The mystery behind famous castles of love

Boldt Castle

Among the thousands of islands of varying sizes on the Saint Lawrence River, near Alexandria Bay, New York, USA, Boldt Castle stands out not only for its imposing architecture but also for the deep imprint of love etched into every wall. Its owner, George Boldt, painstakingly built it to express his profound love for his wife, Louise, on Valentine's Day in 1905.

The castle was built by a team of 300 workers, including builders, carpenters, and decorators, over a period of five years, from 1900 to 1905. The Boldt Castle, in a medieval and Victorian architectural style, had six floors, 120 rooms, a system of tunnels, a power plant, an Italian-style garden, a bridge, a children's playhouse, and a pigeon coop. However, construction of Boldt Castle was left unfinished when George Boldt's wife, Louise, died a year before its completion. From then on, George Boldt stopped working on it and never returned to the island that held such painful memories of his loss.

In 1977, the government bought back the castle after 73 years of abandonment and damage caused by harsh weather for just $1 and began restoration. Now, Boldt Castle is a romantic destination for young couples and newlyweds on Valentine's Day and honeymoons.

Swallow's Nest

Swallow's Nest, the "Castle of Love," a symbol of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea in southern Ukraine, is one of the most famous romantic castles near Yalta on the Black Sea, built in 1912 in the modern Gothic style.

Sadly, before people could fully appreciate the fairytale-like love story, the castle suffered a great loss. In 1927, a 6-7 magnitude earthquake severely damaged the Aurora Borealis rock formation where the castle stood, forcing its closure for 40 years. After its restoration, Swallow's Nest became a destination for diners to enjoy exquisite cuisine and experience the romantic atmosphere of the Ai-Todor Peninsula and the Black Sea coast at night.

Casa Loma

When visiting the beautiful Canadian capital of Toronto, tourists cannot miss Casa Loma (Spanish for "Roof on the Hill"), a Gothic-style castle that Major General Sir Henry Mill Pellatt promised to build for his beautiful wife Mary between 1911 and 1914.

Driven by his immense love for his wife, Henry spared no expense, spending a colossal $5 million (approximately $65 million today) and employing 300 workers to complete Canada's largest private "house," a three-story structure with 98 rooms and modern furnishings. Sadly, after just 10 years of living in their dream castle, Henry had to sell the castle for $1.5 million and the furniture for $250,000 due to his inability to pay taxes caused by the devaluation of currency during World War I.

Casa Loma is now a large museum surrounded by a beautiful natural garden – a popular destination for tourists to visit.

Captain's Castle

Located in Cameron, Oklahoma, USA, Captain Castle may not be enormous in size or vast in area, but it is considered the greatest testament to a beautiful love story.

In fact, J.E. Reynolds was an extreme, blind chauvinist, and therefore, respect for women and their contributions to him was "rare." His views changed after Reynolds was severely wounded during the American Civil War (1861-1865) and narrowly escaped death thanks to the devoted care of the two daughters of his Union officer. From then on, he became Captain Reynolds with an even greater sense of chivalry and had a romantic ending with his wife Felicity, a descendant of a distinguished Choctaw chieftain. In 1890, he had Reynolds Castle, also known as Captain's Castle, built as a testament to his love for his beloved wife.

T.B.B.

Ignoring its vast size, its domes, and its towering white marble spires that have withstood the test of time, and disregarding its architectural style that blends Indian, Islamic, and ancient Persian (now the Islamic Republic of Iran) influences, along with the exquisite craftsmanship of its interior details, the Taj Mahal is a magnificent and romantic, yet tragic, monument to love located in the ancient capital of Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Simply put, it is the mausoleum that Emperor Shah Jahan (1592-1666) built for his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal to rest in after she gave birth to Princess Gauhara Begum in 1631. It took a full 22 years to complete the Taj Mahal. It is also the final resting place of Shah Jahan after his death.

Kellie's Castle

Kellie's Castle is the oldest castle in Malaysia, built by Scottish plantation owner Kellie William Smith for his wife Agnes before they moved to Malaysia in 1903. In 1915, to celebrate the birth of their first son and to alleviate Agnes's homesickness, Kellie decided to expand the castle and rename it Kellie's Folly, incorporating a blend of Greek, Roman, Moroccan, and Indian architecture.

A Spanish flu pandemic claimed the lives of 70 construction workers, and with Kellie dying of pneumonia, the remaining workers left Kellie's Castle unfinished. Since then, the castle has been the subject of many eerie and mysterious ghost stories. To this day, Kellie's Castle remains a fascinating destination for adventurous ghost hunters.

Thornewood Castle

The love story behind this ancient 15th-century castle differs from the stories told above. Chester Thorn, the castle's owner, had it built after he and his wife Anna had been married for 20 years. Besides its ancient beauty, the castle is also "decorated" with a giant chessboard, a reminder of the couple's true and enduring love. Many generations of the Thorne family have lived here.

Today, the entire grounds surrounding the castle gardens are where couples hold their wedding ceremonies. But many still understand that the castle was a gift from Chester Thorn to his beloved Anna. It is a testament to love with the most beautiful ending, free from loss and separation.

Taj Lake Palace

Taj Lake is a floating palace built on Lake Pichola between 1743 and 1746 in the city of Udaipur, Rajasthan, India.

The construction of the Taj Lake Palace is linked to the story of the extravagant lifestyle of the young Prince Singh II. Wanting to "confine" his son and his lavish pleasures, Emperor Maharana Udai Singh commissioned the construction of a palace on the lake for the prince and his concubines to enjoy the moonlight. After three years of construction, the floating palace was completed with unexpected grandeur and magnificence. Taj Lake is one of the four most magnificent palaces on Lake Pichola. Today, the palace has been transformed by King Bhagwat Singh into one of the most luxurious and romantic hotels in the world.

Torrechiara Castle

This is one of the largest castles in beautiful northern Italy, built between 1448 and 1460. Count Pier Maria II Rossi (1413-1482) of San Secondo commissioned this magnificent and luxurious castle to express his sincere love for his beloved Bianca Pellegrini.

Situated on a vast foothills, Torrechiara Castle, built in the late medieval style, is notable for its four large towers and sturdy, serrated ramparts. The castle's interior features a collection of artistic murals on the walls and ceiling, including a romantic depiction of two intertwined hearts with the inscription "Now and Forever."

Layton Castle

Layton Castle in Utah wasn't built for true love, but for bitter revenge. The story goes that a wife was advised by her mother to divorce her husband and marry a wealthier man. She followed the advice and moved with her new husband to Utah, living in a grand house in the valley. But not long after she remarried, her first husband had amassed a fortune and become rich. Whether out of love… or hatred, he also moved to Utah and built a castle east of Layton – right near her house. From Layton Castle, one could see every house in the valley all the way to the Great Salt Lake… And every time she stood by the sink and looked out the window, she saw her ex-husband's beautiful castle towering before her. The lesson here is that sometimes you shouldn't listen to your mother!

In another legend about Layton Castle in Utah, the structure was built to honor a real-life Cinderella love story: Gary Willey, a charming and wealthy young man, fell in love with a beautiful, poor girl named Lynda Roundy. They married, but shortly after, Lynda was diagnosed with breast cancer. During a time when her condition was in remission, Gary vowed to build her a dream home – complete with a swimming pool, tennis court, and a beautiful stable. Shortly after construction began, Lynda passed away. Although she did not live to see her dream home completed, her husband finished the castle as planned. Gary then dedicated the castle to his lost love and occasionally held short tours.

Dobroyd Castle

Built in 1869 in Todmorden, England, Dobroyd Castle stands as a promise of love and has become a honeymoon destination.

John Fielden, the son of a wealthy capitalist, fell in love with Ruth Stansfield, an ordinary weaver. Fielden proposed to her, but she said she would only agree if he built her a castle on a hill. Determined to build a castle for his beloved, John Fielden constructed Dobroyd Castle, a magnificent structure with 66 luxurious rooms, stables for 17 horses, four smaller towers, and a main tower.

Sadly, however, the magnificent castle did not help their love flourish and have a happy ending. Their love gradually faded over time. After his wife's death, Mr. Fielden remarried and, after being disabled in an accident, had to live the rest of his life in a wheelchair.

Kentucky Castle

Kentucky Castle is located on Versailles Road, between Frankfort and Lexington in the state of Kentucky, USA.

Construction began in 1969, on a total area of ​​240 m².²The castle, built by Rex Martin, was modeled after a castle they had built during their honeymoon in Europe. Sadly, they divorced before it was completed. Surrounding the castle are four majestic ramparts with four towers on each side, enclosing the entire vast estate, along with a swimming pool and sports fields.

In 2004, a lawyer living in Miami, Florida, spent nearly $2 million to buy the castle, but a fire destroyed it completely. In 2008, the castle was completely redesigned, and now Kentucky is a popular destination for tourists to relax, dine, and even hold weddings.

Craigdarroch Castle

Craigdarroch Castle in Victoria, British Columbia, was built after Robert Dunsmuir promised that "when I am rich, I will build a new house for my wife Joan." Dunsmuir commissioned Warren H. Williams and Arthur L. Smith of Portland, Oregon, to design the castle in 1887. Williams died four months after the project began, but Smith continued and completed the castle. Robert Dunsmuir died in 1889, a year before the castle was finished. The cost of this Victorian-style castle is estimated at $500,000. The interior woodwork alone filled five train cars from Chicago and cost $32,000.

The castle's original grounds spanned 28 acres. Eighty-seven steps must be climbed to reach the top of the tower for breathtaking views below: Victoria Harbour to the west, the Juan de Fuca Strait to the south, the Olympic Mountains and the San Juan Islands to the east, as well as the city of Victoria. The castle itself covers an area of ​​over 1,858 square meters.²Spanning 39 rooms across 4.5 floors and boasting 17 fireplaces, the castle's exterior is constructed of marble, granite, sandstone, terracotta, and Vermont slate in the Romanesque style.

The castle has been designated a National Historic Landmark of Canada and is currently owned by the Craigdarroch Castle Historic Museums Association. In addition to attracting 150,000 visitors annually, Craigdarroch Castle has also been featured in the films: Little Women (1994), Spooky House (2000), and Cats & Dogs (2001).

Larnach Castle

Standing out on the Otago Peninsula in the beautiful country of New Zealand is Larnach Castle, one of the largest, most majestic, and magnificent architectural structures in the Southern Hemisphere.

William Larnach commissioned the construction of this castle in 1871. By 1887, along with the ballroom as a 21st birthday gift for his beloved daughter Katie, the castle was perfectly completed, boasting a total of 43 rooms, a ballroom, and a staff of 46 professional room attendants. However, this did not bring happiness to the castle's owner. And this is the origin of the rumors, hauntings, and horror stories surrounding Larnach.

To this day, Larnach Castle remains a captivating destination for adventure, mystery, and spooky experiences throughout New Zealand and around the world.

Leeds Castle

Leeds Castle is located near Kent, in southeastern England. Originally a large Norman fortress (the northern Vikings from Scandinavia), it is now better known as a symbol of love situated beside the tranquil River Len.

King Richard II (1367-1400) of England gifted Leeds Castle to Queen Anne as a token of his love for her. The castle served as a peaceful retreat for the king, offering refuge from the troubles and bloodshed of warlike nobles. Leeds Castle has been used by many noblewomen throughout history, from Queen Anne of England, Queen Eleanor, and Queen Isabella of King Edward II of France, to King Henry V, who even gifted it to his beloved wife, Queen Catherine de Valois. It can be said that Leeds Castle is a testament to the unwavering love of monarchs for their wives.

Huong Thao