Miramont Castle Museum | Colorado Springs

Miramont Castle Museum, located in the heart of Manitou Springs, Colorado, is a striking and mysterious 14,000-square-foot mansion that blends architectural grandeur, historical intrigue, and the unique legacy of Manitou’s 19th-century spa-town era. Constructed in 1895, the castle was originally the private home of a French-born Catholic priest, Father Jean Baptiste Francolon. Today, it operates as a nonprofit museum under the care of the Manitou Springs Historical Society and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Historical Origins

Father Francolon and the Castle’s Construction

Father Jean Baptiste Francolon came to Colorado as part of his ecclesiastical duties and sought to create a residence that reflected both his cosmopolitan upbringing and personal eccentricities. Influenced by his travels through Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East, he envisioned a residence that would echo the aristocratic and stylistic elements of castles and châteaux he had encountered.

Built using native Manitou greenstone and sandstone, the castle was designed with no strict architectural conformity. Instead, it features a blend of nine architectural styles, including:

Byzantine

Tudor

Gothic Revival

Romanesque

Flemish

Venetian

Moorish

Queen Anne

Elizabethan

Each room varies in shape and style, and many do not have four right angles, making the structure an architectural labyrinth of sorts.

The Montcalm Sanitarium

Father Francolon vacated the home under unclear circumstances within five years of its completion. The castle was then leased to the Sisters of Mercy, who transformed it into the Montcalm Sanitarium-a healing facility for tuberculosis patients, common in Colorado’s dry mountain air during the early 20th century. Patients were treated with sunlight, fresh air, and spiritual support.

After the sanitarium closed in the late 1920s, the property served various uses, including a boarding house, before falling into a state of neglect.

Restoration and Museum Establishment

In the 1970s, the Manitou Springs Historical Society stepped in to save the deteriorating structure. After significant restoration efforts, the castle was opened as a public museum in 1977, showcasing both the unique architectural character of the building and a wide array of local and historical exhibits. Since then, it has become one of the most visited landmarks in the Pikes Peak region.

Interior and Museum Exhibits

The castle features over 30 restored rooms spread across four floors, accessible via wide staircases and period-appropriate hallways. Each room is decorated with Victorian-era furnishings, historical artifacts, and interpretive displays that immerse visitors in late 19th- and early 20th-century life.

Key highlights of the museum include:

Victorian Parlor and Dining Room

These rooms are furnished with ornate period pieces, chandeliers, silver tea services, lace tablecloths, and antique musical instruments. They offer insight into upper-class domestic life during the castle’s heyday.

Fire Department Exhibit

Housed in the lower level is a dedicated wing to the Manitou Springs Volunteer Fire Department, featuring antique firefighting gear, uniforms, helmets, and the city’s first fire truck.

Military Memorabilia Room

This exhibit contains rare artifacts from multiple wars, including World War II and the Nuremberg Trials, such as uniforms, letters, photographs, and weapons donated by local veterans or their families.

Chapel and Priest’s Quarters

The private chapel retains its original woodwork and Gothic window designs. Adjacent rooms once housed Father Francolon and later the Sisters of Mercy during the sanitarium era.

Victorian Children’s Room

A charming exhibit dedicated to childhood in the Victorian era, with antique toys, handmade dolls, children’s clothing, and prams.

Tuberculosis Isolation Hut

Located on the grounds, this standalone wooden hut is one of the few remaining physical remnants from the Montcalm Sanitarium days. Patients with advanced TB were isolated in these huts to limit the spread of the disease.

Queen’s Parlour Tea Room

One of the castle’s most popular features is the Queen’s Parlour Tea Room, a light-filled solarium where visitors can enjoy a traditional Victorian high tea. The experience includes:

Delicate finger sandwiches

Scones with clotted cream and jam

Fresh-baked pastries

A selection of English-style teas

The Tea Room offers several packages, including High Tea, Light Victorian Tea, and special Prince/Princess Teas for children. The atmosphere is intimate and historically themed, with waitstaff in period costume and fine china used for service. Reservations are highly recommended and are available Tuesday through Sunday.

Gardens and Exterior

Surrounding the castle are Victorian-style gardens filled with native plants, seasonal flowers, and shaded seating areas. The gardens reflect both aesthetic design and the practical self-sufficiency that characterized 19th-century estates.

Visitors can also explore the porte-cochère, a stone arch driveway feature where carriages once dropped off guests, now offering a photo-worthy entrance into the castle.

Ghost Stories and Paranormal Reputation

Miramont Castle has long been the subject of ghost stories and paranormal investigations. Reported experiences include:

Apparitions of a man believed to be Father Francolon wandering the chapel

Unexplained sounds such as footsteps, whispers, or slamming doors

Cold spots and flickering lights in certain rooms

These legends have become part of the castle’s allure, especially during Halloween-themed tours or paranormal interest events.

Visitor Information

Address: 9 Capitol Hill Avenue, Manitou Springs, CO 80829

Parking: Available nearby; a designated accessible drop-off point exists at the castle entrance.

Operating Hours

Summer (Memorial Day–Labor Day): Daily, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Rest of Year: Tuesday–Sunday, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Closed on Mondays (off-season), Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day

Admission Prices

Adults: $15

Seniors (60+): $13

Children (4–12): $10

Under 4: Free

Military and First Responders: Free with ID

Guests dining in the Tea Room receive a $2 discount on castle admission

Accessibility

The castle includes chairlifts and sloped access to ensure most parts are wheelchair accessible, although the age and layout of the building may limit access to some upper sections.

Conclusion

Miramont Castle Museum is a richly layered historic site that merges the architectural fantasy of a French-style mountain château with the grounded history of Manitou Springs’ resort and medical legacy. Its romantic and slightly mysterious ambiance, authentic Victorian furnishings, and eclectic exhibits make it one of Colorado’s most unique and memorable museum experiences. Whether you come for the architecture, the history, the tea, or even the ghosts, Miramont Castle offers a transportive journey into another era, preserving the distinct spirit of Manitou’s storied past.