The Old City Hall in downtown Richmond isn’t exactly hidden, unless you consider the fact that it’s hiding in plain view. Yet when you step inside its decorative hallways, you’ll instantly feel transported to a different time. Completed in 1894, this building served as City Hall for nearly 100 years. Since then, it has been designated as a Virginia Historic Landmark for its remarkable architecture. A tour of the building or browsing through the following photographs proves just how remarkable this site is, and why locals consider it to be the best castle in Virginia.

Wikipedia
Designed by architect Elijah E. Myers, the Old City Hall looks nothing short of a castle amidst other skyscrapers and buildings of the downtown Richmond cityscape. Its distinctive Gothic Revival style is perhaps its most noteworthy characteristic, although the building has served an important political purpose as well.
Taber Andrew Bain/flickr
Eli Christman/flickr
While this grand space may not be a castle in the Medieval sense, its architectural features both inside and out will make you feel as though you've time traveled. Or perhaps landed in the middle of a fairytale. The focal point of the inside is the skylit atrium, which is surrounded by four arcades linked by the grand staircase.
Eli Christman/flickr
Every detail of the building is elaborate, if not extravagant. In fact, when planning began for construction, estimated costs began at just $300,000. By the time of completion, the budget had increased to over 1.3 million dollars.

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The meticulous iron work that surrounds this castle was done by Asa Snyder and gives the impression of armor-like protection. The stone work was made possible by granite from quarries along the James River.
Taber Andrew Bain/flickr
The unmistakable clock tower is what prevents the building from being completely symmetrical, which is a defining characteristic of some castles. The tower reaches an impressive 195 feet in length.
Bill Dickinson/flickr
As made evident by the above photograph, the Old City Hall building takes up an entire block of space. In the past 50 years, there have been at least two attempts to demolish the building. Fortunately, preservation has prevailed and the building is being considered for state office use. The first floor is open to the public, and visitors can stop by during the week days from 8:00-5:00, free of admission.

This enchanting building is one of many worth touring in our splendid state. Have you ever taken a tour of the best castle in Virginia? We’d love to hear about your experience.

On the lookout for more uniquely Virginian castles? You’ll love learning about These 9 Castles In Virginia That Most People Don’t Know About.

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Best Castle In Virginia

Nikki Rhoades | December 22, 2019

Can you spend the night in a castle in Virginia?

Here in the Old Dominion, visitors can find a number of unique castles in Virginia. Architecture is spectacular here, a fact perhaps due to our state’s history as the first permanent English colony in what would become the United States. Even before European settlers arrived, indigenous peoples were creating impressive structures as early as 5,000 years ago. The modern day castle getaways in Virginia, however, are a much more recent feature. Bears Den Trail Center and Hiker Hostel popped up in 1933, and today it offers visitors a cozy stay. There are many privately owned bed and breakfast castles in Virginia, as well – check online listings near you to find the nearest site of intrigue.

Are there any abandoned castles in Virginia?

While there many not be a multitude of abandoned castles in Virginia, there are plenty of interesting abandoned places throughout the state. It is important to remember that many are on private property and are either open on special occasion only or closed to the public altogether – be sure to obtain permission before visiting an abandoned place. Wash Woods is an abandoned town that can be visited, though little remains of the settlement beyond its cemetery. Union Level has several abandoned buildings throughout its ghost town, and its history is truly fascinating. Locals can also tell you that many abandoned places hide in plain site or are slowly being reclaimed by nature – there are many interesting architectural gems hiding where you least expect them!

What is the largest castle in Virginia?

While the square footage of some of the biggest castles in Virginia is fairly guarded, there’s one in particular that rises above the rest in terms of impressiveness. Bacon’s Castle, which is rather modest for such an ambitious name, is regarded as the oldest brick house in the United States. It was built in the Jacobean architectural style in 1665 for a man named Arthur Allen. The castle misnomer comes into play when Nathanial Bacon led his infamous rebellion in 1676, as his followers used the site as a fort.

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Old City Hall, 1001 E Broad St, Richmond, VA 23219, USA