If you’re wondering why is there a castle in the center of Central Park, then it’s main goal has
been fulfilled. Belvedere Castle was originally designed by Vaux and Mould as a Victorian Folly
– a fantastic structure providing some of the best views, as well as one of the best backgrounds
for pictures (and a place to take amazing pictures of the park).
And Belvedere is an astonishing structure – with its stone façade, turret, and flag, the castle looks
as impressive as any European castle.
Belvedere plays an important role in New York City’s weather forecasts. For more than a
century it is used as a measuring point for the wind speed and direction. Rainfall is recorded just
to the south.
