whole property is also bordered by a suitably impressive fence.
There are tiny castles all over the world – let us know of any in your area!
Thanks to Alex Makarishev and Dennis.
There is a castle in Versailles, KY. While Google’s imagery is too poor to show it, you can see it in Live Maps very well.
http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&FORM=LMLTCC&cp=qb703p7yc0wp&style=b&lvl=1&tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&scene=24577564&phx=0&phy=0&phscl=1&encType=1
The castle had been a mystery for decades, until the man who originally built it — and never finished it — died several years ago. A lawyer from the area who now lives in Florida purchased it from the man’s family a few years ago. Shortly after this, the building was destroyed in a fire. At the time this shot was taken, the castle was in the process of being rebuilt. It is now complete and finally open to the public.
For those interested, there is a website with more information.
http://www.postcastle.com/
John – that’s awesome! The wall and corner towers just top it off nicely.
Dad: Now you kids behave or I’ll lock you in the tower!
Wise-ass Kid: Oh yeah, which one? {smack} OW!
There is a castle in Truro, MA that is known as the “Jenny Lind Tower” and is simply a lone castle tower.
Placemark: Google Maps / Google Earth
It is situated next to the now-closed North Truro Air Force Base, and is directly adjacent to a huge radar dome (an odd juxtaposition when you see it in person).
Legend has it that Lind sang from the tower, when it was located in Boston in the 1850’s, in order to quell the masses of people who were unable to get tickets to her performance and that an admirer later had the tower moved to Truro, stone by stone.
Gillette Castle in Connecticut, it’s a home overlooking the Connecticut River built by a rich eccentric, later turned into a state park.
Placemark: Google Maps / Google Earth
In Finland you have the castle of Kajaani, supposedly the smallest stone castle in Europe and the northernmost castle in the world, but unfortunately it’s not really visible in Google Maps.
But then there is always still this (truly) miniature castle in The Netherlands: Placemark: Google Maps / Google Earth
A very cool castle, Château Laroche, also known as the Loveland Castle, can be found just outside of Cincinnati, Ohio. It even has knights who take care of it! It can be seen (barely) at:
Placemark: Google Maps / Google Earth
A somewhat better view can be seen at:
http://maps.live.com/#JnE9eXAuMTIwMjUrU2hvcmUrUmQlMmMrTG92ZWxhbmQrT0hJTys0NTE0MCU3ZXNzdC4wJTdlcGcuMSZiYj00OS40Mzk1NTY5NTg5NDA4JTdlLTQzLjk0NTMxMjUlN2UyNy4yMTU1NTYyMDkwMjk3JTdlLTEyNC4yNzczNDM3NQ==
It has a Web site with some decent photos at:
http://www.lovelandcastle.com
It was built by hand by a man named Harry Andrews who lived in it until his death at the age of 91.
There is an interesting castle like house located in Cleveland, Ohio just due north of the Cleveland Zoo. On Live maps this castle is visible from the aerial shots.
http://maps.live.com/#JnE9eXAuVys0NCtTdHJlZXQrYW5kK1Rvcndvb2QrQ3QlMmMrQ2xldmVsYW5kJTJjK09IKzQ0MTA5JTdlc3N0LjAlN2VwZy4xJmJiPTQxLjQ1MzAyMzMxNDE5MTIlN2UtODEuNzE0MTUwNjQzMTMyMSU3ZTQxLjQ1MTEzOTA1Mjc1NzklN2UtODEuNzE1OTYzNzg5ODQ4MQ==
I guess I’ll have to start building a castle.
Richtofen Castle is always a cool one. Located smack in the middle of the Doctor/Lawyer district of Denver and full of WWI memorabilia. It was built by the Red Baron if I remember correctly…
Placemark: Google Maps / Google Earth
Richthofen Castle was built by the uncle of the Red Baron, Walter von Richthofen.