Unearth The Voyage
Ohio might be known for cornfields, football, and friendly neighbors, but tucked around the state are buildings that could easily pass for something in Paris, Munich, or the Italian countryside. From soaring cathedrals to castle-like mansions and Old World village squares, these places prove you don’t need a passport to feel like you’ve crossed the ocean.
Grab your keys and get ready for a road trip full of jaw-dropping architecture that’s closer than you think.
1. St. John the Baptist Church, Canton
Walk up to St. John the Baptist and you might swear you’ve stumbled onto a side street in Cologne. Its soaring Gothic lines and detailed stonework feel plucked straight from a German city center.
Built to serve Canton’s Catholic community, the church has been a landmark for generations of locals. The interior glows with stained glass and vaulted ceilings that make people whisper without being told to.
For anyone who loves old-world craftsmanship, it’s an easy stop while exploring downtown Canton and the nearby Pro Football Hall of Fame.
2. Squire’s Castle, Willoughby Hills
Feargus Squire dreamed of a proper English country estate, and the stone gatehouse he left behind still stands like a fairytale ruin in the Cleveland Metroparks. Locals affectionately call it Squire’s Castle.
The main mansion was never finished, so what remains is this moody, castle-like structure with arched windows and rugged stone walls. Kids love running through the empty rooms while parents snap photos that look straight out of the English countryside.
It’s free to visit, surrounded by hiking trails, and one of the most photographed spots in northeast Ohio for good reason.
3. Loveland Castle (Chateau Laroche), Loveland
One man, Harry Andrews, spent decades hauling buckets of stone from the Little Miami River to build his own medieval castle. The result, Chateau Laroche, looks like it belongs on a hillside in France.
Andrews modeled it after castles he saw during his time in Europe, complete with turrets, dungeons, and narrow stone corridors. Today it’s run by the Knights of the Golden Trail, who keep his quirky vision alive.
Visitors can tour the grounds, explore the tiny rooms, and stroll gardens that feel worlds away from suburban Cincinnati. It’s one of Ohio’s most delightfully odd landmarks.
4. The Cleveland Trust Company Rotunda, Cleveland
Step inside the old Cleveland Trust Company building and your eyes go straight up to a breathtaking stained glass dome that rivals grand European banks and palaces. It’s the kind of ceiling that makes people forget they’re in Ohio.
Designed in the Beaux-Arts style, the rotunda drips with marble columns, gilded details, and murals celebrating industry. For decades it served as a working bank before finding new life as part of a downtown development.
Now home to a Heinen’s grocery store, it may be the most beautiful place you’ll ever buy milk. Locals still come just to stand under the dome and stare.
5. St. Joseph Cathedral, Columbus
Rising near downtown Columbus, St. Joseph Cathedral could pass for a parish church in the French countryside with its pointed spire and classic Gothic bones. The mother church of the Diocese of Columbus has anchored the neighborhood since the 1870s.
Inside, ribbed ceilings and glowing stained glass windows create the hushed, timeless feeling you’d expect from a European cathedral. The organ and towering nave add to the drama during services.
Whether you’re religious or just love architecture, it’s a peaceful escape from the busy city just outside its doors.
6. Roscoe Village, Coshocton
Wandering the brick streets of Roscoe Village feels like stepping into a tidy old European market town. This restored 1830s canal town has been lovingly brought back to life with gas lamps, flower boxes, and charming storefronts.
Shops, cafes, and craft demonstrations line the walkways, giving visitors a taste of life along the Ohio and Erie Canal. Horse-drawn boat rides run in warmer months for an extra dose of nostalgia.
It’s an easy day trip from Columbus or Canton, and the small-town charm keeps families coming back through every season.
7. The Cincinnati Music Hall, Cincinnati
Few buildings in Ohio command attention like Cincinnati Music Hall, its red brick towers and rose window straight out of a German cathedral town. The High Victorian Gothic beauty has anchored Over-the-Rhine since 1878.
Home to the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, the hall recently underwent a massive restoration that returned its glittering ballroom and grand stairways to their original splendor. Some even swear it comes with a ghost story or two.
Catch a performance or a tour, then explore the surrounding Over-the-Rhine district, itself packed with historic German-influenced architecture.
8. Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens, Akron
Goodyear cofounder F.A. Seiberling built Stan Hywet as a sprawling Tudor Revival manor, and the result looks like an English country estate that wandered into Akron.
The steep gables and clustered chimneys are pure Old World.
The estate spans dozens of rooms filled with antiques, plus formal gardens designed to rival those across the Atlantic. Spring and summer bring blooming beds that visitors linger over for hours.
Seasonal events, from garden tours to holiday light displays, keep the grand old house buzzing year-round. It’s one of the finest historic homes in the entire Midwest.
9. German Village, Columbus
Cobblestone streets, brick cottages, and wrought iron fences make German Village feel like a slice of old Bavaria dropped into Columbus. Settled by German immigrants in the mid-1800s, the neighborhood has been beautifully preserved.
Tiny bakeries, beer halls, and the famous Book Loft draw crowds who love wandering the tight, tree-shaded lanes. Schmidt’s Sausage Haus keeps the German tradition alive with its cream puffs and hearty plates.
It’s walkable, welcoming, and one of the best spots in Ohio to feel like you’ve traveled overseas without leaving the city.
10. Piatt Castles, West Liberty
Deep in the rolling hills near West Liberty sit two remarkable homes the Piatt family built to resemble French chateaux. Mac-A-Cheek and Mac-O-Chee look like something from the Loire Valley planted in central Ohio.
Constructed in the mid to late 1800s, the castles feature elaborate ceilings, family heirlooms, and hand-painted details that reflect the era’s fascination with European grandeur. Guided tours share the family stories behind every room.
Surrounded by farmland and forest, the setting only heightens the surprise of finding castles here at all. History buffs and curious travelers alike leave impressed.
