Top Ten Castles to Experience in Illinois

What constitutes a castle can be subjective. Some say unless it obnoxiously large it’s not a castle, others demand a tower and high walls and inner grounds. These attributes could easily describe a medieval castle in Europe.

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In Illinois we may not have all those boxes checked but there are some amazing structures that for the United States can pass as castles. Get to it this year and map out a quest to find and experience these ten Illinois castles peppered across the Prairie state. (In no particular order)

Stronghold Castle – Oregon, Il.

Havencrest Castle – Savanna, Il.

Dunham Castle – Wayner, Il.

Palmyra Castle – Palmyra, Il.

Soderstrom Castle – Peoria Heights, Il.

Bettendorf Castle – Fox River Grove, Il.

Ravenstone Castle – Harvard, Il.

Warner Castle – Orion, IL.

Villa Katherine – Quincy, IL.

Givens Castle – Chicago, Il.

All of these may not fit your precise definition of “castle”, they are remarkable creations. And while not having moats, a couple do overlook rivers or lakes.

This list also doesn’t include the ostentatious homes along Lake Michigan on the north side of Chicago. Some of these would fit right in line on Maine Street in Quincy.

Take your personal royal court with you and find out which of these treasures in Illinois would be a proper home for your coat of arms.