If you visit Tennesee’s official tourism website, you’ll probably see more mentions of country music, whiskey trails, and the King of Rock n’ Roll than castles. However, the state that bills itself as “America at its best” also includes some of the coolest medieval buildings on this side of the Atlantic.

If you fancy playing lord or ladyship for a day, touring ancient relics, or sleeping in a four-post bed at night, keep reading.

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Castle Gwynn

Address: 2124 Newcastle Road, Arrington, TN 37014

Built: 1980-2006

What’s the story of Castle Gwynn?

Castle Gwyn’s inspiration and name are both of Welsh origin. Castell Coch, a 19th-century fort in South Wales, inspired the Gothic Revival styling and the castle’s namesake, gwynn, means “white” in Welsh—a perfect match for its iconic seven-story white turrets.

Architect and photographer Mike Freeman (and his wife, Jackie) took 26 years to build this dream home, which began as a sketch in 1970 while Freeman was in high school. The interior features suits of armor, concealed electrical and heating systems, and a 450-year-old original painting of Queen Elizabeth I.

Castle Gwyn has served as the perfect backdrop for numerous events, such as weddings (including the Freemans’ own), the music video for “Love Story” by Taylor Swift in 2008, and the yearly Tennessee Renaissance Festival in May. There’s no doubt that Castle Gwynn’s is well on its way to becoming as historic a building as any you could find overseas.

How to visit Castle Gwynn

Fortunately, following a hiatus during the COVID-19 pandemic, Castle Gwynn will once again open its doors to welcome the annual Tennessee Renaissance Festival in May 2022! You can reserve tickets on the

official website

, buy merchandise, and book private photoshoots at the castle with Mike Freeman himself.

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Beasley Castle

Address: Chattanooga, TN

Built: 2013-2017

What’s the story of Beasley Castle?

Similar to many of the structures on this list, Beasley Castle began life as a daydream in the mind of her owner, Chris Beasley. Hard work, a large line of financing, and a successful business venture helped turn this dream into a reality.

Fittingly, Beasly runs the online store

Valyrian Steel

—an officially licensed replica manufacturer for the Game of Thrones fantasy franchise. Beasley counts series author George R. R. Martin as a close personal friend; no doubt he’s visited the castle at some point and been impressed by what he saw.

Within and without, Beasley Castle’s attention to detail is meticulous. Its 12-foot-thick stone and rebar walls overlook three states on a clear day from atop Raccoon Mountain. Beasley (the owner) allowed for modern amenities like a swimming pool, concealed garage, and geothermal heating. But the relatively small windows, rustic iron light fixtures, and lack of a moat stress his ultimate vision: that of a period-accurate, highly-defensible (and authentic) military fortress.

How to visit Beasley Castle

Beasley Castle is a private residence. The Beasley family asks tourists to respect their privacy by taking photographs from the road and not trespassing on the land. You can follow this incredible structure through the seasons and send photography requests through

Beasley Castle’s official Instagram account

Pro Tip For a gorgeous and detailed look inside, check out the
online portfolio
by River Street Architecture, the firm responsible for building the castle!

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Williamswood Castle

Address: Knoxville, TN

Built: 1991-1997

What’s the story of Williamswood Castle?

Modeled after a medieval Scottish hunting lodge,

Williamswood Castle

offers fantasy and hospitality in equal measure thanks to its loving construction. The Roy family matriarch, Julia Tucker (an incredible community activist, local politician, and infamously feisty character) built the castle in honor of her late son, Bill Powell when he lost his battle with AIDS in 1991.

The castle’s design, furnishings, and fixtures reclaimed from local buildings pay homage to her son’s love of Scotland, historical preservation, and playing the bagpipes.

Still, Williamswood is decidedly not a gloomy castle. There’s plenty to admire among the replica Michelangelo frescoes (with some cheeky family substitutions), forty-two stained glass windows, and antique furniture. Visitors can relax on the deck among ponds and gardens. Plus, there’s plenty to discover—rumor has it there are two secret passages hidden inside the house!

How to visit Williamswood Castle

Book a night or two through the castle’s

Airbnb

page and the entire grounds become yours to explore! Williamswood Castle is situated on 500 feet of riverfront just ten minutes from downtown

Knoxville

, among the 300 plus acres of forest tended by the Ijams Nature Centre.

Historic Rock Castle

Address: 139 Rock Castle Lane, Hendersonville, TN 37075

Built: 1784-1794

What’s the story of Historic Rock Castle?

Situated on several thousand acres next to Drake’s Creek, Historic Rock Castle was built on land granted to General Daniel Smith for his service in the Revolutionary War. Exemplary craftsmanship and continued care at the hands of the Smith family have kept the castle’s condition mostly unchanged for the past 200 years.

Today, the Rock Castle State Historic Site is managed just as carefully by a board of directors drawn from members of the local community. Ever enduring, the building has played witness to frontier settlements, slavery, urban sprawl, and centuries of community growth in Middle Tennessee. Who knows what it might see in the years to come?

How to visit Historic Crock Castle

Visitors can find information on tour hours (reservations are recommended), photography sessions, weddings, field trips, holiday events, camp registrations, and more on the

official Historic Rock Castle website

. You can also reach out directly by emailing

info@historicrockcastle.com

or calling 615-824-0502.

Spring Castle

Address: 1080-1278 Great Falls Road, Rock Island, TN 38581

Built: 1890s

What’s the story of Spring Castle?

Spring Castle has less romantic origins than the other buildings on this list, but this whimsical stone structure has aged into a beloved local landmark of Rock Island State Park.

The “Castle” actually began its life as an oversized springhouse—a stone building used to shelter natural water sources from contamination. Running water helps keep these structures much cooler than their surroundings—a highly useful feature in the days before refrigeration.

Most likely, Spring Castle was used by the workers of the nearby cotton mill to store their meat, fruit, dairy, and other perishable foods. Nowadays, visitors enjoy the “fairy-like” vision of a pointed turret nestled in the woods, water bubbling behind its closed doors.

How to visit Spring Castle

Rock Island State Park’s website

has everything you need to plan your visit, including hours, admission fees, maps, and guides to the other activities offered in the park. You can’t stay inside the Spring Castle (not that you’d want to, since it’d be cold and wet), but you can rent a cabin or campsite nearby.

Crantzdorf Castle (also known as Devault Manor)

Address: 191 Degrasse Drive, Johnson City, TN 37601

Built: 1998

What’s the story of Crantzdorf Castle?

If the entries on this list have you dying with homeowner envy, your chance may be coming! The 24,000 square foot Crantzdorf Castle and its 13-acre estate has been put up for sale five times in the past decade, and the price tag keeps dropping.

Built as a replica of the 18th-century Palacio de la Magdalena from Spain, the residence originally went on sale for $28,500,000, followed by a price slash to $19,500,000. It eventually sold for $4,850,000 before being renamed Devault Manor but soon changed hands again in 2016, for $2,950,000.

Quite the bargain, considering the property includes nine bedrooms, 10 full bathrooms, a swimming pool, boat ramp, and dock. The 22-foot-tall entry doors were imported from Paris, the pub was imported from England, and the marble from Greece. Lastly, any car collector will enjoy the whopping 14-car garage and 1/13th scale Bristol Motor Speedway in the rear.

How to visit Crantzdorf Castle

There are currently no listings for either Crantzdorf Castle or Devault Manor, but check back again in the future—it could be your turn to own one of the neatest properties in Tennessee.

Pro Tip Because it appeared on the market so many times in the past, there are plenty of
photos of the castle’s interior available online
for you to conduct your own virtual tour.

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