Several European countries are replete with centuries-old castles. In the United States, however, any structures deemed “castles” are modern interpretations of true fortresses. Such is the case with Fonthill Castle in the southeastern Pennsylvania borough of Doylestown. Although the home of Henry Chapman Mercer (1856–1930) borrows from definitive medieval representations, the architectural design also integrates Gothic and Byzantine styles.
Completed in 1912, the six-story Fonthill Castle is a presentation of eclecticism both inside and out. Though it does contain fortress-like elements, it is more of a chateau than a castle.
