Berkeley Castle
- February 4, 2001
- Rated 3 of 5 by
kjlouden from , West Virginia
Berkeley Castle, just a block or so from Berkeley Springs State Park, is a surprisingly romantic, gothic place. For special occasions, music and candlelight make it even more enjoyable. Decorated for the holidays, it was a perfect place to spend an hour or two. I didn't notice any grounds. Indeed, the castle seemed to be right on the street in town without any grounds to admire, but there were authentic furnishings, a few pieces extremely ornate.
The tour is interesting, including some information on the family who built the castle, their lives there, food, cooking, clothing, even child-rearing practices. Clothing is displayed, and especially the little girl's bedroom is full of interesting articles.
This is a decent tour--and a surprising find in a very small West Virginia town. Anyone travelling near the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia should stop and see the castle. Berkeley Springs is not far, just a half-hour or so, from Hagerstown, Maryland. I've seen much better castle tours, such as Dundern Castle and Casa Loma in Ontario, but if you like castles and are in the Mountain State, this is worth seeing, though not elaborate. A tour of another castle, also not elaborate, but well-narrated by very informative guides in Brownsville, Pennsylvania, a little west of Uniontown on the National Road, old Route 40, could be combined with this one for a short theme trip.
From journal New Year's Hemingway Style in Berkeley Springs,