Miramont Castle is a museum located in
Manitou Springs, Colorado. The Castle was originally built in 1895 as a private home for Father Jean Baptist Francolon, a French-born Catholic priest. Located in the
Manitou Springs Historic District
Manitou Springs Historic District in Manitou Springs, Colorado is roughly bounded by US 24, Ruxton Avenue, El Paso Boulevard and Iron Mountain Avenue. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places,[National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic ...]
listing.
History
Father Jean Baptiste Francolon built Miramont Castle in 1895. The house is "an eclectic estate that blends a variety of architectural styles from
Byzantine
The Byzantine Empire, also referred to as the Eastern Roman Empire or Byzantium, was the continuation of the Roman Empire primarily in its eastern provinces during Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, when its capital city was Constantinopl ...
to
Tudor."
Construction was completed in 1896.
["Holiday house tour starts ominously, ends on a happy note"]
''The Gazette.'' Nl.newsbank.com (December 15, 1991). Retrieved on May 5, 2013. The castle is an architectural example of the
Victorian Era
In the history of the United Kingdom and the British Empire, the Victorian era was the period of Queen Victoria's reign, from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. The era followed the Georgian period and preceded the Edwa ...
. In 1976 Miramont Castle was added to the
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic ...
due to its significant historic heritage and architectural variety.
Sisters of Mercy
The Sisters of Mercy is a religious institute of Catholic women founded in 1831 in Dublin, Ireland, by Catherine McAuley. As of 2019, the institute had about 6200 sisters worldwide, organized into a number of independent congregations. They a ...
operated
Montcalm Sanitarium at Miramont,
sharing the property with Francolon.
Popular folklore has it that the castle is haunted with various apparitions and unexplained phenomenon as reported by visitors and staff.
Thecoloradoarchitect.com. Retrieved on May 5, 2013.
Current
The house is now a Victorian-era historic house museum
A historic house museum is a house of historic significance that has been transformed into a museum. Historic furnishings may be displayed in a way that reflects their original placement and usage in a home. Historic house museums are held to a ...
that is owned and operated by the Manitou Springs Historical Society. Visitors can tour 42 furnished rooms and gardens. The site also features a tea room and gift shop.
Notes
References
External links
Miramont Castle
- official site
{{National Register of Historic Places
Buildings and structures on the National Register of Historic Places in Colorado
Castles in Colorado
Colorado State Register of Historic Properties
Historic house museums in Colorado
Museums in El Paso County, Colorado
Manitou Springs, Colorado
Houses completed in 1895
National Register of Historic Places in El Paso County, Colorado