I agree. I think I would have liked to have seen the "new house" built against the "castle ruin" to be all white, and have no obvious castellated elements, and just be a series of shapes.

I don't know. I understand the idea of the build, but the two exterior elements still don't quite seem to jibe together to me. I would have preferred seeing the exterior of the building play off the idea of the jagged "wall" more, almost incorporating the geometry of it a bit. Maybe if I saw it in person, I'd feel differently.

It would be interesting to see a floor plan. I noticed one of the guest bedrooms seemed to look out on the wall. (picture 20)

I kinda love it. The craftsmanship in the wood trim, the metalwork, the drywall treatments, that VT Danby marble in the kitchen, the solid outdoor spaces and the grounds - not to mention the amazing stonework in the wall and the patios / stairs. I am swooning. It's huge - but it looks like it lives nicely on a personal level. And the acreage - it's dying for my horse farm.

Notice, too, the Roman reference with the mini-demi-ampitheatre. Perhaps partially or wholly off grid as well.

Drooling over kitchen Windows. For some reason, though, it doesn't seem like a home to me, by rather a commercial retreat place. Pretty just the same. I didn't look at all the pics

Apparently it is used mostly as a retreat space.

Super cool! I love that it was built using granite quarried on site. And the views! I would love to host a big holiday weekend there.

I'll wager that this was designed by an architect for himself.

Impressive in a modern meets old world kind of way!

But this isn't a castle. If anything, it'd be a palace. What's the difference? A castle is a military machine that's built for defense -- that idea stops at the jagged wall. A castle would include arrow loops, murder holes, a double curtain wall, and large windows only above ground level -- oh, and a moat and drawbridge. (Yeah, one of my degrees is in history.)

Second, if I were trying to sell a 4+ million dollar estate, I'd hire someone with good grammar.

My only thought was "what a waste of a beautiful setting." And 4 million dollars.

Well, generally speaking castles and palaces had similar functions, but in different (and warring) periods of history. Even palaces had moats, draw bridges and military fortifications, depending on the era in which they were built and their location.

Two fortified French palaces:

CHÂTEAU de CHANTILLY and Le Mont St.-Michael, respectively.

****

Score one for BossyVossy.

Grahall Estate was listed for $2.7 m. in 2013 and noted as a corporate conference centre for human resources firm Grahall, LLC and as a vacation retreat renting for $11,000 a month.

I think "Castle" is used in America in the vernacular. It's never really accurate--the show "America's Castles" was about large houses, maybe with medieval embellishments, but if anything all of them are palaces at best. Hearst Castle isn't really a castle either.

I think if you want to get really technical I would call the house a "Folly" but I am not sure that is terminology the sellers want to associate with the house.

I would categorize the Vermont "castle" as a version of 21st century attempt at Brutalism; or, Post-Modern pseudo castle collides with Sea Ranch barn.

Some nice interiors though.

Oh, Mark...!

I love it and would totally live there. In spite of the Vermont climate! Brrr!

That Vermont mess looked like a giant threw up.

Is anyone starting a pool to see how many years it will be on the market or how low the price will go?

I actually think I would call the whole thing post-Modernist. The faux wall is, and the house built against it is mostly post modern as well. I live in a Brutalist house and I feel like Brutalists would not approve of the fantasy/joke aspect of this, somehow.

I love the view, and I'd love to attend a medieval event there. Although even if I could afford, I wouldn't be tempted into buying. (I do hope it has hidden passages and all, if they went to all this trouble....)

PS edit: I feel the same way about Gillette Castle here in Connecticut, which I have gone and seen as it is now a museum. Fascinating for what these places are.

Is anyone starting a pool to see how many years it will be on the market or how low the price will go?

I'll take that bet.

I must admit, I do like the wall. (Please note in today's climate, that's the only wall I like.)

Thanks. I really should make a list of these for a "bucket" tour.

I agree, CP, that's a great wall, and (other than the view) the best exterior feature. And yes, to the climate bit... grin.

Thanks, worthy, for the Gillette castle view... overall a better exterior than the Vermont castle (although it needs some repair...). And I have great memories of our day there!

I bet it eventually sells for 40% of whatever it cost to build.