Fonthill Castle

Very interesting place. The amount of tiles and other things in this castle is amazing. Our guide Claire was very informative and interesting. I would say a must see if in the area. We bought our tickets online night before and got the 10:00 tour. We also visited downtown and had lunch. A nice day trip.

I had a fun time touring Fonthill Castle, the former home of Henry Mercer. The guided tour took us through this medieval-style castle, which is uniquely built entirely from poured concrete. What’s really cool is that the castle has been preserved to stay as close as possible to how Mercer left it, giving you a real sense of his life and personality. The tour lasted about an hour and took us through a bunch of rooms filled with Mercer’s famous decorative tiles and a large collection of artifacts from around the world. The castle itself is fascinating and full of unique details everywhere you look. It’s definitely worth a visit if you enjoy interesting architecture, local history, and getting a glimpse into the life of one of the more eccentric characters from the early 1900s.

I only gave it five stars because that’s the highest rating allowed. This place is truly incredible. It’s filled with fascinating artifacts, some dating back 10,000 years. Our tour guide, Matt, was extremely educated and could answer almost any question. He was also really friendly, making the experience even better. I do highly encourage you to schedule a tour. The architecture, inspired by Gothic castles, and the clay works were absolutely amazing.

This is one of my favorite road trip destinations, and I make a point of visiting at least once a year. The Mercer Museum is extremely fascinating, not to mention educational, but personally I return time and time again to Fonthill Castle. The building is beautiful, extremely well preserved, and the tour guides are all very knowledgeable and friendly. It’s such a delight to feel immersed in such a unique place, built and filled with interesting artifacts and ephemera by such a strange and brilliant person. I also enjoy walking the grounds, which are stunning, and make sure to stop by the tile works to select presents for my loved ones. If you’re a lover of architecture, history, and in the tri-state and looking for a day trip, I cannot recommend Fonthill Castle enough.

Visiting Fonthill Castle was an unforgettable experience for us! From the moment we arrived, we were captivated by its fairytale-like architecture and rich history. Built by Henry Chapman Mercer, the castle is a true masterpiece, filled with intricate tilework and fascinating artifacts. The guided tour was fantastic—informative and well-paced, giving us great insight into Mercer’s life and creative vision. Every room had its own charm, with beautiful handcrafted tiles covering the walls, ceilings, and even fireplaces. The winding staircases and hidden nooks made exploring feel like an adventure. The castle’s surroundings added to the experience, with peaceful grounds perfect for a relaxing walk after the tour. It truly felt like stepping back in time. If you love history, art, or just unique places, Fonthill Castle is a must-visit! We’re so glad we got to experience it and would highly recommend it to anyone.

Love this historical place! So enchanting, with a very interesting history. We have visited the castle for tours and my daughter fell in love with it. So we had her 15th birthday photo session done there. Staff were all very kind and accommodating. The grounds were beautiful and we got some gorgeous pictures!

An excellent use of an hour and $20. Jeff was a fantastic tour guide who left me feeling incredibly uplifted. He wove a theme of the power of kindness, generosity and gratitude throughout the whole tour. The castle is a life-long work of art that is totally unique, and the grounds around are stunning, especially in the peak of spring. 10/10

This is the most magical place you'll ever visit in PA. If you want to feel like you've stepped into the world of magic and mysticism (Harry Potter vibes, ya feel?) you've got to check this place out (Also, check out the Mercer museum since they're connected!). We had a wonderfully knowledgeable tour guide, and the $20 was worth the money to tour this incredible castle and learn about it's owner and orgin story. As a fellow reader and fan of the macabre myself, this house was right up my alley, and I felt like I could connect with it's history on such a personal level.