Miramont Castle
Miramont Castle
Miramont Castle is a treasure of Victorian America; it's a walk through the delightful past of this era gone by in Manitou Springs, Colorado. It's located at 9 Capital Hill Avenue, Manitou Springs, Colorado.
Miramont Castle was built in 1895 as a private home for Father Jean Baptist Francolon, a French born Catholic priest. The castle features nine styles of architecture ranging from English Tudor to Byzantine and all crafted from locally quarried greenstone and yellow pine framing. Built as a home for a wealthy priest, it features 46 rooms, including an eight-sided chapel, and the famed Drawing Room that features a gold ceiling and a massive 200-ton sandstone fireplace. Another remarkable feature is its walls, which are two-feet thick.
Today Miramont Castle is a museum dedicated to preserving the Victorian heritage of Manitou Springs and the Pikes Peak region. Jean Baptiste Francolon was born in 1854 in the Clermont region of France. Father Francolon came to the United States in 1878. In a letter to his mother, Father Francolon told her how the area reminded him of his native France.
Recently widowed his mother sent him a large amount of money and told him to build her a home. Father Francolon decided to build the home of his dreams, no architect was hired, he had his own ideas from his early years of traveling the world with his diplomat father, and feared that no one else could create the home of his dreams.
Some people say there are mysteries and hauntings at the castle so it's a great place to go if you are into such folklore. There is also a quaint Victorian tearoom called The Queens Parlor where they serve tea with a delightful menu reminiscent of the era. Also available is a large charming gift shop for your souvenir needs. Spend the day at the castle you'll be charmed and delighted.
