Fonthill Castle Reviews

Was not really impressed. Our tour guide Kieran tried but she could not really make it interesting. The guy who built it was not an architect and the inside is dark and just endless hallways. I would have preferred walking the grounds for an hour, which are stunning.

Very unique and unusual concrete castle with many steps and small rooms. Every room is decorated with many tiles. You will not see another residence like this one.

This truly unique home/showroom has been a favorite destination for years. But it's just one of three must see Mercer sites. A combination ticket is recommended. A cooler forecast will enhance the experience, since a considerable amount of walking, standing in tight quarters and stair climbing should be expected. Think comfortable footwear and enjoy.

A must. The tour guides are terrific. Henry Mercer was a legend of sorts. An innovator. The history, art and stories of his life were great. I live collecting his tiles...each time I visit.

This house is over the top amazing, filled with interesting decorative items. It's is not wheelchair accessible, and there are a lot of steps. Some of the passageways are pretty narrow too, so navigating can be a challenge if you have mobility issues.

From the moment you walk up to this unusual structure you feel the intelligence of its design. The brilliance of his mind comes through to his hands in celebrating trades of hard working men and women.

Probably not something to see on a 90 degree day with 91% humidity, as there isn’t air conditioning. Bring plenty of water if you do. Other than that, extremely interesting and a great tie in with the Mercer Museum, also a must see. I would do both on the same day.

While the site is amazing —both the castle and nearby Moravian Tile Works —our tour guide Diana was terrible. Being admonished at least half a dozen times to NOT TOUCH ANYTHING, I felt that she had no clue how to gear a tour towards a group with small children. She seemed irritated at any and all questions either from the adults or from the children. She felt the need to point out AN ACTUAL HUMAN SKULL and told my children to remember that they are going to die!

So…maybe get some YOUNGER tour guides that understand being sensitive to their audience, who can handle questions, who understand it’s not the end of the world if a child crushes their hand on a treated/glazed tile on a wall right next to where they are standing.

This is an u unusual castle that Mr. Mercer built in the early 1900s. It is a concert house with hundreds of tiles in many of the rooms. Many of the tiles he created and others he accumulated during his travels. All of the rooms are unsual with the various ways he used the tiles on the walls, ceilings and floors.

Yesterday my husband and I took a tour here. Just unbelievable seeing this beautiful and unusual castle that one man lived in. The tiles were interesting and our guide showed us how each one told a story about this mans life. Just walking and seeing so many hidden staircases were just unbelievable that one man could have thought of. Our guide was very knowledgeable and explained so much to our group. I wish we could have seen much more of this castle. We intend to come back again and take the Tower tour.

During our tour we had the opportunity to go outside onto a balcony and this was lovely peering down and admiring the beautiful grounds of the castle. I cannot believe that we have lived in Bucks County for a long time and have never done this tour before. Highly recommended to anyone who wants to do something different and learn how one eccentric man accomplished his dream.

I was impressed with my tour of Henry Mercer's home. The guide was able to explain the history of each room as well as the construction techniques Mercer used. The Moravian Tile Works is a short walk away.

Castle is uique and tour was very informative. Interesting place to visit. You can also wonder around the grounds and visit the tile factory.

I haven't been there in awhile however it wouldn't change anything. This Henry Mercer beautiful house complete with built in seat and Mercer tiles everywhere. It truly is magic. The best way is a guided tour.

Having toured many castles and historic homes in the U.S. and abroad, I can say that this one is unique and definitely worth a visit. Two characteristics make it stand out: It is made entirely of concrete and is replete with thousands and thousands of tiles on the walls, ceilings, and floors--products of the adjacent Mercer tile works.

In a way, the whole house is a sales promotion for the tiles, as potential buyers were invited to tour the premises and inspect the many varieties available and how they might be used in one's own home.

The whole place represents the taste, and the whims, of Henry Mercer. It is asymmetrical and was built in stages without an overall blueprint. One is constantly going up and down stairs, through narrow passages, and around corners that open into amazing spaces. (Only a few main level rooms are handicap accessible.)

The one hour (in our case, 75 minute) tour does not cover the whole house, but gives a more than adequate overview of its unique charms. Two specialized tours are also available that cover other areas, but not every day. Each docent prepares his or her own talk, so if one takes the tour on different days, one may learn a lot more than doing so just once.

Photography inside the house is, sadly, forbidden.

An amazing place by an interesting person. The tour group was small (4) and our guide Brian was excellent. He gave lots of background on the man and the building, but not in a dry, boring manner, and in no way TMI. I would suggest that a tour here be done BEFORE heading to the Mercer museum to add to an understanding of what the museum is about.

A friend and I visited tile-maker Henry Mercer's concrete castle, Fonthill, on a Tuesday afternoon and there were only 4 of us in the tour group. Our guide was a font of facts himself, and I thoroughly enjoyed exploring the interior rooms and hearing the history of the home and its creator.

I would love to have an art tour highlighting the numerous tiles imbedded into the ceilings , floors, walls, pillars and stairs throughout the mansion. I imagine a tour like that would take hours. Perhaps and audio tour could be created.

Loved this site!

Have never been here (or heard of Fonthill) but saw it in a Bucks County brochure (really glad that I did). Fonthill is so unique. So much to see, but I was particularly taken with the ceramic tiles most of which were designed by Henry Mercer (a very interesting man) himself. Thousands of beautiful tiles in all of the rooms. I found it well worth the time. You can also visit the working ceramic company on site and the Mercer Museum downtown. Doylestown is a lovely place to spend the day!

Fonthill The home of Henry Mercer. The house can only be seen via tour. Fascinating castle made of concrete with a lot of his georgeous tile work around the fireplaces, on the walls - even on the ceiling. The castle served as Mercer's original tile show room. Our tour guide was Marcy. It's a must see. It is not something that you've ever seen before. It is definitely original. There are a lot of stairs but there is a a rail to hold onto and there is a chair to sit in in every room. Mercer had 6000 books all neatly kept in his concrete book cases. If you need a wheelchair do not visit Fonthill.
There is one step to get into the door small step and three steps two or three to see the video.

This castle is amazing the stories the tiles tell. The interesting design of the rooms and confusing layout. Our guide was knowledgeable.

Fonthill is amazing. Not a single straight angle in the place. A poured concrete palace decorated with the brilliance of Mercer tiles made next door. As with the Mercer Museum, keep your eyes open everywhere. There are treasures to behold. Tour guides are great. Specialty tours are awesome. Flashlight tours are scheduled at different times. And for those of you who are aware of otheworld connections, there is a spirit in residence. And it is not Mr. Mercer. Enjoy.

Fonthill is a wonderful place about a interesting man Henry Mercer who did and collected amazimg things. You begin to wonder how one person could do all the things that he did in just one lifetime. It is not a place many of us could live in today but he adopted new building techniques using conrete and designing the tiles that fill the house. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and answered all questions from our group. It is a good idea to get reservations for the tour that way you won't have to wait if you just walk in.

What a romantic way to spend a day with someone you love, like or even by yourself! Fonthill Castle in Doylestown was such a beautiful place for me to let my imagination run wild! There was a lot of walking and step-climbing involved, my only issue, but also the only way to see such greatness before me. Henry Chapman Mercer, Archaeologist, anthropologist, ceramist, scholar and antiquarian spent many years planning and building his dream home. He used it as a venue to showcase his wonderful ceramic tiles, which he sold world-wide to many affluent customers. You can still see those tiles and most of the original furnishings over 100 years old. Eclectic mix of Medieval, Gothic, and Byzantine architectural styles await you as well as thousands of of Mercer's signature ceramic tiles. A mere $12 for a ticket to the tour will show you a world you never knew existed. Winding turns, stairways to secret passages, hidden rooms of wonder, all encased by a castle almost too exquisite for words. You can all but hear the walls whispering words of excitement with regards to its establishment and its wondrous contents. I loved each moment I was inside and on the grounds of Fonthill Castle. There was some difficulty for me getting around inside some of the corners and on the stairs. I am short and round (sized 12-14 clothing) and it was a tight squeeze getting just where I wanted to be. I also use a cane and the stairs can be steep at times. But what I was able to view I loved, very much. I would recommend this trip to anyone who enjoys such trips. There is a gift shop and plenty of parking and they give discounts for having AAA. This is an excellent Saturday trip. My husband and I spent a few hours there and then went for a fabulous lunch on 202 at a bar called The Creekside Bar and Grill in Chalfont. Excellent meal, excellent prices. What a fantastic Day!

Absolutely loved it. I dragged my boyfriend here. He was reluctant to see it since he's from France and probably thought it must be some fake silly "castle" in PA. We both loved it and he was really impressed. It tells you something when a French is impressed by a castle. It reminded me of a kid's made play house, which was practically what it is. It's a by appointment guided tour only visit. I thought it was going to be a quick 15 minute run through of an old castle looking house but I was wrong. It was over an hour going through rooms and learning about the history, making of the castle. Impressive!

This is an incredible castle The history of how it was built along with the hidden rooms winding staircases and incredible tile work is incredible. The tour guide was fabulous. Absolutely must do the tour and also visit the museum he bought with massive collections.

Fonthill Castle

THOROUGHLY CAPTIVATING

For our Anniversary we decided to explore Fonthill Castle.  It is a little over an hour away and we enjoyed the drive.  The castle was amazing.  Our docent knew so much about Mercer  although not that much about his peculiarities.  

The castle was a work of art.  I could have stayed there hours looking in every nook and cranny.  The tile works were amazing and the fact that there were so many rooms and separate bathrooms, truly amazing for that time period.  

Numerous photo and they did let me take photos inside the castle.  So any oddities in the tiles....cannibalism, a room dedicated to a male gentleman,  the story of the housekeeper and Swain and Mercer's own death.  So many mysteries...why did he burn all his personal papers before he died?  why did he give the castle to the housekeeper and her husband (who was his business partner)?  

Why has no one ever written an in depth book on his life.  This guy was INTERESTING!  

Great place to visit.  We will go again.

 

   

 

 
 

I along with friends and family always made a point to visit Fonthill for the Holiday Lights Tour. With beautiful, historically significant Christmas decorations, live Christmas music and simple refreshments, this was a special tradition that served to get us all in the spirit of the season. Over the last few years, the experience grew more magical and whimsical with the tree themes and decor really providing an education about and insight into Henry Mercer and Christmas traditions of his day.
Until now. The 2021 event was lackluster, seemed “thrown together” with little connection to the house, the time period, and Mercer itself. The trees, while attractive seemed to have no rhyme or reason. And other than the identical electric candles spaced throughout, there was no accent pieces like what’s been there in the past when there were stories and vignettes created through the tour route, which seemed shorter than usual. The guides seemed pleasant enough but visual stimulation and imagination was lacking. I’m guessing it was a budget issue, but am wondering what happened to the special touches, so beautifully highlighted in years past.
No music, no refreshments- boring night out and definitely not worth the $25 price tag.

Tile from around the world, 6,000 books, and a collection of biblical and historical stories told in tile are what you’ll find at Fonthill Castle. Kids and adults alike enjoyed the guide.

We had some extra time in our day so we decided to visit. I’m so glad we did. This is a concrete castle built by Henry Chapman Mercer who also founded the Moravian Tile Company a few steps away. The home is a labyrinth of concrete and tile rooms and stairways, filled with Mercer’s tiles and artifacts he collected from around the world. Our tour took about an hour and they limit the tour to about ten people, which is nice. Even through there were several tour groups in the castle at any one time, the docents kept things moving so we never felt crowded. Amy, our docent, did an excellent job. I would purchase tickets in advance if you can plan ahead.

The guided-tour is worth every penny of the $15! You'll see a home built by a man with a dream and the drive to complete his vision. Fonthill Castle is a magnificent display of ingenuity and determination. Many of the tiles you'll see throughout the tour are available for purchase in the tile factory's shop including the lettering Henry used throughout the home. Not so great for kids since they can't touch anything. Beware that there are many stairs but they are taken in small amounts throughout the tour. Only a few rooms are air conditioned so it will be warm/hot in the summer. Also, the photography policy has recently changed and photos are allowed now.

Unique home and museum of tile maker, archaeologist, artist and collector Henry Chapman Mercer.
I have to start by saying that I am a little biased because I work here. That being said, this is a not to be missed House Museum that is seen by a 1 hour guided tour. Reservations are required, call 215-348-9461. Open 7 days a week, except Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years and July 4th.

We were very pleasantly surprised, the castle was a great experience. Lisa led our tour and was perfect, knowledgeable and funny, full of unusual tidbits and ready to answer any questions. The tile work was extraordinary. The story of Mercer building the castle was important to appreciating the architecture. If in Doylestown, this is a must see….go to tile works next door if you can

Wherever you live in the world, do yourself a favor and just go. You’ll find out why everybody deserves to have an Aunt Elizabeth.

I love history and historical places, and was surprised this was so close, I had to make the trip out there. Upon reaching the castle, I drove down the tree lined pathway which led you right to the castle. I'm sure in Spring time, this is gorgeous, but in winter, it looks very plain. I didn't have a reservation when they opened up at 10am on Saturday, but to my surprise, I was able to get a spot on the noon tour. There might be floral and fauna to see in the Spring, but when I went in the winter, there isn't much to see outside of the castle.

The tour consists of getting to see a handful of the rooms that are open to the public. The inside is very eclectic and the tile work is amazing. I have never seen so much tile and detail. Henry Mercer built the home himself and added all his collectibles he bought when traveling all over Europe when he was younger.

The tour is very interesting and has a lot of steps, and some rooms are very tiny. If you get claustrophobic. you might want to stand near the large windows as it will give you the sense of a bigger room. The tour was a little over an hour and the tour guide gave really great information, but didn't over do it, like other tours I have been on have done. You can't take photos of the interior, but of the exterior you can.

Overall I had a great experience, and I would highly recommend checking it out. I plan to again in the Spring/Summer or during one of the special tours.

Fonthill Castle deserves a two hour chunk of your time. Ask for Brian--he speaks from the heart. The history, the detail, the color, he added to our tour is worth this five star award.

We are planning to return for the Behind The Scenes Tours in 2017.

I've previously lived in Lower Bucks County 20 years ago, but I had no idea Fonthill Castle existed until my husband, our 15 year-old daughter, and I decided to do a last minute trip to the New Hope/Lahaska area. I stumbled across information about this unique destination during an internet search for things to do in the area. We decided to visit the castle in between our visit to Peddlers Village & New Hope. We got there about 12:35 and were fortunate to be able to get a 1:00 tour. I wouldn't say it was crowded, but it seemed to get busier after we secured our tour time. Our tour guide, Tanya, (hope I spelled it right) was very knowledgeable about Henry Chapman Mercer's work as well as some of his personal life which made the tour very interesting. We weren't able to tour the entire castle, but were told there are specific dates where one could go on a more thorough adventure. Each of the rooms were adorned with tiles. I believe the majority were Mr. Mercer's work but there were a lot of tiles from all over the world. Most seemed to tell a story about life for previous generations. Our tour lasted 1 1/2 hours and we feel privileged to have visited such a special place. I was especially intrigued by the fact each bedroom in the castle had an ensuite bathroom with indoor plumbing in an era when most people didn't even have one bathroom in their homes. Overall, it was an enjoyable few hours and I'd recommend a visit to anyone interested in being in a place like no other in this country...maybe even the world. The day we visited was warm but not hot, so it was very comfortable inside the castle. We were told by our guide that it tends to be somewhat unbearable on hot days, because there isn't air conditioning in every room. If you do go, wear comfortable shoes because you will be standing in addition to climbing quite a bit of stairs. Also, please remember to tip your tour guide!

We were looking for something for a pre Christmas date and found Fonthill, which was decorated for the season. It was a very interesting and intimate tour (just 4 people) of an unusual building and person. I wish i had studied a bit more about Henry Chapman Mercer, but learned as we went.

The brocade tiles are amazing. Very enjoyable and fun.

Very interesting tour of this fascinating building. Henry Mercer built this as his dream home; he must have had some strange dreams. Very friendly and helpful staff. Much more interesting that the Mercer Museum.

After visiting the Moravian Tile Works (built by Mercer), we went next door to Fonthill Castle. This is a very interesting house that is built entirely of concrete. That alone is unusual but during the tour you will learn how the house was built (hint: they piled up a LOT of junk!), see an amazing collection of priceless human artifacts gathered from all over the world (Mercer was a very wealthy man), and hear about the life of this very interesting man (whose love of his dog was beyond measure). The house is open by guided tour only but tours are scheduled rather frequently so we only waited about 10 minutes to get started. Our tour guide was excellent and clearly loves her job. This is one of the few attractions of this sort that I would definitely visit again. After touring Fonthill be sure to go to the Mercer Museum in downtown Doylestown to see more of his massive collection.

What a treasure to have this in my own back yard of Doylestown, PA. The grounds are beautiful here and I have done the tour at least 5 times. Henry Mercer was certainly ahead of his time when he built this castle here and collected tiles all over the world that are showcased in this cement castle. Also beautiful Mercer tiles throughout. You'll learn so much on this tour, highly recommend going!😊

Built in 1910, this place is entirely made of poured concrete and highly decorated with tile designed by its architect/owner Henry Mercer. You will never see another house like it.

my husband, children and i have visited Foothill Castle many times over the years. it is almost too special a place to put into words. it was built in 1908 and 1912 entirely of hand-mixed concrete. the castle has more than 44 rooms, 18 fireplaces, 32 staircases and more than 200 windows of varying shapes and sizes. the walls, floors and ceilings are richly adorned with an incredible array of Mercer's handcrafted tiles. you can purchase these special tiles at the Moravian Pottery & Tile Works shop just steps away from the castle. the architecture alone of Fonthill is a miracle in and of itself. this is an incredibly awe inspiring wonder to see. you will leave it gleefully inspired. reservations are strongly recommended for the daily and specialty guided tours which offer a fascinating look at henry's world. p.s. if you haven't done "Cocktails at the Castle", google it. enjoy!

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.

We had a tour with only 3 other people. It was intimate, informative and the guide answered any questions we had, as well as some humor! The castle and view was spectacular. A bit hot inside, but to no ones fault- just dress to expect warmth inside!

This enormous piece of art was a residence of a most remarkable man, and artisan. Totally built by hand, and the design of the house plus all the beautiful Moravian tiles make it one of the most unique places I have ever been to! Not to be missed if you are in the area around Philadelphia.

Our tour guide mercy was fantastic with a very thorough historical 75 minute tour. The 13 rooms were incredibly rich with history.

We visited all 3 Mercer buildings and this was the third. I'm glad we toured the museum and Moravian tile first. Those gave us an idea of Mercer's business and social interests. The castle embodied Mr. Mercer's personality. Pauline was our guide and she was knowledgeable and answered all our questions. She also had the tour very well timed as other groups were right behind us, yet we never overlapped. Although the castle is built of concrete, it seemed cozy and personal inside the rooms. Everywhere are stories told in tile design in the ceilings and walls. I think we'll have to return when the gardens are in bloom.

We stopped here looking for something to do on a day off. We bought the dual pass for the castle & museum visit.

The castle is unbelievable! We really enjoyed the tour and learning about how it was built. It was an incredible experience to see.

I would definitely recommend seeing both the castle & museum. There is so much to see.

We were looking for a quick day trip and decided on visiting Doylestown. Fonthill Castle was our first stop and we were very impressed. We enjoyed hearing of the quirkiness of Mercy, the design and building of the castle, the amazing tile work and careful itemizing of each tile, stories of Lucy the horse and Rocco the dog. Our tour guide, Peter, was excellent.

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 and without detail. After a while it got tedious.

This place is breathtaking. After going on a tour here I tried finding other castles and was shocked to see the shortage. It made me realize how lucky I am to only live 40min away. My tour guide was so kind and informative. He really took the time to explain each room and to interact with the group members. I went when the castle was decorated for Christmas. There were Christmas trees in so many rooms. The architecture is incredible. It's amazing that the time and care has been given to maintain this beautiful building. It is absolutely a must see. Probably better for older kids. I wouldn't bring a toddler here. Definitely not stroller friendly.

This had been on my bucket list for years. After taking the tour, I would live to do it again. It was well worth the steps. Someone in a wheelchair would not be able to do upper floors. There are many small room and lots of different staircases. Amazing. The tour guide was a wealth of knowledge. All items are original to the home. We bought the combined ticket to also get us into the Mercer Museum, that housed the owners eclectic collection of various items. This has been preserved in great ways. While we were there, there were 2 wedding parties taking pictures outside. This man made mosaic tiles, and the factory is on the property, and is a working museum. The price was an additional 5 dollars, which we did not do. A very interesting and rewarding experience.

Definitely worth the trip! Our tour guide Anton was very knowledgeable and the tour itself was amazing. There was so much to take in visually; I'd like to go back for a "meander" or a night tour.

Very interesting tour of this castle with an excellent tour guide who was a wealth of knowledge. The history of the castle is very interesting. Tours are all small groups of about 6 people so there is ample opportunity to ask questions and interact with the guide. Very well worth the $13-15 admission price. Tours leave promptly at their scheduled times so make sure not to be late.

This unique treasure is a must see. Words cannot do it justice. Our tour guide was so informative, giving us information on Henry Mercer throughout the tour. My 14 year old said to me afterward "how does she remember all those facts.". As odd as the home is, I felt surprisingly comfortable there, so much so that I could envision living within the walls. Would like to go back for the special tours that allow you to see areas not typically shown on the regular tours.

I live in Bucks County PA and have never visited the town of Doylestown. My family and I decided to take a drive to walk on Main Street and to visit the Fonthill Castle. There is a small parking lot with few cars which is great and we walked in and we found that they actually give tours with a tour guide. So we were placed on the list for the next tour which was only a ten minute wait. Our tour guide appeared and took us, 9 of us, on a very informative guided tour of the castle. It was amazing. The entire castle was made by hand and is mostly concrete. It was amazing to learn about Henry Mercer, and see the amazing castle with it's many rooms, staircases, and learn about the history of him and his eccentric life. It was very amazing to see the many different rooms and many of the conveniences of the time inside the castle. It is reminds me of a castle you would see in a scary movie with secret doors, dark hallways, and many ways in and out various places. I initially thought it would be a walk around the castle, but the tour guide brought the castle to life. It was excellent and I would highly recommend for you and your family.

This castle has concrete walls, floors, windows, ceilings, etc. Impedded in the concrete are ceramic tiles. Tour guide was excellent. This is a unique historical site well worth the visit.

We live visiting castle and learning the history of the structures. This castle is a unique as the man who commissioned it and filled with the evolution of his tile work & inspirations from all around the world. In addition there are thousand of original books and pieces of furniture that are original to the property and those who lived there. Our tour guide was passionate about the contributions of Mercer and seemed to thoroughly enjoy telling the story. It takes about an hour and it's interesting to see the array of rooms and their progressive decoration.

My first visit to Fonthill Castle was for the candlelight tour on December 30th, 2016. What a fascinating experience! The tour guide/docent was extremely knowledgeable and able to answer every question we had. My Mom and I were very impressed with the historical significance of the life of the castle owner Henry Chapman Mercer. Will definitely recommend this site as a must-do for visitors to Doylestown.

A one of a kind historic home built more than 100 years ago by a brilliant, quirky, self-taught, artistic genius. Mercer used innovative techniques to design and build this impressive home. I recommend taking the one hour tour.

My husband and I stumbled upon Fonthill Castle just by chance. We had no idea it was there or even what it was. We were taking a drive and just stopped to explore. When we arrived, the next tour was in 10 minutes so we stayed. It is an extraordinary place with wonderful history in Doylestown. It is a perfect day trip from the Jersey Shore or NYC. The tile work is amazing and the tour guides know every corner of this remarkable location.

The only way you can see inside the castle and some of the rooms is to take the one hour tour provided by one of the volunteers. We visited on a weekday and were lucky to arrive just when a tour was going to start. Typically we're not fans of guided tours, but since this was how we could see inside the castle, we had no choice. However, the tour was informative and not too long. The inside of the castle is like a maze, and each room is unique. It's pretty amazing to see one man's vision come together in a castle made of concrete.

Normally I'm not one for guided tours, but this was an exception! The castle contains 44 rooms all laid out in a mazelike fashion so it was nice to be guided through the castle by someone who knew what they were doing. We went in the winter time and the castle has enough heat that it was quite comfortable inside. If you have mobility challenges this tour would not be very much fun as there are multiple staircases some of which are uneven or do not contain handrails. If you are a AAA member make sure to show your card to get a one dollar discount. Definitely call ahead to make a reservation if possible.

We toured the Fonthill Castle and later the Mercer Museum. Both were fascinating and we loved hearing about Henry Mercer and his travels and collections. The tour gave us a wonderful glimpse into his life. The tile work throughout the castle was unbelievable! Our only complaint was that our tour guide was terrible. He seemed very knowledgeable about Mr. Mercer but he was very unfriendly. We are hoping he was a volunteer and not paid for his work as they really should choose someone who better communicates with the public. Our guide was very curt and at times rude. At one point a woman in our group stepped around the corner to check out something. She was barely a foot away and well within hearing distance. The guide made a snarky remark about how we were 'missing' a person and if she didn't want to hear the tou , she should not have came! All the other tourists looked at each other in shock and the poor woman was embarrassed. The tour guide later curtly answered questions with "I'll get to that later!" We all felt as though we couldn't ask any questions or we'd be ridiculed. At the end of the tour, guide mentioned we could contribute something if we enjoyed the tour and not a single person put a thing in the tip container! As we left the building, we were all commenting on how rude the guide was. It is a shame that such a wonderful tour was ruined by a rude guide.

Unaware that a visit to the Fonthill Castle requires a guided tour, I had intended to start my day in Doylestown at Fonthill. Since the next tour wasn't until 12:00 PM, I went over to Moravian Pottery & Tile works to walk around their gift shop to look at the reissues of Mercer's Moravian Tiles since I wouldn't have enough time go to on the self-guided tour. I made my way over to Fonthill. I was sad to discover that photography is not allowed as this is an amazing place. Mr. Mercer was a self-taught architect and tile maker. His castle was something he had dreamed about since a child and it is all made of concrete and tiles he created at his Moravian Pottery & Tile Works shop. It is incredible. The house was built in only 4 years with hand-mixed concrete. There are tiles on the floors, walls, and ceilings and often have a story. Our tour guide was an on-site intern and gave us special insights into the tiles, and the buildings. Her love for the place and its history came through in each room.

If going, I would recommend you buy the ticket for both Fonthill Castle and Mercer Museum for $24 instead of the $14 fee for each ticket. I would also recommend making your reservations for the tour at Fonthill first so that you know will be able to see it. If you have enough time before your tour, do the self-guided tour at Moravian Pottery & Tile Works since it is so close. Allow yourself 45 minutes to an hour to go through Moravian Pottery & Tile Works as photography is allowed.

If you are a history buff, like unusual architecture, or want something unusual to do- this is a must-see

I would not recommend this for very young children or the Moravian Pottery & Tile Works for very young children

I love visiting Font Hill, the home of Henry Mercer. All concrete castle which was his home. The candle light tour at certain times of year is nice and it is also a great place for weddings. Very unusual with a beautiful rustic Doylestown setting.

Our family of 5 adults visited over the recent Christmas holidays. We bought a “Mercer Experience ticket” that included admission for both the Mercer Museum and Fonthill Castle. Fonthill was the concrete home of Henry Mercer and displays handcrafted tiles, the furnishings and personal effects of this artist. The website gives some details of the exhibits. Timed tickets are required for guided tours (lasts 1 ½ to 2 hours) and reservations are suggested. It is a very interesting place to get more information about the life and inspiration of Henry Mercer.

Local gem - one hour tour through fascinating estate of Henry Mercer. Go on a beautiful day and spend some time walking the grounds as well.

This castle offers a super unique experience. We had Lisa as our guide and she was super knowledgeable and friendly. The castle is very impressive with so much to see inside. The one hour tour went by too fast.
Highly recommended!

My wife and I went to Fonthill castle recently . it was built by a renaissance man in 1908-1912, using cement blocks, concrete and lots of Moravian tiles which where insert upside down and backward to make the ceiling and arches properly show them. Each room had a theme, pictures, and tiles to match. There are 44 rooms, 18 fireplaces, and 10 bathrooms. All state of the art for that time. The nearby (1 Mile) houses the mercer Museum. Mr. Mercer was not a builder nor architect but through observation, questioning others and trial and error figured out how to build and support the rooms, ceilings and arches. Well worth the visit.

I have lived in this area all my life and have never been inside the castle.Shame on me! If you like seeing castles,old mansions,or are interested in ceramics,then you must see this place.It is like nothing you have ever seen! The ticket of enter comes with a tour guide ...which is a good thing or else you would miss so much about the story.A crazy and unusual place!

This castle is well worth seeing, because it is very unique, giving a glimpse into the life of Henry Mercer, his love for concrete and tile, and collection of artifacts from the 19th century.

The tour requires advance reservations, and is well worth the trip. I am thrilled to have seen it, but caution visitors to be very respectful of not only the museum, but those giving the tour. Unfortunately, we witnessed our tour guide become so angry when an elderly man had to leave the tour, because he became faint, that it affected the rest of the tour.

Gorgeous grounds, easy to find, and worth the drive - like a beautiful estate that takes you back in time.

Wow! Amazing! Another wealthy Gilded Age person spending their money, but in such a different and unique way. This home is like no other. Must be seen in conjunction with the Mercer Museum and the Moravian Tile Factory. Oh, and don't forget to walk around the grounds.

Guided tour was grwat5. The castle is a phenomenon. Lived in pa half my life and never knew it was there. A must see. Incredible surroundings and a wonderful day trip from Tri state area

Wow, what a one of a kind place to see! Decorating with tiles created by Henry Mercer and tiles he collected from around the world from different eras, Mercer built this visionary home and left it for the public to enjoy for many years after his death in 1930. Mind blown.

Excellent tour and our guide was very knowledgeable. The history and the work done on the Castle is astounding. We would highly recommend stopping and visiting this castle.

Our tour guide, Dotty, was incredibly informative and we really enjoyed our tour. It was our first time there and we didn't know what we were walking into. To really simplify it, imagine if Ikea opened a house to show off their products and had prospective buyers stay over to view the wares. Very cool to experience.

My husband visited Fonthill Castle on Sat. 2/15 and was completely blown away. Built between 1908 – 1912 completely out of hand-mixed concrete, the castle captures the many personalities and talents of Henry Mercer. Mercer was a wealthy; Harvard educated attorney, architect, archeologist, historian and tile maker. He meticulously cataloged his collection. He then built the Mercer Museum (also out of hand-mixed concrete with 8 men and a horse named Lucy) to house and display his artifacts. A fascinating man, who on the one hand seemed rigid and austere yet on the other hand creative and whimsical. Our docent, Kevin Hortner (I believe) was one of the best parts of the tour. Kevin was informative, descriptive and really told a thorough story of Mercer’s eccentricities and achievements. Even stories of Mercer’s beloved dog, Rollo, brought the castle to life. Kevin stunned our tour group when he said he had only been a docent for a few months. He answered every single question and was so knowledgeable, you would have sworn he was a resident of Fonthill. Very impressive!
We plan to visit several more times since it is just too much to see in just one afternoon. We highly recommend the combination ticket for the castle and the museum. Doylestown is less than an hour & a half’s drive from our Delaware home. We were so happy to have found this hidden gem and plan to visit again soon. On a side note, there is an adorable and delicious diner .4 miles from the entrance to the Castle complex named Cross Keys Diner. Great place to eat a nice big meal, guilt-free, since you will walk off those calories on the adventure-filled, fascinating Mercer Mile!

We liked the Fonthill Castle tour more than we thought we would. There are a number of rooms to see and great views from the top terraces. Also, the eccentric millionaire-builder named Mercer has an interesting back story. He inherited a fortune from his rich aunt and used it to build this castle. He took up making tiles a a kind of hobby, and the ones on walls, columns, and fireplaces are multi-colored artistic beauties.

His traveling through Europe acquainted him with many diverse designs for his tiles, and any European visitor should really relate to what they see, especially a style of stove enhanced by titles. The grounds are just okay, but the guided tour is a must. If you've been to the Barnes Museum in Philadelphia, I think you will recognize quite a few similarities between Mercer and Barnes.

A must see. You cannot view castle without paying for tour which is highly recommended. Learn about Henry Mercer and the home he built himself with using concrete and tiles. Incredible!!!!! There is restrooms on site. Price adults $15. I think kids were $8. Not recommended for those in wheelchairs. Truly a must see!!!

I never knew about Font Hill until I saw my favorite band did a video at the castle. It was 2 1/2 hours from me in Baltimore so did a day trip.
Make sure that if you go, you have to take the castle tour! It is phenomenal. There's SO much to see that I'd love to have gone through again. I guarantee that you could go 30x and see something new every time.

I didn't go to the museum which I regret now. And there's a nice park area so you could take a nice lunch to eat at the tables or have a picnic in the grass.

I definitely recommend a trip here. It was a historical marvel and so glad I got to experience it.

This was my 3rd visit here and each time I walk away learning a few things I didn't learn on previous visits. Tour guide was superb. Absolutely an awesome site to see while learning about Mercer himself. Must see the Mercer Museum as well.

Henry Mercer was an eccentric who built his house out of concrete and tile to showcase both his talents as a tile-maker and as a collector of tiles from around the world. From ancient Babylonian to Delft to Chinese to Arabic to Mercer's own, this is a house of curiosities sure to spark curiosity and delight in visitors. Be sure to ask your tour guide about something which catches your eye as they are very knowledgeable and enthusiastic and everything has a story. Be sure to leave time to visit the tile factory to buy a most unusual souvenir of your visit. Go back again as no two tours are alike!

We went on a guided tour of this national historic site in beautiful Doylestown with relatives visiting from Washington state and enjoyed it very much. Even though we have lived here since 1978, this was our first visit to this unique example of architecture built in 1810 and found it fascinating. The guide was extremely knowledgeable and not only provided details on how 10 men with one horse constructed this 19,000 sq. ft. home one room at a time over the course of two years, but about the man who designed it. Henry Mercer was interested in everything, was a Harvard graduate, UPenn Law, and voracious reader. He traveled the world, was a collector of artifacts, was interested in anthropology and knew 6 languages. The view from a terrace near the top of the castle was a highlight and Mercer's curiosity about life was both sobering & inspiring!

I knew of Mercer and his tiles but never knew of this castle. Hearing the stories of how it was built and his forethought into things was so fun Our tour group was small and our guide was great. She knew her history of the property and family. It is a bit hot inside, they try to help with fans and it was comfortable. But the property and castle are one of a kind and worth the admission.

The interesting life story of Henry Chapman Mercer and his design and construction of Fonthill drew us in like a great novel. Mr. Mercer was unquestionably an interesting individual who lived his privileged life in a fascinating way. Our guide did a wonderful job of telling this story.

The house of Henry Mercer is impressively decorated with tilework of his own production and is a unique testament to one man's converging obsessions: medieval castles, fireproof building construction (the castle is practically all concrete), history, decorative art, tilemaking, etc. The tiles steal the show, but the overall ensemble is simply unique. You may not want to live in a castle such as this, but you are certain to be fascinated.

Really interesting and unique. Definitely with checking out. That being said, we had the worst EVER tour guide. If you go, avoid the tour guide Vance, who was incredibly rude and mocked people who asked questions. Only knocked it down 3 stars because of our experience with the staff

The castle is cluttered, dusty, and crowded with way too much stuff but the tile work is amazing. Our docent, LIsa, was wonderful and had a great voice. She is very knowledgeable and made the hour tour interesting

9/8 2021. Covid era Warning:a tour guide leads up to 10 at a time through many small rooms and passageways. Masks are optional! Our tour guide’s mask kept slipping below her nose and she just made excuses. I felt uneasy.

But it is a Fascinating look at the life of a wealthy collector and his estate.

I recently toured Fonthill Castle in Doylestown, PA, and it was an unforgettable experience. The castle itself is an eclectic piece of history—filled with character, creativity, and charm. Our tour guide, Jeff (who mentioned he’s a teacher or perhaps was one), did a fantastic job. He kept the tour both engaging and informative, striking the perfect balance between storytelling and historical context. His passion and knowledge really brought the place to life. I’d highly recommend this tour to anyone interested in unique architecture, local history, or just a truly one-of-a-kind outing.

I don;t usually like house tours but this one is great. The building is very unique and we had a great tour guide. Make this one of our stops while in Bucks Co.

You are required to take a guided tour of this home and it is well worth it. They guides are extremely knowledgable and share anecdotes along with interesting facts.

As a young child growing up a block from Mercer Woods, I was intrigued by the fact that no one ever mentions the woods surrounding the castle. If you walk through the woods as I did many times growing up in Doylestown, it was a treat to walk through the woods to see " those who learn to love will not destroy the creatures life the flowers joy".

Awesome visit, Regina was fabulous and could answer any questions. She added many personal experiences to enlighten us.

This was our second visit to the Fonthill Castle. We talked about it so much after our first visit, we could not wait to visit it again. The house is filled with odd shaped rooms and Mosaic tiles. It is extremely unique. The guided tours suggest to book ahead of time. We just stopped in and were able to get on a tour. Some people who came in after us had to wait for the next tour.

Love this place because it's so unique. Basically, Henry Mercer was an eccentric guy with money and he was able to carry out all his unique visions. He had no training as an architect but he had ten guys, beautiful tiles collected all over the world and tons of concrete. It's a beautiful, unpredictable, rat-mazed result. Make sure you combine your visit with a trip to the tile factory around the corner also. For some reason, they don't sell the Moravian Tiles at the Fonthill gift shop. You have to the tile factory to get those--don't miss that even if you don't have time for the tour.

Thelife and home of Henry Mercer is so very interesting! His home is an amazing story with beautiful tiles. A must see!!!

We found this an interesting place to visit and see the way an eccentric, scholarly, wealthy bachelor lived in the early 20th century. The concrete (fireproof) structure is more than "adorned" with clay tile, but incorporates the work, the thinking, and the values of the man. Tile is embedded everywhere, on the floor, on the ceiling, on the walls, (I'm tempted to quip "Artes virumque cano." The man expresses his Latin learning in tiles with adages in the various rooms, and even on the stair risers as you follow your tour guide through about one-third of the 44 room home --- without touching things, and winding a circuitous route of stairways and corridors of adjoining rooms, from the servants' entrance at ground level to the roof top, Fluent in several languages, he incorporates German in some of what you see, describes the sources and types of tile used, as well as the names of family members and friends for whom various rooms were fashioned, or the culture of places he has visited or studied. Yes, one can see an extensive collection of old books and pictures here and there. But, at some point, you might be tempted to say, "Enough !" For, it is definitely not the way most people would choose to decorate their homes, and it eventually becomes one-room-after-another with more of the same. In fact, he seems to express his focus on excessiveness in a motto "Plus Ultra" that he displays in tile on one of the fireplaces. A nice place to visit, but once is enough.

This castle is very unique, being made of concrete and having a very winding inside with countless passages. . It has a treasure of ancient clay tablets from Biblical times.

My husband and I were in Doylestown for the day and decided to book a tour at Fonthill. It was very interesting learning the history of Henry Mercer, and all of the tile work was incredible! Our guide was great and very informative, and helped make the tour interesting. We almost didn't bring a camera because I had read that pictures aren't allowed, but they just changed that rule a little over a month ago. So bring your camera!

This place is so unusual, and our tour guide was knowledgeable and entertaining. Even though multiple tours were happening at the same time, the guides kept things flowing so the groups didn't clash.

What an unusal find; quite an interesting place; reservations needed for the tour; it was winter with snow so we could not take advantage of the lovely walking trail along the grounds; unique concrete castle every room unique; Morvarian pottery everywhere mostly story tiles but many many historical tiles form Asia and Europe also; no photos inside; lots of stairs and nooks and crannies to see; not good it you have difficulty doing stairs cold in winter hot in summer: dress accordingly

I have been visiting Fonthill since I was a teen. It really does what they say - brings history to life.

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...

We've taken this tour four times now, and each time has been a treat -- one of our all-time favorite attractions. If you can, get the tour with Marcy, who is wonderfully knowledgeable and enthusiastic. Mercer built this fabulously eccentric and ingenious seven-story home out of poured concrete so he could display his collection of tiles, going back to ancient times and produced in his own factory. He was a brilliant designer and a collector of all kinds of odds and ends and it is fascinating to see how he brought it all together in his magnificent home, a true one of a kind.

A very unique castle who had this castle built, room by room. It reminds me of something out of Harry Potter and is a fascinating guided tour (you will see why the guides herd the group from room to room). You only see half the castle but it is a tour which takes you up and down through winding staircases into rooms with ceramics embedded in the cement walls and windows of varying sizes throughout. Wear comfortable shoes and ask questions the docents are really interesting.

We visited this castle in Doylestown after touring the Mercer Museum. This is home to Henry Mercer whose collection of artifacts is housed at Mercer Museum. Our guide, Rachel, was truly stellar. Her enthusiasm and genuine joy and interest in everything Mercer came through as she shared her wealth of knowledge about Henry Mercer. Her tour was very well balanced and we gained an understanding of the personality and mind set of Mercer that lead to the creation of this one of a kind, unique home. One room even featured genuine cuneiform from Babylonia! We loved the story that went with this structure. There is even a staircase dedicated to Mercer's dog, Rollo, featuring his paw prints and his name in tile. This place is definitely worth a visit and I recommend pairing it with a trip to the Mercer Museum. The only reason I didn't give it a 5 is because the basic tour does not include all rooms, which is fine considering there were over 40 of them, however I would have liked to see less bedrooms and maybe more of daily life rooms such as the kitchen.

Mercer who traveled the world and built this castle made of cement and tiles from his pottery company was a real genious or maybe a little crazy A real enjoyable historical venture along with a good workout climbing thru the castle rooms and floors

When we have out of town guests, we like to treat them to a trip to Fonthill. The grounds are immaculate and the castle is fascinating.

Visited as part of Smithsonian Museum Day, so there were no guided tours, just very helpful and pleasant staff members in all the rooms. Pretty crowded and the third floor was not open (big disappointment, but understandable I guess). This is a really neat place and well worth the visit. It's a pretty amazing place - wouldn't mind living there for a spell. I'll probably revisit just to take the tour and see the 3rd floor. Hard for me to say more about it, it really needs to be seen to be appreciated. They also have various activities, including a regularly scheduled escape room, which I imagine could be really fun. Definitely go and enjoy. (You should keep in mind that Fonthill Castle is NOT affiliated with any other business on the site and this review is most definitely NOT a recommendation regarding any other business located there)

We had the privilege of having Mr. Smyth give us a tour of this beautiful and quirky castles last Tuesday. There were only two of us on the tour, myself and my best friend and we found Mr. Smyth to be extremely knowledgeable and very patient with us as we had SO many questions about what we were seeing. The tour itself is an hour and costs 15 per person. It is worth every penny. This place cannot he adequately described it is one of those things you have to see in person to comprehend. If you are ever in the Doylestown area and have the time to, stop in and prepare to be amazed!!!!!

Well, I had never even heard of this place but as my family and I were visiting my aunt, who lives nearby, she suggested we go do this. She had been many times so she would have been plenty informative on her own, but you do buy tickets for this and get a guided tour. The sweet, elderly woman who did our guided tour seemed very informed but her delivery could use a tad bit of help. It was a very long-winded tour and since you have to stand the whole time and can't lean against walls, by the time the tour was finished we all needed to sit. It was really cool, though, to learn about the man who bought the little farmhouse and covered it with cement and created such beautiful tile-work. Great thing to do if you have about an hour to spare.

Great guided tour. Very unusual decor and many one of a kind tiles in the castle. History told by our guide was enlightening. The owner, architect, builder was an unusual person. Not to be missed if you enjoy architecture

Henry Mercer was educated at a time when being a true renaissance person was possible--a lawyer, architect, archeologist, scholar and tile maker. The castle was his home, nearby his tile works and basically a monument to tiles--including very early Delft--and other artifacts he uncovered in his vast travels.

Our tour of Fonthill Castle was wonderful full of interesting facts and a few personal opinions from our guide which were not necessary. The tile work is amazing and beautiful. Worth the trip.

Only about an hour from the Lehigh Valley, this is an understated attraction. I was researching day trips and fun things to do in PA on Pinterest when I found out about this place. We were so glad we came. The history behind the place and the owner are very intriguing. You can order tickets for both the Fonthill Castle and the Mercer Museum and you will receive a discount of $4 rather than buying them separately. We went to the castle first and then the museum which are about a mile or so from each other. The museum is very anticlimactic compared to the castle. Honestly, I would just skip it although there are some really neat - very old - things inside. This was also my first time in Doylestown. The houses are so cute. Such a quaint town overall!

I totally recommend getting the combo ticket and spending the day getting to know Henry Mercer. The 1 hour guided tour of Fonthill Castle is amazing in combination with the museum. We loved all the beautiful handmade tiles throughout the castle. We also enjoyed the view from the terrace.

Gorgeous place though be warned, no AC above the first floor. Still nice to see in the summer but the Mercer museum was not as hot and also really interesting

The tour of the castle is really worth the 1-2 hours of your time. The tiles throughout the castle, which makes up a living catalog, is truly amazing. Personally, I was loving the book collection!

We live about 25 minutes away and have always wanted to visit but never got around to it. I’m so glad we finally did! Fonthill is such a unique place - equal parts weird, wonderful, mysterious and fascinating, it’s unlike any “home” you’ve ever been to (yes, it was the residence of one man, Henry Mercer). But the best part was our tour guide, Joe. He was incredibly knowledgeable and answered all of our questions with patience and good humor. JUST GO - you’ll be glad you did. NOTE: This is not a tour for people that have mobility issues as there are many stairs involved.

We actually came to Doylestown for a few days specifically to see the castle and museum and we were not disappointed. It is an incredibly fascinating place. Just sorry there was not more information about Mercer the man. Who was the person who built such a unique structure and why.

What an interesting building. Walking through it was a lot of fun and our tour guide was very informative. I bought the book and that gives the layout of each floor. Very interesting design. This castle was a great find for us to take a day trip to see. Well worth it!

It's a terrific space to even just go hang out on the grounds. Spacious, well-groomed, interesting landscaping, fabulous building as a backdrop.

Inside is just too glorious for words! I have not seen a comparable home decorated in such a spectacular fashion. Tiles of every imaginable size, shape and content, colorful, fascinating, it's just a real joy to see!

We visited on the Smithsonian free museum day, so unfortunately, tours were not being given. The staff was more than willing to answer any questions. My husband and I supplemented the tour with reading about it afterwards.

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.

Built over several years between 1908-1912, Fonthill castle is a hand mixed reinforced cement structure of unique and artistically breathtaking design. It has both Medieval Gothic and Byzantine features and details. It was the home of Henry Chapman Mercer and originally intended to be a showcase for his hand-made tiles, priceless archaeological collection and artistry. Virtually everything is as it was when Mercer lived in the castle until his death in 1930 and was part of the early 20th century Arts and Crafts Movement. It has 44 rooms, 18 fireplaces, 0ver 200 windows and 32 staircases. The 1 hour tour allows you to see a large portion of the castle but not all areas. Apparently there is a behind the scenes tour which I did not have that shows more of the castle. There are handcrafted tiles on the walls, flooring and ceiling made mainly from Pennsylvania red clay. Tile designs are eclectic with inspirations from China, Persia, Spain, Netherlands, etc.. There are story telling tile, as well as, ancient designs and 3-dimensional foreign designs. One tile on the ceiling shows what appears to be South American cannibals roasting a human remains on a spit. There are many features which make the castle spectacular like twisting and turning hallways which lead to surprise openings, a center room with 10 different entrance and exit options, the large library, arches and nooks, winding stairways, secret passage ways and some steep stairs add mystery and surprise to every room. The way light passes through the 200+ windows is genius and magical and must be seen to totally grasp the effect. Along with the castle itself the docents narrate vivid stories of Mercer's personal life and work some so eccentric that they draw a laugh or awe, facts about his collection, artifacts and eccentric architectural details. Some rooms are air-conditioned which helped in my August visit. No photos are permitted in the castle. The cost is $12 with a $1 discount for seniors and AAA members. Reservations online is suggested because tour groups are small, etc.. Mercer's tiles can also be seen at the Capitol in Harrisburg, Pa. and the Isabella Gardener Museum in Boston, Mass.. The Moravian Pottery and Till Works just a 5 minute walk from the castle is well worth the cost of $4 to see more of Mercer's tiles and tile making process in the factory they were made.

Fonthill Castle is like no other castle I've seen. You will not see a lot of draperies, faded wallpaper, or over-stuffed furniture. Instead, you will see Gothic architecture, narrow, winding stairways, and a maze of passages. It will not surprise you to know the owner, Henry Mercer, was a fan of Edgar Allen Poe. Henry Mercer was an archaeologist, antiquities collector, ceramicist, and a visionary designer. He filled his home with prints, ceramic tiles, and artifacts--a showplace for his many interests.
Your ticket includes an informative, 1 hr guided tour, and is well worth it. (The only caveat--if you are claustrophobic or have mobility issues, please let your guide know.)

This 'castle' is a must see if you are in Doylestown. They give a nice tour and the guides ( I've had a four different ones over the years) have all been good. I always bring my guests here. I have had a couple of the different tours. Even taking the same tour over again, I learn something new. After the tour you can walk over to the tile factory where they have another tour and movie. You don't have to take that tour if you'd prefer to just visit the store. They have many decorative tiles you can buy. Very cool!! My friends always find something. I have some decorating my house. Every other year they host an international tile fest under tents in May. That is also fun to see. If you are planning any tiling projects in your house be sure to go.

Despite the fact that this so interesting site shows what happens when a National Historic Landmark is underfunded, Fonthill Castle is well worth a visit, as there is nothing comparable anywhere. The gentleman who created it, Henry Chapman Mercer (Don"t go before you google him.),created a building that was both his home and a showplace for the products of his Moravian tile works. The entire structure is made of poured concrete that is embedded in every possible place with Mercer tiles. The home was built in segments with little formal pre-planning, so it has charm rather than coherence, as it is built in several styles and its many rooms are connected with multiple stairways and way places. While the site could certainly use cleaning and updating, the docents are wonderful, and they weave tales of Mercer'sl life into the elements of the building as they guide guests through them. You can also visit the tile works on the property for more history and a pretty souvenir tile.

We did a day trip from Brooklyn and went to the Mercer museum first and then to Fonthill to complete the experience. Wow what a day of discovery and adventure!! Very interesting man and seeing his home after the museum was a good experience and exposure to his life and work.

You have to take a one hour guided tour but it’s really good and the tour guide was knowledgeable and engaging answering all our questions. It’s some house basically left the way it was when he died in the 30’s. Everything is left as he had it including books,furniture and paintings and pictures. The tile work is unique and as with the Mercer museum it’s made of concrete. They give you a great overview of a number of the many rooms. If you go in the winter go earlier in the day as we went on the 4:00 tour and it was hard to see some of the detail due to the dim original old electric lights in the house. It did add an air of mystery seeing it in the sunset light though so we still enjoyed it.

It's a wonderful place to explore the art of tiles and a big castle. Be prepared though, in the summer on a hot day, it gets really hot in some rooms, even though there are fans. There are many stairs too, but there is alot to learn.

I had never heard of Fonthill, but it was an amazing tour of a 'castle' built from concrete by Mercer and a small crew of men and a horse. It is interesting to see all the tiles in the different rooms (there is a separate place nearby to visit the tile works) and realize that he was just putting this home together without any training in architecture. Concrete was a new thing and he wanted to try using it for a home, and to show off his tile collection. Very interesting tour - highly recommend if you are interested in history or tile or the arts and crafts movement.

Was here yesterday with 2 kids 7 and 8 but have also come alone. Never have been inside but love visiting the grounds. Enjoy looking at the castle and other stone and tiled structures. It also has hiking tails through the woods. Great photo taking opportunities.

This unique home is a must if you are in the area. They have several special tours different times of the year but the general house tour gives you looking at this estate and it's fascinating history. Afterwards I also recommend the Mercer Museum which you will appreciate more after doing the house tour.

Like The Mercer Museum, Fonthill Castle is another gem that is guaranteed to keep you intrigued and finding something new each visit you make. The best part is that every tour guide has a different side to the life of Henry Mercer which adds to the "learning something new each time" aspect. The tiles are wonderfully placed and it leaves you in awe to think hat such a place could be completed in just 4 years. Reservations are required but the approximately 1 hour long tour is completely worth it.

We have lived in the area for almost 30 years but we have never visited Fonthill. All I can say is Iwe should of done the tour a long time ago. Logan was our tour guide and was excellent he knew all the history about Mercer. If you are planning on going to the museum you should go here first. The tour lasts about an hour and there are alot of going up and down stairs, but only 4 or 5 at a time .

Very interesting tour of this amazing castle built by Henry Mercer. You can only see the castle during the guided tours, but even though our guide was fairly new, he was very knowledgeable.

Based on Mercer’s worldly travels and his spoiled life thanks to his Aunt, he was able to put together this amazing castle that will dazzle your eyes everywhere you look based on his delightful tiles, masterful art pieces, and unique architecture.
#doylestownpa #fonthill #henrymercer #pennsylvania #patravel #GB&E

We loved our 1-hour tour of this historic castle. The construction and tilework inside the house were intricate and unlike any place I had seen before. Our tour guide was courteous and knowledgeable. It was fun to learn the stories behind each room in the home. The building is very well maintained. I highly recommend visiting!

Tip: the tour started right on schedule, so don’t be late!

We recently had our family pictures taken at Fonthill. All kinds of interesting spots for posing, whether it is on the grounds or along some of the steps or archways. Love the old buildings. We have been to a few weddings here as well and it is always a delightful time.

This is less of a castle and more of McMasion/man cave. Interesting to see but not a must see or a repeat visit.

This concrete castle is an amazing historic place to visit with the family. All the construction resembles an art canvas. The details on each room's roof have a stunning effect that leaves you with your mouth open.

We took a tour of Fonthill Castle during the Christmas Holidays last year. It was an evening tour, took about an hour. Everything was decorated and tour was by candlelight. Wonderful old building, and so many rooms and cubbyholes to explore. Definitely worth the trip. They have tours all year long and they also have "special nights" during various seasons. Not sure how much children would enjoy the tour. Lots of steps although they are not steep and easy to walk. Great place to go for a day or an evening out.

We visited Fonthill Castle, Mercer Museum, and the Tileworks before so we thought it would be an interesting experience for a visiting friend. We went on Saturday afternoon and our tour guide was abysmal. She didn't share any information about the rooms we toured unless queried specifically. We just stood in each room and basically looked around. There was absolutely nothing noteworthy to the tour. Please make sure your guides are informative and helpful.

What an amazing home to tour. I wish we could have gone in every room So interesting. Really enjoyed seeing this and imagining what it was like to live here.

It's not my vision of a castle but it is an artistic use of cement and some ceramic tile. Our docent, Marcy(?) was a bit snippy with the people in our group. She really didn't want questions even though she asked if we had any??? I can't recommend going out of your way to see it, sorry.

Fonthill Castle tour was absolutely fascinating. The tile work in the house was amazing and such a quirky castle. Our guide was very informative and tried to answer all of our questions. I’m sure Henry would have been an amazing person to spend time with, his mind certainly worked in mysterious ways. What an amazing place.

What a perfect treat….visits to Font Hill Castle AND to Mercer Museum Castle…2 very unique, very different experiences. We learned so much about this amazing, eclectic, unique , accomplished man who left a forever Legacy in Doylestown, PA. Our Font Hill experience was smooth, informative, with surprises around every corner. Online ticketing, check-in, timeliness, small group, knowledgeable docent…all wonderful. We never felt rushed on the tour and there were many questions to be answered. Our tour guide was so prepared, and also admitted when she said she would need to do more research. We loved it!

Don't miss this ancestral home of the amazing Henry Mercer. Just one of three 'castles' he build in Doylestown. Call and ahead and schedule a tour. Prepare to be amazed.

A great place to spend an hour or two. Nancy, our tour guide, was excellent. And while we wish we could see even more of the interior behind some of the roped-off halls, we definitely got our money's worth. The place is incredible. I wouldn't bring kids, though: they wouldn't get it.

In years past, we had been to the huge Mercer Museum, but I never knew about Henry Mercer's home or much about his life. We were in the area visiting my wife's parents for Thanksgiving 2022. We are from Minnesota. So having heard of this place from a friend we visited on November 25, 2022. Without advance planning, we just drove over to take the tour. Arriving at 10;30 AM we were told it was sold out for the day... but then, he discovered there were two openings at 11:15 AM... perfect! This gave us time to explore the acreage, walk the trails and make a brief visit to the nearby tile works also formerly owned by Mr. Mercer. We discovered that Henry Mercer was a world traveler, an environmentalist, an archeologist, a recycler (long before it was the thing to do). It turns out he was a visionary, collecting, saving and reusing things while they were still around and useful, rather than digging them up from the ground a century later. He also manufactured wonderfully beautiful tilework but also tiles that tell a story. He was a big believer in concrete for buildings: long lasting, fireproof, easily shaped for whatever form desired unlike other building materials. This castle embodies all of this and more. Our tour guide was Nate (or Nathan) who was very knowledgeable and answered all questions without getting annoyed. Nate was great! The tour was said to take about an hour, but it was really about 90 minutes, and it was very entertaining. You only get to see about 30% of the castle, as a full tour would take at least 3 hours. There is plenty to see and learn here, with many stairways and so many rooms. On your own it would be easy to get lost. I very highly recommend a visit here and be sure to explore the grounds and tileworks as well.

I came to Doylestown in part because of Fonthill. Sounded like there was a lot to do in this small town (I still recommend the Michener art museum).

The place is meant to resemble a medieval castle, apparently. Which means it's dark, low ceilings, and not particularly nice. THey talked about how the founder was a Renaissance man. Hey also claimed it was an "arts and crafts" castle. I guess because he put his tiles all over the place. It was very repetitive, and I couldn't wait for the tour to end (not because of the guide, because of the subject).

This one of the most unique "castles" I have ever seen, and I've seen a few.
The only way you can visit this strange and wonderful building is by guided tour, you would easily get lost on your own. This is the home of the very eccentric Henry Chapman Mercer and is filled to the brim with all sorts of odd and fascinating stuff.
It is almost overwhelming.
The guide was terrific, so knowledgeable and thorough and kept us entertained during the tour with some wonderful stories.
If you ever find yourself in the area, or want to see one of the strangest, most unique homes in the USA, you must visit this place. Oh yes, check out the excellent Mercer Musuem too (another strange "castle", this where Henry put all of the other amazing stuff he collected over the years.

It was wonderful and our guide was very knowledgeable and pleasant.
So many books and artifacts and the tiles were spectacular. It was as if you had stepped back in time. An amazing place for both adults and children to visit.

Interesting tour. Lots of information and very interesting man and castle. I thought an hour tour might be a bit much, but there's so much to learn that the time flew by. Definitely worth a visit.

Font Hill is unique. This was the creators home. The enormous house is made completely of cement. It was built in the early 20th century and only a few people built it. There are no straight lines in the building and many many strange stairways. Every year they have a hollow evening tour that is worth going to. Even on normal day tours the mansion is worth a visit. I highly recommend taking the tour.

Took our 8 year old twins here for a little spring break trip. The tour was phenomenal, we are both teachers as well and just loved the tour. My kids enjoyed it as well and asked many questions. I would recommend this tour for those interested in history, construction and interesting things.

Amazing architecture! it's breathtaking to see..the ceramic tiles inside show so many different scenes. It's like stepping into another world

My kids and I loved our tour of Fonthill Castle. Our tour guide, Dottie, was perfect. We went for a homeschool field trip and we weren’t disappointed. I enjoyed learning about Mercer and seeing his home, which was like nothing I’d ever seen.

I am claustrophobic and found the castle very difficult to enjoy. If you are not claustrophobic I imagine it is interesting. My friend I went with enjoyed it a lot.
Even the rest rooms felt like the walls were closing in. My experience there is not valid.

Visited 2/18/17: Visiting requires a guided tour. Make reservation in advance. Pay upon entry. Tour was excellent but because no roaming around (understandably) felt that we weren't able to really look at the place. So much to inspect! Awesome. I'd go back. Pair with Mercer museum and you've got yourself a good several hours of fascinating sightseeing at a fair price. Not good for young children. No pics allowed inside. I didn't post any pics cause, well, other people have and how much can you look at outside shots! Go!

Fonthill was the home of Henry Mercer who was a grand collector (possibly a hoarder) of items from around the world. His museum (The Mercer Museum) focuses on Americana, but Fonthill houses his worldly collections. Like the museum, the house is built entirely of concrete and makes good use of his tileworks (foundry is on site) as his tiles are installed everywhere there is an available surface and are wonderful to see. The home has been left exactly as it was at the time of his death (dust, mold spores, and all). Calling it a castle is misleading, as it is an odd structure with tiny stairways, rooms, tight winding hallways and alcoves. It was one of the first residences in the area to have electricity and the lighting in the home is of the time period and basically is a bare bulb or two per room. We were there on a rainy day which may have contributed to the gloomy and dark environment. Also, it is not climate controlled, so summer is not the best time to go. You are not permitted to touch, sit, or lean on anything which can make it difficult for some. Some rooms had one metal folding chair if a person needed to sit, so those who cannot stand independently for minimally an hour need to be aware that it is not very accommodating and clearly is not ADA compliant. Our guide was knowledgeable and answered questions, but was not warm and welcoming to the visitors.

My mom and I visited the castle and were very impressed by the castle and our tour guides, Peter and Marcia. Peter’s great enthusiasm for the castle was evidence through his detailed explanation. Since we had many questions, he went beyond the scheduled time. Overall, the tour was above and beyond our expectations.

Very unexpected. The style and tiles used throughout the castle made for a very worthwhile visit. The castle followed COVID guidelines with guided tours with limited number of people. I had a 10:30 am slot and was the only one. Tour guide was informative and I was glad to get background on the person who built the castle- Henry Chapman Mercer.

The castle tour is pretty interesting and the castle is probably has the worst floorplan of any mansion I have ever been to, and that's what makes it so interesting. There are staircases everywhere. Some areas have 5 or 6 stairways meeting in the same small space. The ceilings are low and decorated with tiles. The grounds could use some sprucing up and are somewhat overgrown and the exterior of the house needs some upkeep. Still, the place is worth avisit if you are in the area.

The other reviews are full of great info and I have little detail to add, but I urge those considering a visit to Fonthill to be sure to make it a priority. Even during the week the tours can reach capacity, so be sure to make reservations. Photography is not allowed inside the home and the website is limited in what it shows, but rest assured that the tour will not disappoint. Our tour guide, David, was very knowledgeable and friendly. There are many steps and narrow passages, and there is very limited opportunity to leave the tour, which lasts an hour and requires standing.

Fabulous grounds and building. Every room is a new experience. All those hand placed tiles and the decorations are glorious. Don’t forget to visit the tile works and also get a tour.

I love mansions and seek them out. This mansion is so much more than big. It's amazing in the details, the history, the pottery, the art. Time stopped and this place is frozen in time.

It's a crazy place--but in a good way. This is a must see if you are in the area because it's unlike anything you've ever seen.

I wonder what was going through Henry Mercer’s head when he created the Fonthill Castle. Don’t get me wrong it’s a work of art but I think he may have been a little bit mad in my opinion. He was a very well rounded man reading over 6,000 books in his life. I could imagine his views of live were a little skewed. Great tour though! Highly recommended! We had a great time!

.I rarely give out 5 stars, but this place is absolutely awesome and so worth it. Tour is worth it, very informative and educational. Lasts about an hour. Always check their website though because many weddings use the place, and when they do, they are closed.

This was an interesting tour. I love history so I learned so much from this tour. The tour takes about 1 hour for $14. The guide gives incite on Chapman Mercer and the historical events. I recommend the visit.

Fonthill seems like a fantasy. It's difficult to realize it is real. American archeologist and tile maker Henry Chapman Mercer must have conceived this in his imagination and then actually created this castle using concrete and decorated with beautiful tiles. If you are anywhere near Doylestown, do stop in and join a tour. By the way, you can not explore Fonthill on your own. You have to have a tour guide. So you may want to find out the times of the tours before you go. But do go. You won't regret it.

I knew this was an unusual, eccentric building, unlike anything else around, before I went in, but despite it being a one-of-kind "artwork" (and despite having a very good guide) I did not like the place at all and was glad to leave. I found it dreary, a bit creepy and more of the homemade arts-and-crafts variety than a fine work of art, It was also a bit repetitive; one or two rooms would have been enough for me.
I know lots of people like the place and find it fascinating, but it's nothing like a real castle or even a manor house or country estate.

I got a very bad vibe while there. Personally I would rate it 1 or zero, and would never go back, but in trying to be objective about the place in general, I gave it a rating of 3.

(I visited about 3 years ago in summer but the web site made me pick a different date.)

My girlfriend and I went to Doylestown today to go to Fonthill Castle and the Moravian Tile & Pottery place. I highly recommend the trip. We watched the video before we started the tour and looked around in the gift shop area. The tile work is fantastic. We had a great tour with Brian that lasted over 1 hour for $14 or $1 off with AAA. They do a behind the scenes tour at special times of the year and you get to see rooms they don't show on the regular tour. It was very interesting and worth the price of admission. I would recommend a day trip with this as one of your stops.

We have been to countless museums and places of interest. I think this is a huge highlight of anywhere we've been. I wish I could remember our tour guide (Linda or Lisa maybe). She was very informative and had a true passion for the castle and the history of Henry Mercer. The life of Mercer is so interesting and you can see how smart and eclectic he was in this building. I could have spent hours here. Be sure to walk the grounds as well and enjoy the nice trails in the woods. Touring this made me go on a research rampage about Henry Mercer - it was that good!

Not only is this a castle, it’s a work of art!! If you are looking for art, architecture, and history, this is the place for you! :)

Patricia was an EXCELLENT tour guide! She answered all of our questions and really knows her stuff!

Also, PA/NJ teachers get in for free!

This tour is definitely worth a trip diversion. It is one of the few museum visits you will leave saying you want to go back through again. Henry Mercer was an incredibly creative individual, and he expressed it throughout the 44-room, concrete "man-cave" castle he designed (self-taught) and built between 1908-1912. Each room is unique and is reached by a HabitTrail maze of stairs and passageways. The ceilings are richly decorated with colorful custom tiles that Mercer made for the house. There are hundreds of framed etchings on the walls, an early intercom system, a collection of Cuneiform tablets and lots of Latin and English inscriptions in mosaics and tiled letters. There are also a number of Arabic tiles inlaid in the walls and very detailed 3D mosaic tiles Mercer designed that tell stories from history and the Classics.

TIPS: Tours are by reservation only - read more info at the web site below. A good trip plan - arrive and park (parking is limited on Main Street in town) at the Mercer Museum in Doylestown in late morning. Make an afternoon FontHill reservation at the Mercer Museum, then walk from the museum 5-7 minutes up Main Street to eat lunch at Maxwell's on Main Street (MoMS - 37 N. Main St - their pulled pork and hominy chili is good). After lunch, walk back to the museum and drive the one mile distance to the castle. Tours last 60-75 minutes - and would be interesting for older teens but not little kids. Wear comfortable shoes as you will climb multiple stairs, but none that are strenuous or that will make you feel claustrophobic. Other things to do on-site: you can walk the grounds on the estate and visit the tile works next door. Lastly, consider purchasing a book about the castle because there is no photography inside.

Attendants at the Mercer Museum said that visiting FontHill first provides a good background for understanding the Mercer Museum's collection.

Coming from an architecture background, the building are always my fascination as most buildings always have a story to tell and so does the Fonthill Castle. We took the guided tour which lasted a bit over an hour and our guide did a great job of providing details about Henry Mercer, his life, his work, and his unique collection of tiles that filled his home. The interesting design of the rooms and confusing layout was unique. He designed the house inspired by some elements of the Medieval castle and his vision. Each of the rooms were adorned with clay tiles that depict a story or event in history while incorporating the work, the thinking, and the values of the man. Tile is embedded everywhere, on the floor, on the ceiling, on the walls in various rooms. I believe the majority were Mr. Mercer's work but there were a lot of tiles from all over the world that he collected. There were tiles from the Chinese Palace procured during the turmoil placed on the side wall of one of the staircase. I was especially intrigued by the fact each bedroom in the castle had an en suite bathroom at the different level though equipped with indoor plumbing which is unlikely for that era. The place is encased in concrete over 100 years old.The winding passages, multiple living levels, windows of all sizes and a array of staircases encompassing 44 rooms made the tour very interesting and enjoyable. My feeling is that he tried to use concrete more like clay without actually understanding the true nature of concrete construction.

The castle tour is one of a kind and worth the admission !! I would totally go for more in-depth tour of the basement and additional rooms that happens at particular times during the year.We visited the museum and the castle on the same day. Both were very good and we learned a lot. I would highly recommend visiting both locations.

Nothing to see there. How exactly is this a CASTLE?! Cannot even call it a mansion! Just an old building. Disappointing...

This concrete castle is an amazing sight. It has 44 rooms, over 200 windows, 18 fireplaces, and 10 bathrooms. In every room there is wonderful tile work and wall hangings. There are artifacts dating back to 2300 BC. You can't take pictures inside, but if you could, you would have to take hundreds to document everything that there is to see. Only a couple of rooms had portable air conditioners, so if it is a hot day, I wouldn't recommend visiting on that day. There are steps all over the place. Little kids might not appreciate what there is to see.

I would recommend doing the Fonthill Castle tour first, then the Mercer Museum afterward, but if you only have time for one of these, definitely choose the castle tour! So interesting seeing what culminates when a wealthy man is able to build his "dream home" (made totally of handmixed concrete... even some of the furniture). His handcrafted tile business provided him the means to create the intricate mosaic-style tile scenarios seen throughout. We were fascinated with this place and thoroughly enjoyed the tour by Joe C. (one of the best tour guides ever!). Reservations are needed for the castle tour, but not for the museum.

I really enjoyed my visit to Fonthill. The tour lasted a bit over an hour and our guide, Brian, did a great job of providing details about Henry Mercer, his life, his work, and his unique home. Well worth the time and money to visit this interesting abode and learn about the fascinating life of Henry Mercer.

I can't believe I have lived less than an hour away and had never visited this place before. So fascinating and so much to see. You could tour a dozen times and still see something new. Guided tour is required and is very informative. Short video in the conservatory is also worthwhile. There are a lot of stairs so guests must be able to handle that

We have driven by the Tile Works 100s of times but never realize there was a castle on the same property. I took my 11 and 10 year old daughters. We printed out one the scavenger hunts that you could find on their web site. It made the tour even more fun for them. I think my girls are the perfect age for this museum. There was a family on the tour with us with young children and they seemed to become bored very quickly. There is a strict no touching policy (even refrain from touching the walls bc of the intricate tile work). Young children can become restless easy. We, however, enjoyed the information and tour greatly. Stroll the grounds after the tour too!!

This place is so cool and guides are very informative. I would say definitely don't miss if you are in the area. We've gone twice and each time we see/learn something new.

Took a fascinating tour of Fonthill Castle in Doylestown- 110 years old, 44 rooms, entire thing made of poured concrete and embellished with Moravian tile- all the work of eccentric, wealthy genius Henry Mercer. Well worth a visit. Our tour was with Stephanie- she’s so knowledgeable and also added humor to the almost 90 min tour. Lots of time spent in each room so you could really take in all there is to see.

It may have only been an hour tour, but it was packed with lots of information, beautiful WOW factor rooms and interesting artifacts. Worth the price of admission.

A testament to the talents of Henry Chapman Mercer. The castle is filled with hand made tiles designed and made at the Mercer's Moravian Pottery and Tile Works which is within walking distance from the castle. If you are going make a visit to the Mercer Museum as well which has an intriguing look at America's pre-industrialized era. Art, architecture, design, tiles old and new tiles available to purchase, tools used prior to industrialization of America are just part of the adventure. Excellent tour guide for the hour tour of the castle. Will visit again!

We were a group of mixed ages from mid-70s to 10 and we all thoroughly enjoyed it. We did not look on line to see if we could book tours on the web site, but be prepared to wait on busy days. We went and saw the tile-works while we waited for our tour time. There is a place to have a picnic.
We were also able to see a young couple whose wedding was held there and I can imagine that the photographs will be marveous.

I really enjoyed seeing Fonthill Castle. It is such a unique building and the tiles and overall design were fascinating. Jeff, our tour guide, did a wonderful job. He was very knowledgeable of the building and pointed out many interesting aspects during the tour.

We took our grandchildren to this person's home and it was quite a treat to go through so many rooms and see all that he collected. Although the woman that took our ticket money was not into her position, the guide truly was wonderful and knowledgeable. She even made the children important on the tour.

This place is amazing. Not what you would expect from the outside. Truly unique construction and design. I think anyone would find it fascinating.

My husband and I signed up for the Fonthill “Behind the Scenes” tour. This tour is by reservation only and well worth it! Having visited the castle numerous times, this was a real treat. Our guide, Chris took us to places in the castle that were previously inaccessible. It was fascinating! Chris is one of the developers of the tour and his knowledge of Henry Mercer and Fonthill was extensive. The group was small, as were some of the spaces we walked through, adding an element of surprise and intrigue. If you get a chance to take this tour, do it! Do it now!

I have been to Fonthill many times. It is a unique castle built in the arts and crafts style. The docents are super knowledgable and fun. Highly recommend!

This is the home Henry Mercer built for himself around the turn of the 20th century. It reminds me of a Hobbit home. Not in scale, but in earthy uniqueness. Henry Mercer was an heir in an influential family. He was an avid collector and wanna be architect with time and money. Its a look into the life of an unconventional member of the privelidged class of the time. He also built the Mercer Museum, dedicated to 18th and 19th century primitive antiques. Items of everyday life from the time. Mercer also built the Moravian Tileworks. All three charge minimal admission fees and are located in charming Doylestown,PA,a great little place about 25 min.north of Philadelphia.

The tour of Fonthilll Castle is fabulous. I could go again and again. This castle is like a playground for an adult. Mercer was very creative, and this building was his canvas. He created home for himself out of his imagination and for me it was like touring his playground. There are so many rooms in the structure, but you only see about 14 in the tour. The tour is just an hour and I think that's a positive. You get a taste of different types of rooms and one of the terraces in a short amount of time. It doesn't get boring or repetitive. The docent who led my tour was wonderful. She explained the rooms well, answered questions and also kept track of everyone in the group. This is definitely worth the time and money to visit. It is also very close (3 minute walk) to Moravian Tile Works which I visited afterwards.

This was a really amazing place to visit. There are so many things to see, and even the kids were entertained. The only downfall is the amount of time you get in each room, as there is so much to see in every room it feels a bit rushed.

WOW! What an awesome place! If you have even the slightest interest in history, you will love this sight! Mr. Mercer was a man who knew what he wanted, and made it happen! Our tour guide Lorraine was so knowleable, and helpful, she knew everything!

If you like exploring castles that also was someone's home, you'll want to visit here. Henry Mercer loved making tiles and this place is loaded throughout the tour. He lived here through the turn of the century and was the architect for this home fortress. The tour guide was friendly and maybe a little nervous. In the cooler months, you need to dress warm here, the heat is sparse. However, the story behind this place is worth the visit. It's easy to find not far from main street Doylestown, PA. Next door, you can also visit the Moravian Tile works which is still working today. Make sure you wear comfortable shoes. It's a large compound and many steps but a nice light workout.

The only thing keeping me from giving this 5 stars is thay you aren't allowed to take pictures inside the house...unless you pay a $40 permit fee!?!?! To tour the house is 14 dollars and it is well worth it. The house is beautiful and very unique, the guides are nice and show you a lot of interesting features you wouldn't notice without them. The tours last about an hour and for an additional $5 you can tour the tile factory next door.

A man of wealth, well traveled and educated, carries an image of the home he wants to build one day and then he finally accomplishes it. This is not most people's fantasy home but there is much to see. Mr. Mercer, owner of a tile business, personally designed tiles based on themes, to decorate the walls of every room of his castle. He used decorative tile in every nook and cranny. To see this house, sign in at the desk and go with a guide. There is no DIY for this and for good reason. The interior is full of twists and turns and staircases. Some are a squeeze. There is considerable detail which would be missed without an interpreter. The group will be small by nature of the building. Kids should be in a good mood and not unruly for this trip.Plan ahead and phone ahead for reservations if you want to be certain of seeing this unusual "home." Mr. Mercer's family were friends with the powerful, the famous, and many renowned people of the day. This and other anecdotes will make for your enjoyment of this attraction. In the area on business and made the time to see it. Glad I did. I would not recommend this for anyone who has trouble with stairs or mobility though. It requires a bit of agility.

This place is fabulous. Came on a day trip from NYC and haven't stopped talking about it since. I don't even like ceramics much as an aesthetic, yet this ceramic-encrusted, rambling place is now my dream home.

Book a tour of the house, but be sure to leave time in your day to go through the tileworks and the Mercer Museum.

We weren't planning on visiting here because we were focused on genealogy in the Mercer Museum. But we read that you should see the Castle before the Museum, and that was right. This is an amazin place. Henry Mercer was fascinated with castles. And since he had the money, he was able to design what he wanted and make it over 4 years. The amazing thing is that he modeled all of the 44 rooms in clay first and then squished them together. So there was no architectural plan and no 2 rooms are alike.

The castle is made totally out of cement. But because he believed that everything should be done by hand, the workmen had to mix cement themselves and pour it layer by layer. He had a tile factory so the tiles were put on top of sand for the ceiling and the cement on top of that. Then the sand was washed away, so the tiles appear as if they were installed into the cement in the ceiling, whereas it was the other way around.

You can't say how many floors are there because there are so many staircases and different levels, maybe 11 in all.

What a fascinating place. Visit here before the Mercer Museum which he built after the castle.

We went for National Museum Day which limited us on just how much of the castle we could see. It was very interesting walking through what from the outside looks like a modern castle but on the inside is more medieval. It was really fascinating to think that this man built this to live in with all the modern (for the time) amenities he could have added but didn't.

Absolutely beautiful place with a rich history. You must make reservations for a tour which runs for a little over an hour. Very interesting and beautiful. Sadly, you can't take pictures. There are a few tours a year that they do allow photos though. This tour requires a lot of climbing of stairs so make sure everyone in your party is able to do so. Also, the castle gets very cold/hot so try to select a time that will be comfortable for you. We went at the end of October and it was great.

This castle is completely made of concrete. Tiles inlaid throughout. A tour guide was very helpful in understanding how the castle came about.

A unique and off the beaten path site. I went here with my girlfriend for a day trip. We took a tour with an enthusiastic and knowledgeable guide. Due to COVID, tour groups were limited to five people and should be booked in advanced online. The history and architecture of this "castle" are some of the most interesting things you'll learn about and see.

A beautiful place to visit after you see Mercer Museum to learn more about the incredible home and life of Henry Mercer. The winding rooms and tile are spectacular to see and the story of his life is truly inspiring.

Our guide was great and had many years of personal knowledge and stories. The building techniques, architecture and tiles are just amazing. Reasonable price with senior and AAA discounts. Unusual things to see in every room. Stairs were challenging for people with mobility issues and it was hot due to 90 plus and humid temps. They had recently changed their policy to allow tour guests to take photos inside, just asked that you do it discreetly as you either entered or left rooms. I was very pleased to hear this!

Only guided tours are allowed because there are 44 rooms and 30+ staircases. We didn't book in advance as we didn't know our arrival time - it was a bit hard to get a tour because of this. If possible, call to reserve a tour in advance!! The castle itself is a work of art and well preserved. The focus is first and foremost on its builder, Henry Mercer, and second on his tiles and their integration into the fabric of the building. The location is managed by the local historical society and they work hard to make sure everyone has a good experience. Highly recommend to see a piece of America's history!

Our tour guide was Marcy Stanly( I hope I spelled that right!) she was the best tour guide ever she is so kind a sweet. I recommend bringing your camera or phone to take pictures. And I also recommend bring younger children with you because they can learn a lot about that castle. And they are following COVID-19 safety measures (6ft apart-masks required inside the building’s- and sanitation stations) This is the best place for people to learn About this castle and the owner. P.S. : ASK FOR MARCY STANLY AS YOUR TOUR GUIDE.

Stopped at Fonthill based on other TripAdvisor reviews. Definitely time well spent. Great tour led by Brian Smyth. You'll be amazed at the creativity and passion that went into creating this one of a kind castle. Each room is fascinating. They also now allow photos.

this is a great tourist site - very quirky and unusual. It always makes me think that there's a lot more to this story than what I am seeing - - and there is a lot to see.

WOW, what a great place to visit. I must say right away, that our tour guide Peter was a real treasure. Answered all our questions and really knows is history of the place. I have been to several castles in several years but this one was really down to earth. Not lavish and really for the common folks. We had our reservation due to covid and we started the tour on the dot. Easy to get around it also. Loved the history of how it was built and all the tiles!! So Fantastic. We were so happy we stopped by and visited. Again, give Peter our Kudos for a job well done.

Not knowing what to expect from this tour I was pleasantly surprised. This castle is all concrete so it was getting rather chilly during our tour I can imagine how hot it might get in the summer. Even some of the furniture is concrete. There are so many gorgeous tiles throughout - one doesn't know where to look - the tile factory is also on the grounds but a separate or combination tour. So many rooms of all different shapes and sizes. During our tour the castle was decorated for the Christmas season and had Christmas trees in many of the rooms. They offer a night time tour during the holiday season and I can only imagine that that is enchanting. I would recommend this tour to everyone.

Not only is the setting beautiful... the house is such a "one of a kind" experience. We had the most informative and uplifting guide for the hour tour. He made the man behind the house come alive. We will return again in the future because there are so many amazing artifacts of tremendous value that can so easily be overlooked in the abundance of it all. Just an additional note... the house is definitely not handicap accessible...it would be impossible to create that function without compromising the architecture.

It seems like you really never see every little detail the same way each time we visit,so we keep visiting! This man was a very interesting individual. A real treasure for all to admire his creativity and engineering. Go and see his life's work

We took two grandchildren to visit Fonthill. The tour was filled with information, both history and architecture, and the inside of this concrete castle was fascinating for the kids. Lots of tunnels, stairways, and sightings of the tiles really made the place seem like a real castle. The biographical material as interesting too.

I moved to the Lehigh Valley of Pennsylvania about 4 months ago, and was looking for an interesting place to take a friend visiting me from out of state.
I came across Fonthill Castle on Trip Adviser, and since Doylestown is only about 30 miles from my new home in Easton, PA, I decided to take my friend to Doylestown for the afternoon.
I'm so glad we went, Bucks County is so pretty, and the castle and on-site tile works did not disappoint.
We were warned by our most excellent tour guide not to stray from the group, or we could be very hungry by the time they found us.
The castle was like a maze with stairways and corridors running in all directions. I myself would never want to live in Fonthill, though we were told that it is not haunted. The tile work in each room is amazing, but the rooms are dark and gloomy. I would have loved to have been one of Henry Mercer's friends however, as he must have been a bizarre but irresistible character.
The tour lasted for more than 2 hours,and our guide was knowledgeable and very amusing. I noticed that we were the only people in our group to offer a tip. If you go to Fonthill, please don't forget to tip these excellent guides, they most surely deserve it.

There are a few places in Pennsylvania that remind me of old Europe - and one is Fonthill Castle. Aside from the obvious architecture, the story of the castle is pretty cool. The artistry is beautiful. One of the amazing tours for children and adults alike.

The cost is $30 for a couple but the tours seem to be around 10 or less people and run about an hour. It is well worth the expense if you can afford it. Many of the "tiles" are not square with images painted on them, but are three dimensional in nature capturing various themes and images. The artwork is beautiful and the interior, itself, is very rough cement oriented which is much different than most castles we have visited. We found this to be educational and enjoyable.

Diane was a fabulous tour guide- she loves this incredible concrete and tile masterpiece. I am definitely coming back and bringing family.

This is a must see that has tour guides that will fill you in on the history of the building and Henry Mercer. If you go in the summer, it can get hot as there is no air conditioning.

Built by Henry Mercer in the early 1900's, Fonthill is definitely unique. Everything is constructed with concrete and adorned with unique tiles that were designed and made by his tile company. Some tiles were purchased overseas and also used in the home. This definitely is worth a visit. Doylestown is a lovely town too with lots of shops and dining.

As a hopeless romantic, I had to see Fonthill castle. The exterior is visually stunning. Apparently it's also a wedding venue (I didn't know that before). We were lucky to go on the day when photography inside the castle was allowed.

The castle was actually Henry Mercer's home. It has many bedrooms and even more fireplaces. There were 2 staircase that connect the first and second floor, and even more stairs to go further to the top. The interior is fully decorated with intricate (& I think handmade) tiles. A bedroom might have more than one entrance, so basically you can go around the building and go back to where you are without backtracking your way. Sort of like a maze, which is pretty fun. I like the guides who were working in each room. They were pretty knowledgeable and nice to us.

I enjoyed my visit there, so did my 7 year old. After about 40 minutes, my 5 year old was done and ready to get out of the house.

Free parking. The restroom is in the building that used to be Mercer's detached garage. The interior is not accessible as far as I can see, although I do read that there is an otis elevator. Probably they only offer it to those who need it.

It's quite a drive for me, but I definitely considering to go back when I have guests coming over to show them this place.

The castle and it’s history is absolutely amazing and innovative. Mercer is an amazing, talented, creative and innovative (albeit eccentric) character and it’s great that he left this for the public to enjoy.

That said, while the experience at the Mercer museum and the tile works factory are ‘at your own pace’ the tour of the mansion - to be kind - is rushed. The tour is only 35 minutes and the guide talked so fast you would think she was presiding over an auction.

Also the castle is incredibly expansive and ornate the tour goes through a tiny bit of the place. Mercer left the castle to be enjoyed by the public. We should be able to truly experience and enjoy it!

Went with friends on a rainy afternoon and had a blast!! This quirky old castle is a must see. No photography allowed inside butt on the terrace you can take photos.

There are many stairs so those with mobility issues should steer clear. Narrow hallways, many stairs, and no elevator.

Never having been in a real castle before I have nothing to compare this to. Went late in afternoon so the dark lighting made some things difficult to see, would like to go back in brighter light to see the features of the colorful tiles. The tour guide was very knowledgeable , bottom line was that the creator of this castle Henry Mercer seems like a bit of an eccentric.

It's the home of tile maker Henry Mercer. Located in Doylestown, PA. It's an amazing place to visit, they offer guided tours so you need to make a reservation. Go to the website for the times & prices.

First class attraction that has not been over developed. Such an unusual place. A testament to one individual's quirkiness and determination.

As an architecture buff I found this place profoundly different from any other place I've experienced. I highly recommend it.

I've been on a number of tours of houses and mansions, and this "castle" is almost certainly the most unique I've seen. Henry Mercer had quite the imagination, and he pulled off an amazing feat by building this. Really enjoyed the tour.

What a gorgeous place to see! I was here with my oldest daughter for our shared birth week day trip. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and answered any questions we had. The property is almost like a funhouse with all the different twists and turns and alcoves. I don’t recall seeing a single right corner in the home. The collections were fascinating and the history in general was very interesting.

Wear comfortable shoes and seasonally appropriate clothing as there is no air conditioning as it can get quite warm inside. We were the first tour in for the day and there were about 16 of us, so it was a little crowded, but still very fun.

Amazing and unique 44 room home built by Henry Mercer between 1908 and 1912. Vaulted ceilings, thousands of custom made arts and crafts tiles, 18 fireplaces and 32 staircases. Pictures just don't do this building justice. You have to spend time soaking in all the details. The construction techniques used in this labyrinth-like home are fascinating in themselves. Our guide, Joe, was very knowledgeable and helpful, not rushing us through each room. We'll definitely go back for a second visit.

What a tremendous and well preserved eclectic time capsule. It was an amazing tour and an hour is not enough to see it all. Highly recommended.

We first visited Fontill from southern Calif about 5-6 years ago, we returned at the end of our New York City and Craftsman Farms recent vacation; we love Fonthill, Henry Chapman Mercer was an amazing man, our docent was excellent, we loved seeing all of Mercer's tiles, and many many rooms and hearing the stories again. Highly recommend if you are anywhere near Doylestown, one of our fav towns in America!

We love to tour the historic homes when we travel and this place did not disappont! What an unusual home and historic site Our tour guide Carol was very knowledgeable and interesting. The tour lasts about an hour. It was a hot day and they try to keep some air moving inside but it was a little warm. The house is one of a kind we loved it! Worth doing.

Mercer was eccentric. His concrete castle was bizarre. Expensive for a family of four. My teens walked away with a perspective on what eccentricities wealthy people will spend their money on.

Our group of 4 have lived in the relative area (within 1 hr) for over 25 yrs but have never visited this place. What a delightful surprise! Our tour guide Bill was a wonderful guide. A great hour spent in the doylestown area prior to dinner on a Sat. Night. You do need to make reservations for the tour. Worth it!

Have visited many castles/mansions in my day, but this one was truly unique. Enjoyed by young and old alike. Unique design and layout -- advertised as a sand castle approach to building, with individual designs/decor of various tiles made by the owner himself, and free-style format. The rooms with awesome and original, not stiff and stuffy, to say the least. Mercer was very open to new ideas, unexpected mistakes (that he would thrive on), etc. The outcome is very beautiful and well worth the visit. First rate home.

We have visited several times. We always see tiles/books/artifacts that we seem to have missed on previous visits. Unique is exactly the word to describe the castle!

Wish we could have seen the inside. The website has the suggestion of booking in advance on the”planning your visit” page to “avoid disappointment”. Didn’t see that until we came back. Got there right at their 1:00 closure for cleaning. No sign outside that tickets were sold out for the day And the people who popped in waved us off stating they were closed for cleaning (no mention of tickets being sold out). Waited until 2:00 at which point was told that they were “fully booked” and suggested the museum which only had spaces for 4:00 p.m. walked around the grounds for that hour and noticed there are no gardens to speak of. There are no self guided tours, everything has to be done via their tour guides. Not sure if this is the case if we were not in a pandemic. The sign at the neighboring pottery museum noted prominently that reservations were mandatory and that looked like an interesting place to visit. Spent the rest of the day in Philadelphia.

We spent an enjoyable hour walking through the castle with our knowledgeable guide. To say this is a unique place would be an understatement! You not only get a glimpse at this impressive structure and the collection within its walls, but you also get a glimpse into who Henry Chapman Mercer was as well. We were captivated by the place - around every corner was something new and special. Mercer was definitely an eccentric man, and walking through his masterpiece was an absolute pleasure! Our guide was very knowledgeable and had answers to our every question! Go, you won’t be disappointed!

Fonthill Castle is a circa 1910 home and showplace of one Henry Mercer, who was an archaeologist who built the house to exhibit his extensive collection of ceramic tiles, among other antiques. The architecture is amazing, a combination of many styles, and built of concrete, with a maze like interior. The tour in early December was featured as a Christmas house tour, since the rooms were decorated for Christmas with many beautiful Christmas trees. The guided tour lasted under an hour and was very interesting. Since a Visitors Center was being renovated, the only bathrooms available were port-o-potties on the premises. Very unique property which I highly recommend for anyone who loves unusual architecture.

The building is the product of an eccentric who became skilled at hand made ceramic tiles which became his avocation and business. The interior of the house is a mad hatter design of numerous staircases and concrete, concrete, concrete.

Some rooms are air conditioned while others have a fan or two. However, if it is a 90 plus degree day and it is humid to the same degree people with mobility or low heat tolerance might want to wait for another day.

The tour is guided, takes about an hour, but it doesn't dwell endlessly pointing out every item in each room. Fortunately the owner was quirky enough that there are plenty of anecdotes for every stop. There are lots of rooms so you move along at a reasonable pace.

I wish the interior had better lighting as some tile were massed in a number of locations where they were illuminated only with indirect light. The tiles are really interesting and, naturally, are available at the tile works a short walk away. There is a large selection in the store and all are apparently still hand made.

This place so unique and full of history, a true reflection of the man who created this building. The view from the balcony is amazing! Just not handicap accessible very much.

While visiting my friend in King of Prussia we drove over to Fonthill Castle. It was so interesting. You can only go in the castle via a tour guide. It is recommended you call ahead to reserve a spot on the tour. The cost was $15. to go in and it was worth it. the castle is made out of concrete. Built around 1912. It was so interesting and the grounds are beautiful. There is a ceramics factory tour walking distance from the castle. That also requires a tour guide. The shop there offered amazing items. A different Mercer Museum is located in a town nearby.

Went with 10, 12 and 14 year olds. The tour held their interest. Even though it is a museum the rooms you enter had so many unique things to look view. Incredible to believe this was an actual home. The kids want to return for the behind the scenes tour when it is offered!

tour guide was amusing and very informative about the concerns of the time period, and how they were addressed.
the structure is beautiful.

I found out about Fonthill from Trip Advisor when looking for an interesting halfway place to stop on route to Camelback. Although I knew I wanted to spend my birthday in a castle, I wasn't sure how my 7 and 10-year-old would feel. As it turns out, they wanted to go back on our way home from Camelback! The tour was fascinating; what an interesting man Henry Mercer was. The castle is amazing. Our guide even mentioned that they do escape room events there! There are many stairs to climb, so keep that in mind. Highly recommend, but be sure to make a reservation before you go. They offer only small guided tours.

This place was Henry Mercer's home. It is approximately one mile from the Mercer Museum. Like the museum, it is built out of concrete. Mercer himself was a tile maker and there is much tile work throughout the home. Maybe a bit gaudy, but interesting just the same. A lot of history and the tours are very informative.

As newcomers to Bucks County after 30+ years of living in New England, we were excited to tour a Pennsylvania “castle.” We were expecting an opulent residence like the mansions we toured in Newport, RI, so Fonthill was a huge disappointment. I

I love quirky places and this one certainly fits the bill! Our tour guide was excellent and gave us a great bit of the history of this castle and the man who built it. Out of the ordinary stop definitely worth the effort to get here!

What a great place to visit to see local history in Doylestown, PA. The structure itself is set in an lovely area and the architecture is simply amazing and very unique.

Lisa was a magnificent tour guide. The castle was amazing. The fore site of the builder (Mercer) was mind boggling. Tiles everywhere!!!

If you live in Bucks County and haven’t visited the Fonthill Mansion shame on you. There’s probably no other place like it. We had friends visiting from Florida and decided,since we had never visited it, that we would take them . It was fabulous. The whole place is constructed of poured concrete mixed by hand. Each room is decorated with Mercer tiles which were designed by Henry Mercer ,who built the mansion. When you visit you’ll wonder how this mansion was built by only 10 men in only four years using only hand tools. Don’t miss it

No photos allowed inside this amazing cement castle but a definite must see when in the area! Step back in time with the guided tour. Learn more about The life of Mr Mercer and his commitment to preserving the craft of tile making. See how he incorporated these tiles into his castle. Reservations are recommended but not required.

Very interesting tour and place to visit! The castle is incredible, 44 rooms, concrete, tiles, and many artifacts!!! Mercer was an amazing man who left his legacy!

The castle property also contain a Moravian Pottery and Tile works factory that still sells tiles that Henry Mercer fashioned. There is a showroom connected to the factory. The Mercer Museum is three stories of items Mr. Mercer collected for posterity. Examples are a stagecoach a whaling boat with harpoons, farm machinery etc. These were original items that Mr. Mercer knew would go out of use with progress. The Museum is located about a mile away from the castle. Tours run every hour starting at 10 a.m. You can buy a combination ticket that will allow you entrance into the castle and the museum. There are 100 steps to climb (not all at one time) to see different rooms, located on different levels of the castle. It was interesting learning about Henry Mercer. The castle tour is one hour.

While in the area to kill some time I had come across this castle. It was a wonderful visit and worth the thirteen dollars. I would have paid more. The tour was great and very informing. Ther were approximately 6000 books and 900 paintings and etchings. Including four original Rembrandts. The castle was built for Henry Mercer. Bottom line spend the money and have a good time. Almost forgot, his foundry is next door and take that tour also. I did not have the time for that tour.

Great tour of this popular tourist attraction in beautiful Bucks County. Mr. Mercer was way ahead of his time and it shows both at his home and at his museum.

I found this gem searching things to do within an hour of my home for a day trip. Was not disappointed! Beautiful place and history! Been recommending it to everyone. Very friendly & knowledgeable staff. I will be going back at some point since we found out they also have an escape room to play in the castle. I would NOT recommend the "package deal" for the castle & the Mercer museum. Personally we thought the museum was very boring and spent about 10 minutes there.

A friend recommended that I go here. My husband and I are glad that we did. We are fans of the arts and crafts period. Even though this place is not what we consider arts and crafts it is a great place to go. Great history!

I can't say enough about this Gorgeous Concrete Castle. The Tilework is AMAZING! This is a Magnificent example of American Talent & Ingenuity! Built during a Period in History when People cared about the Quality of what the were Creating! Go enjoy the day touring & exploring with family, friends, or by yourself! Well Done, Mr. Mercer, Well Done!

We were excited to see this property and our tour guide, Marcy was super fun. The castle itself is not my style lol but it is a very interesting building and the collection of tiles is amazing! Well worth the trip

It has beautiful architectural. The tour is very interesting. I would definitely do the tour.The tour was definitely informative.

Needed to do something different on our Christmas break - my wife came up with this. Excellent opportunity to see an eccentric's life exemplified in artifacts, both local and worldwide. Tour guide was great - friendly, well informed (an understatement) and it's all about the house and the man who built it. Fascinating design, and you learn something at every stop. Although there are artifacts from the Middle East, the preponderance of the contents reflect local history. And that's what makes the experience worthwhile. Give it a try - senior citizen and student discounts make it affordable.

My son (13) and I went for the tour yesterday. While he wasn't a big fan of the guided tour, even he admits that the house itself was really interesting!!! We've never seen anything like it. So happy we went!

Fascinating tour and history. Our tour guide, Maddie, was very knowledgeable and low key. It did not feel like a "practiced" speech. The castle itself was amazing, but to also learn about Henry Mercer and his life was very interesting. Be sure to visit Moravian Tile Works on the same property. Just beautiful.

We were led on a fascinating tour of the castle and history of Henry Mercer by our guide, Dan. Mercer founded the Moravian Tile Works and the castle is a showcase of his love of castles and the intricate tile work. If you love the Arts and Crafts movement and appreciate hand crafted tile this is a must. Timed tour lasts about an hour, you must reserve ahead as the number in eac tour is limited. At this time masks are required on the tour.

...and a truly unique experience. Henry Chapman Mercer was his own man, and built this castle the way he wanted. Apparently there were no blueprints, which would account for the odd sizes and shapes of the rooms. The multiple meandering stairways lead you to other fascinating discoveries. Built entirely of concrete, the walls, floors, ceilings and even some furniture are embedded with tiles from history, as well from the adjacent tile works factory. The guided tour takes about an hour, and apparently there are various different tours offered throughout the year. It was our first time visiting, but we will be going back.

This was a girls trip to see some of the sites in Pennsylvania. We decided to go to Fonthill Castle, where we had the pleasure of having Mary Ann as our tour guide. We found her to be very knowledgeable and made our tour interesting. And took the time to answer all our questions with her pleasant personality

We've taken the tour, but have also visited from outside. This home is fascinating and the tour guides are super interesting. The grounds are so beautiful, its something to take in. It is at times bizarre and always unexpected. I believe you can also see the Mercer Museum (in Doylestown about 5 mins away) on the same day.

Fonthill Castle exceeded my expectations. I wasn’t prepared for the wonders within or the fascinating history. So many artistic delights. Our tour guide Pauline was amazing.

Let me preface this review by stating that I have visited any number of house museums in the States and in Europe. Of all the house museums I have visited, Fonthill is the most enchanting and unique. I highly recommend it to any travelers, house museum aficionados or not.
But there are a couple of flies in the ointment. I took a tour (this is the only way to see Fonthill) on 29 June 2017 at 1:45 pm. Tour participants gather in a charming vaulted alcove to await their tour guide, seated in a semi-circle . A great place to meet with fellow travelers. When the guide arrived all were led to the library where we stood on a hard floor for the fifteen minute introduction. My suggestion is that the introduction be given in the alcove while seated.
The guide said the tour would be an hour; it lasted 1 1/2 hours.
As the tour progresses the story of Henry Mercer unfolds: How he built this mansion and the nearby (incredible!) Mercer Museum, and founded the Moravian Tile Works (also available for touring). Not only did Mercer create beauty and gather and preserve artwork and artifacts, but he also added to the local economy - to this day. It is truly a shame that the tour guide chose to tell us that mercer MAY HAVE had an illegitimate child - pure conjecture, the guide admitted. As the TV detective used to say, "Just the facts". Nor was it necessary for the guide to tell us (twice) that he thought Mercer had gonorrhea. Henry Mercer had several ailments that led to his death. Why is this the only one mentioned? While seeing what Mercer created we should honor and respect the man and not reveal what might have been a source of pain/embarrassment to him (if the stories are true). Fonthill deserve a rating of five. But because of the guide's disrespectful embellishments I'm bringing my rating down a notch to a four.

Beautiful example of one man's dream, example of his life style, his vision, and his excentricities. Gorgeous tile works from his own design. A must see in this beautiful park setting

Thoroughly enjoyed our visit to Fonthill Castle. It's safe to say there is no other building like it anywhere. Henry Chapman Mercer was a one-of-a-kind guy and so is his house/castle. My husband stepped inside and immediately said, 'Indiana Jones!' My thought was, 'Harry Potter!' Mercer strove to achieve a feeling of antiquity and succeeded. It's also an incredibly oddball place with stairs going every which way, windows everywhere in call kinds of sizes, and cement walls and ceilings embedded with elaborate & colorful clay tiles in every room. Some of the tiles tell stories, including a few gruesome ones about Bluebeard the pirate and cannibals. There are also a variety of other interesting artifacts that Mercer collected. The house can be visited only on 1-hour group tours. Our tour guide was excellent. I found the story of Mercer & the creation of Fonthill fascinating. I highly recommend it. Don't worry about the cautions regarding lots of narrow staircases. Yes, there are a lot of staircases and some of them are narrow, but most of them aren't very many steps.

Very interesting tour. Would love to have seen some of the other rooms that are only on special tours. We loved every minute of the castle. The staff are very knowledgeable. If you love architecture, engineering, artifacts or art. This is a must see.

Decided to grab my camera and take the castle tour. First the castle is super cool. You could explore it for hours and not see everything. The tour was great. Lots of fun facts and history. Our guide was full of stories and really seemed to care about the castle and it's history. Price was fair.

Quirky, interesting and fun visit to the unique residence of Henry Mercer. Our guide Blake was very knowlegeable and lead a great tour!

Truly a must see castle.
To hear and see the story of Henry Mercer is amazing.
The detail and history behind the building of the castle is wonderful. Do make sure to make a reservation for the tour

I have visited many old homes and mansions and I can honestly say you will never see anything like Fonthill Castle anywhere else. From the meandering layout to the eclectic tile work EVERYWHERE, this is a one-of-a-kind spectacle to behold. The tours are scheduled for one hour but our tour guide did not rush us through but rather explained every room and told lots of interesting stories about the Henry Mercer. One gentleman in our group has been to Fonthill many times and says every time he discovers something new.

We visited the castle on Sat 11/12/16. Our tour guide, Bill, was A+. He was engaging, informative, clear, fun, organized & knowledgeable. The tour lasted longer than we thought... which was great. The castle is constructed mostly of concrete with the most amazing tiles. You can read a little about Henry Mercer's masterpiece home before you go... but don't!! Don't spoil the surprise. Just go take the tour & be AMAZED. What a hidden gem. Well worth the modest admission fee.

Great tour guide. A very interesting story about owner and castle.
Fascinating history on how home was built. The owners life and his tiles creation. His wealthy family and the owners unrequited love life. The object of his affection turned his marriage proposal down repeatedly because her worries if she married him she would lose her vast wealth.
What a fascinating man, his life and his family.

mercer's all concrete home, with no right angles inside, is unique, whimsical and bizarre and well worth taking the tour.

This is an odd and very unusual castle. It is made entirely of hand-mixed concrete. The walls and ceilings are adorned with many tiles made in his tile factory and also from tiles imported from around the world. There were some tiles on a column that were from the year 2100 BC. There is an amazing number of stairways in the house. The rooms are relatively small with staircases leading from each room to another room. I don't believe there are any hallways. You get to each room through another room.

I loved the tour and insight from the tour guides. The construction, materials, and design of this house were ahead of its time. I particularly enjoyed the collection of tiles and antiquities. This and the related Mercer museum were well worth seeing and viewing.

Just visited Fonthill Castle. It is close to the medieval castles like found in Europe, only this one also shows beautiful tile work. They give wonderful guided tours. All my and others in the group I was with were answered. It is a wonderful look at how this building was built and why.

Daytime or nighttime this is a great place to visit and the tours fun. Of course the history of the castle and how it made its life in Doylestown is amazing.

Very unique place! There is a lot to see. I had other plans and didn't get a chance to tour the Moravian Pottery and Tile Works next door, but plan to go back. The castle has different themed events throughout the year that I'd love to attend.

History, architecture, and pottery geeks will be in heaven. It was a nice tour, guided because the maze of rooms and hallways would probably make you get lost. Tour lasted about an hour. Price of admission is $14. A little steep, but it helps keep the place open. Our guide was very good and experienced working at the castle. Only downer is no interior photographs allowed. You need to buy a permit. You also need a permit to photograph the outside if you are a professional. Such a beautiful castle and no pics to show for it.

Marcy was our tour guide and was EXCELLENT! Very interesting and informative. We did not know anything about Henry Mercer. It was well worth the time!

Henry Mercer was one dedicated man who loved concrete. Tour Mercer Museum first, a mile away, then come here. Amazingly beautiful home and architectural masterpiece that still gives me the creeps. The tile and mosaic work are astounding and everywhere- ceilings ,walls, windowsills, bathrooms, floors!! The floor plan of this house would confuse a lab rat as you twist, climb, and pop out in the 14 rooms of the tour, the other 30 rooms not available due to time or danger. The upper turrets would require climbing small winding steps even our guide did not want to repeat. Built by ten men and a horse from plans hand drawn on paper bits, nothing is consistent in size. Sometimes like a playhouse, sometimes a soaring library, all quite beautiful and singular. Tile factory behind house which can also be toured and some walking paths available on grounds

What an amazing place. Take the tour. So many interesting things to look at and learn about the man and his castle.

amazing house built by Henry Mercer.. be sure to take the tour.. you probably should reserve a space for the tour in advance. So much fun! part of a great day in Doylestown area.

So besides the fact that this place is encased in concrete it is over 100 years old. Plus it’s full of history and winding passages and has 41 rooms. The tours are different depending on your tour guide since there is no script for the tour so the facts have to be scripted by the tour guides. The pottery works next door is also a great place to tour however it is self guided but they have pottery workers usually on staff so you can ask them all the questions you need to be answered.

Wow. Lived in the area for nine years and I finally made it to Fonthill Castle. The castle is unlike any I have seen on my travels through Europe. No fancy woodwork nor gilded in gold. The design and construction are truely unique and the tile work is extraordinary. Definitely a must see! Carol, our tour guide was fabulous.

I can't believe it's taken me so long to discover this historic gem! The life and times of Henry Mercer Chapman is so incredibly interesting. He was truly a Renaissance of the early 1900's. His talent and genius is displayed all through out the house and the textile factory next door.

The castle at Fonthill is really worth a trip inside. You get a glimpse of life at an earlier period of time, and learn a lot about the family history as well as the history of the area. It is a fasinating view of how the "master of the house" lived and worked. Of course, I would also suggest you visit the Mercer Museum. Also worth the visit, for the love of history. Really cool tours to do.