Built For Love

Year of Construction: 1648

During the full length of his reign over India, the Emperor Shah Jahan had many wives, but none like his most adored third wife, Arjumand Banu begum. She was known as Mumtaz Mahal, the beloved ornament of the palace.

When she passed away in 1631, the emperor had a board of architects construct the Taj Mahal in her honor. More than 20,000 sculptors, calligraphers and craftsmen were enlisted and brought over to Agra to work on his marble-clad masterpiece.

Year of Construction: 1912

Sitting 130 feet above the waters of the Black Sea, this neo-Gothic castle was built by a German noble as romantic couple's retreat. However, little is known about it's history, except for a local legend that recounts the noble's discovery of land and his decision to turn the once existing wooden home into a castle.

The castle has since withstood an earthquake in 1927 and still gracefully perches atop the sea for tourists to visit.

Year of Construction: 1900

George C. Boldt, a wealthy hotelier built this residence as a symbol of his undying love for his wife, Louise. However, just four years after construction began, Louise suddenly passed away. Heartbroken, it resulted in Boldt's decision to stop construction and never return to the island.

The amazing structure fell into ruin until 1977, when the property was bought by the Thousand Islands Bridge Authority who carefully restored the castle.

Year of Construction: 1914

This Gothic revival style house was built as a home for financier, Sir Henry Mill Pellatt and his wife Mary.

The name Casa Loma, meaning "House on the Hill", was considered to be very modern at the time with decorated suites, secret passages, an 800 foot underground tunnel, towers, stables and beautiful 5 acres of estate gardens, all in a 98 room castle.

They lived for only 10 years in this love castle, until they fell behind in taxes during the depression that followed WWI. Pellatt was forced to auction off $1.5 million in art and furnishings for only $250,000.

Year of Construction: 1915

This far-flung estate in Batu Gajah, Malaysia, was devised as a family home by Scottish-born William Kellie Smith for his wife, Agnes, and their young family. The pair married in the early 1900s and moved to Malaysia, where William owned a plantation and built a small fortune. Legend has it that Agnes was unhappy with their small wood home and to please his pregnant wife, William decided to erect a hilltop castle, reminiscent of those found in their native country.

When he died unexpectedly in 1926, plans for further construction came to a stop and Kellie's Castle was abandoned. The government has made efforts to tame the unruly grounds that have since entangled the isolated structure.

Year of Construction: 1273

Sweetheart Abbey was a Cistercian monastery founded in 1273 by Lady Dervorgilla of Galloway in memory of her husband, John Balliol. On her death, she was laid to rest next to her husband's embalmed heart and the monks named the abbey in memory of her.