Belvedere Castle

Belvedere Castle means “beautiful view” in Italian. The castle was initially planned by Vaux and Mold as a Victorian Folly - a phenomenal structure giving probably the best views, as well as one of the most incredible background for pictures (and a spot to take photos of Central Park).

What's more? Belvedere is an amazing structure - with its stone façade, turret, and the European castle design style.

Belvedere also played an important role in New York City’s weather forecasts. For more than a century,it is used to record rainfalls and it is used as a measuring point for the wind speed and direction.

In 1983 the castle was reopened after a major renovation and now housed the Henry Luce Nature Observatory.

Through the course of its existence, the Belvedere is one of the most popular locations of Central Park, attracting visitors with its architecture and as being the second-highest point in the park.