Love, say the poets, makes the world go round. Love is the most powerful force there is, and when in throes of true love, you are floating somewhere in the clouds, unbound to earth. Indeed, love has been the inspiration behind countless works of art, books, movies, plays and musical pieces. Some, it seems, would build a monument to their love, to declare it with stone and mortar.
Castles seem to be a supreme statement of true love, built with great hardship and expense, to serve as a romantic home taken out of a fairy tale, and to live in it happily ever after. The irony is, that many of these castles built for love were also the homes of tragedy. Here are the stories of 10 legendary castles, built for love.

1. Boldt Castle



An aerial shot of Boldt Castle on the Saint Lawrence River, near Alexander Bay, New York. This castle estate was built on 5 acres by George Boldt as a gesture of love to his wife, and was supposed to be given to her on Valentine's day, 1905. Unfortunately, a recurring theme with castles built for love is that tragedy also accompanies them.

'Man plans and God laughs'.
Boldt Castle was planned to have eleven buildings, the most grand and luxurious castle in the Thousand Islands. But tragedy struck a year before it was completed, when Louise died. George, his heart broken, ordered the construction to stop, and never again returned to this island.
The castle and its buildings stood alone, abandoned, for 73 years, abused by weather and vandals. In 1977, the castle returned to real ownership when it was bought by the Thousand Islands Bridge Authority for staggering price of.... $1. Since then, loving hands have restored it.
On the left: The staircase. Upper right: Main gate and Alister tower.
Middle right: Yacht house. Bottom right: Sunset reflecting off the Boldt castle powerhouse.

2. Casa Loma



Casa Loma (Spanish for: "House on the hill") was built by Major-General Sir Henry Mill Pellatt who promised his wife Mary a 'sprawling castle'. The castle was built in 1911 and no expenses were spared by Sir Henry. It was considered very modern at the time and cost over $5 million to build and furnish. Just so you understand, that amount today would be the equal of $65 million.
Despite the expense and beauty of the castle, the couple lived in it for only 10 years, until they lost their fortune in the depression that following world war I. Sir Henry was forced to auction $1.5 million in art items and the furnishings for only $250,000.