8 Best Castles To Visit In Mexico

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1. Castillo de Chapultepec, Mexico City

Mexico City’s Castillo de Chapultepec, or Chapultepec Castle, prides itself for being the only castle to house royalty in North America.

It is hands down the most famous castle in Mexico, built between 1785 and 1864 to serve as a summer residence for the Viceroy of New Spain who was the highest colonial administrator of the time.

During the Second Mexican Empire in 1864 until 1867, Emperor Maximilian I of Mexico and Empress Carlota lived in the castle.

Starting from 1882, Castillo de Chapultepec had been declared as the official residence of the Mexican president. The first one to live here was President Manuel González, followed by all succeeding Mexican presidents – with only a few exceptions.

This beautiful castle is known for its stunning views and is actually the only real castle in all of Latin America. In 1939, Castillo de Chapultepec was turned into Museo Nacional de Historia (Museum of National History).

Castillo de Chapultepec is one of the most popular tourist destinations not only in the Mexican capital but in all of Mexico.

To book this tour, click here.

2. Palacio de los Estucos, Yucatan

Located in the Acanceh, in Mexico’s Yucatán State, Palacio de los Estucos (Palace of Stuccos) was a beautiful castle where former Mayan kings used to rule back in the day.

This imposing building measures 13 x 6 meters and is comprised of 4 bays with 3 doors on the north façade which were later converted into windows. The north façade is decorated with a frieze sandwiched by a couple of cornices within small rectangle-shaped boxes.

Palacio de los Estucos features two rows with battlements as motifs. They are adorned in different paint colors and with anthropomorphic items modeled in stucco.

Artistic as it is fascinating, Palacio de los Estucos is actually a ruins not far from Zona Arqueológica de Acanceh and Acanceh’s marketplace which locals refer to as Mercado Municipal.

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3. Castillo Douglas, Aguascalientes

Not exactly a castle but a castle-like building located in central Aguascalientes, in the Mexican state of Aguascalientes, its official name is Castillo Ortega-Douglas or Ortega-Douglas Castle but is commonly called Castillo Douglas.

This castle-like residence was built for Edmundo Ortega Douglas, whose grandfather was a Scottish immigrant, hence the resemblance to Scottish medieval castles, complete with a stained glass window, a moat and a drawbridge, as well as turrets and battlements.

The inception began in 1923, when Ortega Douglas became engaged and the house was a sort of a Taj Mahal-like tribute to his love for his future wife with the inspiration drawn from his Scottish ancestors.

Castillo Douglas was a family residence until Ortega Douglas’ death in 1969.

4. Castillo de San Juan de Ulua, Veracruz

Fortaleza de San Juan de Ulua, better known as Castillo de San Juan de Ulua, is a fortress in the city of Veracruz in eastern Mexico. It was built with stone by the Spanish Empire, started from the year 1535 and finished in 1769. Since 1984, San Juan de Ulua has housed a local museum.

San Juan de Ulua is a humongous complex comprised of prisons and fortresses, as well as a former palace. It is situated on the Isla San Juan de Ulua in the Gulf of Mexico.

Castillo San Juan de Ulua is a very popular tourist attraction, having also been featured in Hollywood movies such as Romancing the Stone, a 1984 film starred by Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner, and Danny DeVito.

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5. Poliforum Mier y Pesado de Orizaba, Veracruz

Located in Orizaba, Veracruz, Mexico, Poliforum Mier y Pesado is unique in the state owing to its size and shape that are akin to a castle.

Built in 1917 by the will of the Duchess of Mier in memory of his deceased husband and only son, Poliforum Mier y Pesado de Orizaba originally consisted of 2 residences for the elderly and 2 schools for children. Now it also houses a number of museums, including the very interesting Museo Francisco Gavilondo Soler.

This magnificent building in Orizaba is considered one of the main works of the 19th century in the area – a highly recommended place to visit in Orizaba!

6. Palacio Municipal de Monterrey

Palacio Municipal de Monterrey (Monterrey City Hall) is an imposing building made of steel and concrete located in the southern end of the Macroplaza. What makes the Palacio Municipal stand out is because of its stark contrast to the nearby Old Municipal Palace and the very ornate Catedral Metropolitana.

Palacio Municipal de Monterrey is located in Monterrey, the capital city of the north-eastern Mexican state of Nueva Leon.

Opening in 1976, the Palacio Municipal features a statue of Ignacio Zaragoza riding a horse. The castle-like imposing building serves as the city hall of Monterrey, which has easily become one of the city’s famous landmarks.

Several spaces of the Palacio Municipal are open to the public, which include a small museum. Make sure to drop by this stunning city hall if you happen to be visiting Monterrey.

7. Fortaleza de San Carlos de Perote, Veracruz

Located in the skirts of the Cofre de Perote, in the state of Veracruz’s Sierra Madre Oriental, Fortaleza de San Carlos – or simply Perote Castle – is a colonial military fortress built as a response to the scare of a possible attack from the English invaders who succeeded in the invasion of Havana in 1762.

Its construction was ordered by Joaquín de Montserrat, then Viceroy of New Spain, as the defense against an imminent English attack (which never happened).

The fortress took seven years to construct, beginning in 1769 and finishing in 1776.

Since its completion in 1777, Fortaleza de San Carlos de Perote has been the site of many historical events and served as a prison compound. Perote Castle is where the first Mexican president, Guadalupe Victoria, died on 21 March 1843.

Today, Perote Castle is open to the public and remains in good shape despite the lack of maintenance.

8. Castillo de Nuevo Apolonia, Tamaulipas

Castillo de Nuevo Apolonia (New Apolonia Castle) used to be a very stunning castle -still is, although it needs some restoration. This is a site best for visitors who are interested in the history of Mexican culture.

Also known as Hacienda el Naranjo, this is a very nice old structure with a lot of history, built during the time of the Revolution. Nowadays, the castle is used in social events or when recording music videos.

This beautiful place with a lot of history is situated in a ranch with orange trees practically in the middle of nowhere. So, if you’re looking for something different to do in Mexico, come to Castillo de Nuevo Apolonia in El Mante in northeastern Mexico’s state of Tamaulipas. Highly recommended!

8 Best Castles To Visit In Mexico