Passionate Harry Potter fans have perhaps all dreamed of visiting their hero’s famous school. The next best thing just might be seeing this Hogwarts in South Carolina that looks like it could almost be a satellite campus.
The Hogwarts Castle architecture is a fascinating mixture of styles, including elements of Norman Romanesque, Gothic, and Gothic Revival styles and drawing inspiration from great European cathedrals.
The Circular Congregational Church, located on Meeting Street in downtown Charleston, undeniably gives off serious Hogwarts vibes. If you’re in Charleston and looking for castles near me, this definitely could be mistaken for one.
Meeting Street got its name from the church, which first met in what it called the “meeting house.” Meeting Street was the road leading to it at the time, then called Meeting House Street.
The church is one of the oldest continuously worshipping congregations in the South. And it looks just like Hogwarts in South Carolina!
Its adaptation of the Romanesque style is evident in the massive quality, thick walls, round arches, large towers, and decorative arcading.
The church was built in 1804 from plans drawn up by Robert Mills, Charleston’s leading architect who also designed the D.C. Washington Monument. It almost looks like it belongs on a list of “Castles in South Carolina."
The steeple was not a part of the original structure. It was added in 1838.
This addition put an end to the jokes that had been made over the lack of a steeple on a church building.
In 1892, the current building was constructed out of bricks from the ruins when it was destroyed by fire at the beginning of the Civil War.
Not only is the church visually reminiscent of Hogwarts, but its history in education gives it some common ground also. In 1816, the first Sunday School for religious education in South Carolina was started here, as well as a prototype of what would later become The American Bible Society.
A National Historic Landmark, this church is well worth a visit, whether as a Harry Potter fan, a history buff, or while on a horse-drawn carriage tour of Charleston. If you’re thinking, “Harry Potter Charleston SC- how could that be?” We understand. But this building could make you look twice!
You can learn more about this church and its history at the Circular Congregational Church’s website. Also in South Carolina, Harry Potter fans may want to stay at this Harry Potter-Themed Airbnb and Break Out Of This Harry Potter-Themed Escape Room! Have you ever seen any other Hogwarts-like buildings in our state? We’d love to hear about it in the comments below!
If you are looking for more great places to stay, browse the listings on VRBO.
Subscribe to our newsletter
Get the latest updates and news
Thank you for subscribing!