An Illinois couple built a 'Castle of Love' inspired by 45 years of European travels; how did it look from inside and why was it up for sale?

A property called the "Castello d'Amore," or "Castle of Love," is located in Spring Grove, Illinois, in the United States. It was built by Scott and Cathy Dittmer. The couple wanted to create a home inspired by the castles, cathedrals and chateaus they had seen while travelling across Europe. The couple first met as next-door neighbours when they were eight years old.

During their trips across Europe, they got influenced by the design and architecture. Then, they designed the house themselves and were involved in building parts of it. The construction was completed in 2012. The aim was to have a property that showed their shared interests and relationship.

What makes the Castle of Love unique?

The house stands on approximately 2.73 acres of land. It has around 3,712 square feet of living space. The property has four bedrooms, four full bathrooms and one half-bathroom. Its exterior features five turrets and Gothic-style arched windows. The entrance has a six-foot bronze fountain and an iron gate.


The property also has an English-style garden. It has elements inspired by the couple's European travels and Irish heritage. Its architecture also has elements found in European castles.

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What does the castle look like from inside?

The interiors have a European-inspired design. The house has Corinthian columns, archways and Brazilian cherry and walnut hardwood flooring. One of its major features is a two-storey stone fireplace. The home also includes a recreation room, fitness room and four-car garage. The kitchen has an Italian vineyard-inspired backsplash and cherub decorations. The bedrooms incorporate the turrets as additional sitting areas.

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Is it available for sale?

They decided to sell because they wanted to escape the cold Illinois winters. Initially, the property was listed for $1.2 million in December 2025. It was marked contingent on September 15, 2026, at an asking price of $895,000, reported Realtor.com.