Wow. What a unique, random gem and historic property. What is Fonthill and why is there a castle in Doylestown, Pennsylvania? Fonthill Castle was the home of archeologist and tile maker Henry Chapman Mercer. (Also in Doylestown are two more Mercer buildings you can tour - the Mercer Museum and the Moravian Pottery and Tile Works building, the business Mercer ran and where most of the tiles in the castle were produced.) Henry Mercer seems like he was an interesting guy, and you can see that in his home - 44 rooms, 18 fireplaces, 200 windows, who knows how many staircases...! And designed and decorated in a way I've never seen anywhere else. The castle is an early example of poured-in-place concrete building and is a mix of Medieval, Gothic, and Byzantine architectural styles. And there are, of course, Moravia tiles (and some historic and international tiles that he collected during his life) throughout the house - almost more than you could imagine. We visited last Saturday to experience their "Fonthill Castle Holiday Lights Meander Experience," which allows you to visit the castle through a self-guided experience (there were staff in various rooms who were happy to answer questions) and enjoy a series of Christmas trees on display throughout the home. I definitely enjoyed the experience but am definitely planning a return visit to see the castle in better light (not at night in the dark - which was perfect for the Christmas tree experience) - they offer 60-minute guided tours though the house for most of the year! The castle is pretty wild, and I look forward to visiting it again and experiencing it in a new way. If you are interested in architecture, art, crafts, the Arts and Crafts design movement, or just quirky, unusual places, definitely add Fonthill to your list and check it out! read more

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Amazing property, it is a hidden gem. Went with my family for the tour and everyone enjoyed it!

Our tour guide was Sally (i believe she was the older tour guide) She was really amazing and patient. She made sure everyone got their pictures before moving on to the next room. We got a really descriptive history of the castle and Henry. This castle is a must visit, there is the old vibe and Harry potter vibe to it. The only part that we don't get to visit is the terrace due to the cold weather but we will definitely be back in the summer for it! read more

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i absolutely loved the tour given by izzy! just an awesome experience! the castle visit was great, and i would totally recommend it to anyone. ****however**** when i dropped a twenty in the tip jar at the end of the tour, i totally felt the tour guides deserved it. when i went into the giftshop, i asked how the tips in the tip jar were distributed. there was no tip jar. the money in that jar was a donation to the operators of the castle! ok, i'll say it, i've been scammed! and so were the tour guides! if you've ever worked for tips, you should be outraged! this so called castle tour should be ashamed, ripping off the tour guides every day. i'm going to report this scam to the authorities. read more

Fonthill Castle - Elevated Patio for guests to have outdoor dinner. - Museums Near Me - Doylestown, Pennsylvania

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My friends and I decided to visit this castle on a recent trip to Doylestown, Pennsylvania. I have never been huge on guided tours, and this is the only way that you can actually experience the castle. We bought the $15 ticket and waited for the tour to start and honestly, I am so glad that we went for the tour. Our guides were super detailed answers to all our questions, they were so friendly and the way they narrated the stories of every room really made me feel like I was connecting to Mr. Mercer. The tiles are absolutely insane and super cool. as an avid traveler, I was so impressed with the inspiration that went into Mr. Mercer's tile collection. The grounds are also absolutely beautiful and it was a gorgeous sunny day and we enjoyed it to the fullest. I highly recommend to stop by here and experience this amazing landmark!! read more

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I took my niece and nephew here last month and we all thoroughly enjoyed the tour. Fonthill Castle is a local piece of history. It was the home of Henry Mercer and he displayed his vast collection of tiles and prints throughout the Castle. The Castle was built in the early 1900s and took about 4 years to complete. The entire concrete structure has 44 rooms, 18 fireplaces and more than 200 windows. The furnishings, books and items found within the castle are mostly original. Admission is by guided one-hour tours. The tour takes you through a little less than half the rooms, but still gives a great perspective on on life within the castle. I suggest you book a reservation on-line in advance. read more

Fonthill Castle - Museums Near Me - Doylestown, Pennsylvania

I've visited Fonthill several times over the last 13 or so years and it never gets old. Henry Mercer lived a fascinating life. He loved culture, history and archaeology, he was a world traveler and appreciated art/ceramics and of course architecture. You can set up a tour online or by walking into the carriage house aka visitors center next door to the castle. Tours can fill up pretty fast. I think I spent $38 to bring my wife and two kids. If your not into walking the grounds make sure you at least drive down the long tree lined driveway when you come in. The house tour is unlike any of a notable persons residence I've ever gone on. From the moment you walk in you're treated to his thoughts, travels and talents. I believe the building took four years to complete. My nine year old son's mind was really moving when he looked around. Each room brought a different theme of tile work and culture. Mercer made his house a gallery/showcase of his tile samples and put it all together the way he wanted. I love that they have preserved the house as a time capsule from when he was alive. The tour takes you through an entrance hall, various guest rooms, bathrooms, a dining room, his bedroom, a balcony, up and down steps, a conservatory and his library. The doors and hardware to each room were so neat and English medieval like. I think my favorite features of the house were the Cuneiform tablets in the one room and the mosaics found throughout the house. Our tour guide was friendly, well spoken, great with kids and very knowledgeable. Doylestown is a great place to grab a bite to eat and walk around. Mix in Fonthill or the Mercer Museum and you have a great day trip planned. Also leave time to stop into the tileworks next door. Thanks guys, we'll be back to visit again soon! read more

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Highly recommend this place. It's beautiful and unique. Went on the tour here and I happened to be the only person so I was able to take lots of pics along the way. Joe was my tour guide and he was very knowledgeable regarding the history of the house and owner. My favorite thing was the human skull... read more

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Beautiful castle, making me feel like I'm back in Ireland. Do plan your trip before coming here, as the castle is guided tour only (for good reasons). Our guide Anna today is super pleasant. All staff are professional and friendly. Don't be discouraged by the negative reviews--most of them simply didn't plan ahead and got frustrated when they realized they couldn't just buy the ticket and enter. read more

Fonthill Castle - Museums Near Me - Doylestown, Pennsylvania

Finally visited during the holidays when the Christmas trees were throughout the castle. The tour guide was great, and very informative with many interesting tidbits. The history behind this castle and the tile works will delight any history buff. Ample parking and a small gift shop. Keep in mind, you will be climbing stairs throughout the castle. The tour is limited to only select rooms (11-14, I forget exact number), but enough to give you insight. The entrance fee is very reasonable. What fun outing! read more

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We were hours away from our flight, but wanted to make sure to squeeze in one last adventure. I googled and found this gem. We came from a friend's house and drove up scenic hills and picturesque foliage framing the drive. It was magical. We arrived at this castle and immediately said wow. Parking is limited, but there are plenty of space since admission is by your chosen time. The staffs were friendly and the tour guide is knowledgeable. She answered many questions and pointed out details that we would overlook. The castle itself is very much like a scavenger hunt, so keep your eyes out for little things. We were not there for the complete tour as check-in time was approaching, but we loved the architecture and overall area. It's quiet and peaceful. Definitely a spot to not pass up. read more

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Awesome time at Fonthill castle cool place to visit and spend some time exploring the guided tours read more

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This review is for our experience with our tour guide Diane. We went in a group, 4 Asians and one Caucasian. There were also other non Asians on the same tour. Diane was rude and yelled at all the Asians. If you are Asian visiting the castle, don't tour with Diane. read more

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Just amazing!! I've been wanting to visit Fonthill Castle for years and on a semi rainy day during spring break I took my 6 year old there. We booked a time online, all very easy. There's parking adjacent. And a check in area with a small shop and clean bathrooms. The tour guides are very knowledgeable and kind. I could stare at those ceilings for hours. Every room was unique and gorgeous. So interesting, Henry Mercer's life. Definitely recommend! We were told about the Mercer museum close by and will have to check that out next! read more

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I came here by car on a rainy Thursday morning in late June 2022. I was a few minutes late but thankfully I was able to catch up with my tour group who was already in the house in the first room. I had to reserve my ticket for the tour online and boy was it worth it. I would highly recommend doing the tour if you're ever in town. The tour guide was very knowledgeable and had a passion for the history of the town and the Mercer history. The tour lasted an hour and we went into all the different rooms and learned about the different art work on the walls. It was like a timecapsle. The architecture and art work on the walls were left exactly the way it was when he was living. It was pretty neat to see how forward-thinking and innovative the man was. It was a rainy day and they didn't want us to go outside on the balcony but I asked if we could check it out anyway. I'm so glad they let us because the view was spectacular. It was fun imagining waking up to a view like that. read more

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Definitely a site to see if you are in Doylestown. The guided tour is about an hour long and includes only the "castle" but provides a lot of local history about Henry Mercer and the tile industry. Tickets are available online with a cost of $15. The price is reasonable for the tour. Walk-in tickets are available but tours are being limited to only 6 visitors. The tours fill up fast so I would recommend getting the tickets in advance if you plan to visit The interior of the castle is almost cave-like in its appearance. The ceilings are low in the corridors and hallways making you feel as it you were exploring tunnels in a cave. The stairwells are narrow and curved. I thought some of the stairwells were a little hard to navigate. Definitely wear comfy, sturdy shoes if you visit. Taller folks may need to bend a bit to enter rooms. I was most impressed to find out that all the furnishings were original. It was as if you walked back in time and were a guest in Henry Mercer's home. The entire building is made of cement with beautiful colored tiles scattered throughout the rooms. The tiles are original. Many of the tiles were produced by Mercer's tile factory. They were colorful and detailed. I liked that sections of tile depicted a story or were scenes from a book. The tiles were a clever way to decorate the rooms and common areas. The castle grounds cover a few acres. The grounds are open to visitors who have a ticket and to those who do not. The paths are rough and not paved. It rained the day before my visit so some sections of the path were muddy and marshy. Be careful if you walk the grounds and be prepared for uneven terrain. read more

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What an awesome place! Mr. Mercer was a man who knew what he wanted, and made it happen! Our tour guide was Lorraine, and she could not have been nicer, or more knowledgeable about the castle! It was like stepping back in time, if you like history at all you will love this place! read more

Beautiful place! I didn't get a chance to go in since the tickets sold out but definitely will be coming back to go inside the castle. The grounds are beautiful and fun to even walk around. read more

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Fascinating building and tour. I would definitely recommend. I don't want to post any spoilers, but you should definitely go.

Day trip to Doylestown,PA with the family. My cousin recommended coming here. Telling me it's a must. Our tour guide,Christine, was very informative. The house was a massive maze of stairwells, halls and doors. The collections alone in this house was impressive. The tile work EVERYWHERE was a feat of great craftsmanship. My neck hurt fterward from looking up and about in every room. There was just sooo much to take in. It's a shame the tour is only one hour. Just to take in and really look at all the tile work let alone the artifacts scattered about the castle would take a few hours!! It was a very interesting and informative look into the life and legacy of Henry Chapman Mercer. read more

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One-hour tour of the castle interior was enjoyable. I recommend for history buffs, those interested in art or architecture. Paula is a wonderful tour guide, passionate about the castle. We tried to tour the grounds using the map I downloaded from their website, but signage is virtually non-existent on the grounds and would have been helpful. When we turned off the road onto the property, I didn't even see a sign; thank you GPS for directing us. And we weren't sure where to park or which building was the castle. OK, I decided which building resembled a castle, so I chose to walk towards that building. But signage would have been nice. read more

What a fun attraction! Henry Mercer was quite the eclectic guy, and his home is a testament to his love of tile, oddities, and chachkies. The guided tour is about an hour, and it includes tight spaces and a bit of stairs. Unfortunately, this wouldn't be an accessible activity for those with mobility limitations or claustrophobia. From the outside, Fonthill Castle is a foreboding concrete monstrosity. Upon entry, you're transported to a land of color, detail, and incredible history. Our tour guide was Michelle (I think?) - and she was awesome! She answered every single question and knew even the smallest details about Mr. Mercer and his collections. Situated close to downtown Doylestown, complete your visit with a stop for lunch at one of the many local cafes. Don't forget to pop down to the Tile Works before you leave. The tour is a paid ticket, but the gift shop is free - and that's where the real magic lives! This is a great, low-commitment activity, and I learned a lot! I read more

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- beautiful grounds - we didn't even need to go inside - only way to get in is through tour - we got there just after the tour started and didn't feel like waiting for next tour we still left, tremendously satisfied read more

Interesting & historical Castle which is a great one day trip. You do need reservations for the small guided tours. There were eleven people in our tour group, including our party of six. Our Docent was very knowledgeable about the building of the Castle, the many rooms, family history & most all the tiles. Some of the Tiles were from around the world & others are locally made & of Moravian influence. Our guide was so helpful in pointing out narrow passages, uneven steps, steep staircases & differing inclines within the hallways. Unfortunately, we did not plan on enough time to visit the Mercer Museum and it is a (two hour) self guided tour. Looking forward to another visit to Doylestown for the Mercer Museum. read more

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What history right near Doylestown, Bucks County. Font hill castle, Mercer tile works and Mercer museum., all on one site hosting a phenomenal eclectic collection of unique items. Well spent afternoon in the home, tile works and museum. read more

I had a very enjoyable day today exploring the Fonthill Castle. It was perfect weather - 60s so the castle was very comfortable. We were able to climb up many of the stairways and view many of the rooms. The mosaics were beautiful. It was definitely worth the admission price. read more

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Saw a post on Facebook about the Christmas tour back in October. Order tickets right away as times and days were selling out. Overall I found the castle to be extremely interesting and amazing in general. It was the home of Mr Mercer whom I had never heard of. The tour itself was pleasant as you were able to walk around at your own pace and there was staff in almost every room offering interesting bits of history about the owner or the room they were standing in. The rooms themselves were small but plenty of them if I remember correctly something like 40 rooms with 10 bathrooms. Due to this being a holiday tour only certain rooms were open but they were all beautifully decorated for Christmas. I picked an evening time to really see the lights however you couldn't really appreciate the grounds or the outside of the castle. Nor were you able to walk out onto the terraces. I didn't take too many pictures but I will add that the owner was a tile master. I was disappointed that the kitchen was not included in the tour. I did love the bell system which allowed the staff to know which room they were being called to. On a side note having nothing to do with the tour itself it was over an hour drive from cherry hill New Jersey which was a bit far to drive for a short timed tour. read more

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I visited Fonthill Castle as a part of Yelp's Road Trip to Bucks County. I wasn't sure what to expect when I got there, but I'm glad this was one of my stops. We arrived at 10am and were told the first guided tour began at 10:30. Tickets for the tour are $15/person. The young lady at the front desk asked if we had student/military ID, if we were teachers, or had a AAA membership card. If either of these things applies to you, there is a discount on admission. Our tour guide, Joe, was awesome. He was very enthusiastic and knowledgeable about Fonthill Castle and encouraged us to ask questions throughout the tour. There were 17 guests on the tour and he made sure everyone stayed together. On the tour, we learned that Fonthill Castle is an all tile and all cement mansion that was built by Henry Mercer. Henry was fascinated with castles and therefore decided to build one for himself. He used money that was given to him by one of his aunts to build the castle. It took him 4 years to complete. He was not an architect and did not use a blueprint to build the castle. Be prepared for steep steps and narrow hallways. Bring your walking shoes; this is a mini workout. They advise you not to touch the artifacts as they are extremely fragile. Joe took us through various rooms in the castle, including luxurious guest rooms and private bathrooms. We also stepped out onto a private balcony that Henry Mercer used to spend time on when he became ill, just before his passing. The tour was one hour long. It was a neat experience. The Mercer Museum is directly right next to Fonthill. If you choose to do both the castle and the museum, I believe they can price out a cheaper admission. Fonthill Castle is a gem in the Doylestown area. Definitely recommend to tourists and non-tourists alike. read more

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First of all, I want to say that I've learned so much history of Henry Mercer and Fonthill Castle during this one-hour tour. The exterior of the Castle is very unique and looks so ancient. Our kind tour guide, Tana, was very knowledgeable and detailed in her explanation of the castle and it's history; she took time and answered all the questions that were posed. Our tour group was 10 people and we got to experience 16 rooms of the 44 at the castle. The rooms are filled with Mercer's incredible and intricate work of tiles. The tour takes you through the main rooms, bedrooms, bathrooms, and terrace. It was astonishing seeing the architecture of this castle; it was built by ten men over the span of only 4 years. This place is a true beauty and gem of Doylestown. You will learn so much and have a very great time on the guided tour. Enjoy the history! ***Remember to reserve a spot online before your visit to confirm an available spot for guided tours. read more

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Visiting during covid is allowed however covid rules are strictly enforced. Buy your ticket in advance on the website, pick the time slot you like. Guides on property will answer a question you may have. My self guided tour was enjoyable. It's wonderful to see the home of this very interesting Doylestown native. How thoughtful and creative he was to be interested in so many things and to share his adventures/collections/ & research with his visitors. I'm glad to step inside and see all his tiles. The ones he brought back from the Middle East and Latin America and Asia . It's wonderful to see the tiles he created at his very own property as well. During the holidays they have some Xmas trees out up around the house. In the gift ship were the most interesting ones, imho. Themed #holidaysinBuckCo it celebrates the art of Bucks County as well as culture. The gift shop was small this time but I love the tile ornaments. I'm glad to get tile omiyage . Also visit the The Moravian Pottery and Tile Works on the SANE PROPERTY. Handmade tiles are still produced here as developed by the pottery's founder and builder, Henry Chapman Mercer . Beat gift shop and has a nice variety to chose from and reasonably priced. Small or large treasures !! Also it is open for tours and tile shop sales by appointment only, read more

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We were in the area for a The National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa event. Amazing place if you get the chance. Also, in Doylestown. Anyway, Fonthill looked cool online. Almost Hogwarts like. We bought nonrefundable tickets with every intention of purchasing tickets to the Mercer Museum as well. Until we went on Facebook and saw how woke they were. I don't believe one group should be celebrated over others and the BLM stuff is just offensive. Also, they were offering free admission for that day but NEVER offering free admission on any other day. Why? So, we didn't bother. Back to the castle. It was hot inside. Only the bottom floor had any AC. Our tour guide was a peach. The castle however is all about cement and tiles, cement and tiles, cement and tiles. Some tiles were detailed and together told a story. Other tiles were hard to figure out. After a while it got tedious. read more

Fonthill Castle - Looked cool online. - Museums Near Me - Doylestown, Pennsylvania

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An interesting place to explore! The grounds here are beautiful! There's a tree lined driveway that leads to the castle that is gorgeous. There lots of grassy areas and trees. It's a frat place for photos. If you're doing any type of wedding or professional photo shoots, you'll need a permit. There a Visitor's Center where you purchase your tickets. There's also rest rooms and a water fountain located here. The castle is made from concrete and decorated with tiles from Mercer's tile work. There are also lots of archeological finds from Henry Mercer. The only way to visit the castle is a guided tour. The tour lasts about an hour, there are steps and some narrow areas. The tour guide was knowledgeable and pointed out lots of details we would've missed on our own. There's plenty of parking. The Moravian Tile Works is located on the same property. It's a separate admission fee but you can buy a joint ticket. read more

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I didnt know what to expect but my mind was blown! This castle has so many facets and rooms to see, however, the tour was roughly an hour and many rooms went unexplored. The architecture and styles of design can be seen in every niche of this well preserved castle. I would have loved to explore on my own but recognize that's not a possibility. This is a must see! read more

Fonthill Castle - The Fonthill Castle - Museums Near Me - Doylestown, Pennsylvania

Excellent visit to this awe inspiring castle. A big shout out to our tour guide Carole.She was amazing and knowledgeable about the history of the castle. It is majestic and quite frankly, my friend and I didn't know where to look first. There are beautiful tiles adorning the rooms in the castle and each room was preserved with the original furniture and artifacts dating back to when the castle was constructed. The your takes an hour. There are steps to access each level of the castle. It is not handicap accessible. After the tour, you can visit the grounds which are beautiful. Our thanks to Dan in the Visitor's Center as he was most helpful with securing our tickets. read more

Fonthill Castle - Outside of Fonthill Castle. - Museums Near Me - Doylestown, Pennsylvania

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We visited in winter, so the castle blended in with the sycamores as we walked up the long drive. The second the abode came into view, I knew we were in for a treat, and the basic tour that we booked last Sunday morning totally delivered ($15/adult, teachers in the tri-state area are free with school ID). Our docent was very knowledgeable about the house's style and the craftsmanship that went into the design, and she was excited to show us all of the cool artifacts the owner had collected. Parents, consider the following before booking: there is a strict no-touching policy. The tour lasts about an hour and you will be expected to keep up with the group the whole time. read more

Located next to a still gurgling natural spring on the top of a hill (the namesake Font in the Hill), this mansion enables you to see see inside the mind of a totally freaking insane, obsessive compulsive, gonorrhea infected, artistic and eccentric genius. You must take a tour and Joe is the highly recommended guide to navigate you through this twisted maze of 44 unique rooms. In one corridor, I saw what looked to be a beautiful pastoral and colorful display of American Indians in tile on the ceiling. Our tour guide kindly clarified this was actually scenes of South American cannibals. I looked on in shock as he pointed out the tile work spectacle depicting a person being roasted on a spit and another showed a man chewing on an arm like we would eat a turkey leg at the county fair. Are you not disturbed? I certainly was! It's incredible this mansion was built in only four years, by ten well paid ($1.75/day) workers and one loony and very affluent archeologist. The entire edifice is literally unchanged from the day Henry Chapman Mercer kicked the bucket. Every book remains where it was, including the handwritten critique on the first page of a famous novel. Guess what Henry thought of the Pulitzer prize winning author? He said Hemmingway's masterpiece was as "truthful as a tapeworm and as charming as a bottle of dead flies". If only Yelp had been around in 1908, we'd all love to read Henry's Elite reviews. read more

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Taking the tour at Moravian Tile first definitely gave me a deeper appreciation of the hand-labor that went into the construction of this cement and tile castle. However, even without touring Moravian Tile first- Fonthill was a great tour. A few of the rooms are air conditioned, and a few are not, we went on one of the hottest days and made it all the way through. The building is so interesting that you start to forget about everything else after a while. As an interior design & architecture photographer- it kills me a little on the inside to not be able to take photos in the castle- but the magic and detail of the place is really best seen in person. Photos just can't do it as much justice (and that's coming from a person who makes a living creating photos that make things look better than real life!) If I were tasked with photographic documentation- I could spend weeks documenting every detail. Over time- I started noticing that the architectural illustrations of other castles hanging on the walls had bits and pieces of details represented in Fonthill. A chimney here, a window view there, an arch here. Look to those black and white illustrations as inspiration for Mercer's own castle. Perhaps the most impressive aspects were the priceless archeological pieces that have been collected and kept in the house. When you consider how easily clay can break down over time, and in the compression of the ground, anything that has survived thousands of years is quite amazing. read more

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I loved this place. Our guide was very knowledgeable on everything, buildings, inside castle, and about Mr Mercer. Unbelievable workmanship inside castle. Definitely want to go back and see it again. Amazing to see what this man achieved and did through his lifetime. read more

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We were rudely sent away by a tour guide when we mistakenly entered the main castle. (Where you buy the tickets before they built the new visitor center). When I asked about the tour she dismissively told us they were booked for the day. There were still some available tickets per visitor center when we cheked. I'm a local and I was showing family around who are visiting from CA. Just embarassing and bad impression of people here. read more

We went here on a special night tour and it didn't disappoint! I'm intrigued by the history and architecture and feel that another visit (or two) in the future is a must to see and experience all there is to explore at this unique and charming location! read more

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