Belvedere Castle
Overview
Calvert Vaux, co-designer of Central Park, created the miniature castle in 1869 as one of its many whimsical structures intended as a lookout to the reservoir to the north (now the Great Lawn) and the Ramble to the south. Belvedere provides the best and highest views of the Park and its cityscape. It's fitting, considering its name translates to "beautiful view" in Italian. With its two balconies, it supplies wonderful panoramic views that include some of Central Park's most beautiful and famous landmarks: the Delacorte Theater, the Great Lawn, the Turtle Pond and the Ramble. Over the decades the castle suffered from deterioration and in 1983, the Central Park Conservancy renovated and reopened the structure, which now also serves as the Henry Luce Nature Observatory. Inside, visitors will discover a vast collection of natural history artifacts, such as skeletons and paper mâché birds. There are also microscopes and telescopes on the premise to give guests insight into how naturalists study the world. Those who want to explore Central Park from a scientific standpoint can use the castle's field packs that contain binoculars, reference materials, maps and a notepad to jot down observations. Finally, for birdwatchers, the castle is an ideal location to catch a glimpse of a hawk, kestrel or osprey.
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Belvedere Castle
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