Did You Know Louisiana Has a Real Red Brick Castle Hiding Under Mossy Oaks in Monroe?
Y'all, I thought I had seen all of Louisiana, but I had never heard of a real castle right here in North Louisiana until a friend told me about Layton Castle in Monroe.
And cher, it's not a new thing made to look old —
this place started in 1814!
I packed up the car and made a weekend of it, and I'm telling you, if you love history, big old oaks, and a good story, you need to put this on your list.
🛒 Pack it right: Nana's Layton Castle Trip Essentials Kit on Amazon has the walking shoes, water bottle, and phone battery bank in one place.
What Is Layton Castle?
Layton Castle sits on 5 acres right in Monroe at 1133 S. Grand St., Monroe, LA 71202. It don't look like a big European castle from the road — it's a beautiful red brick home that evolved from 1814 all the way to 1915.
The story is what got me.
This was the home of Judge Henry Bry. He helped write and signed the very first Louisiana Constitution, and he even helped rename the town from Fort Miro to Monroe. His family has kept this home for 6 generations.
The steward today is Pam Dupuy — she's the 6th generation owner — and she leads the tours herself.
You can feel how much love is in those walls.
The Roadtrip: Baton Rouge → Layton Castle
From Baton Rouge: ~182–187 miles / about 3 hours 30 minutes to 4 hours, depending on traffic. This is an easy straight shot north and makes the perfect weekend getaway.
The route: Take I-110 N to US-61 N / Natchez Trace, then US-65 N straight into Monroe. It's a pretty drive through St. Francisville and Natchez, Mississippi — lots of trees, you can roll the windows down.
Where to stop for lunch: Ruston, LA — about 30 minutes before Monroe. If you like that college town feel (Louisiana Tech), stop at Ponchatoula's or Heard Freighthouse for BBQ.
Make it a weekend in Monroe. Don't just drive up and back —
Monroe also has:
Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge — a beautiful boardwalk, gators, birds. Bring your binoculars.
Biedenharn Museum & Gardens — where Coca-Cola was first bottled. The gardens are gorgeous.
Antique Alley in West Monroe — great antique shopping.
What the Tour Actually Includes
This is important, cher — they only open one Saturday a month, so you have to plan!
Monthly Tours: One Saturday a month at 10:00 AM, 75 minutes long, led by Pam Dupuy herself.
Includes:
The historic residential apartment inside the castle
The family cemetery
The 1790s Winehouse/Pigeonnire Museum — one of the oldest structures in the area
The historic bottle museum
You'll learn how Judge Henry Bry helped write and signed the first Louisiana Constitution and how he helped rename Monroe. After the tour, you can stroll the 5-acre grounds and have a picnic under those giant oaks — they want you to stay and enjoy it.
Cost: $18 online + tax, or $20 at the door — limit 25 people. Call to confirm availability, because it does sell out. Phone: 318-322-4869
Custom Tours: Private groups of 10+ — schools, history buffs, even ghost hunters — call to arrange.
They also host garden weddings and photo shoots, and have short-term suites you can rent — The Carriage House and the Lost Generation Apartment. Imagine staying right on castle grounds.
14 Things You'll See on Tour
Nana wrote these down so fast, my hand was cramping!
The giant moss-draped oak trees lining the property — older than Louisiana itself
The red brick castle exterior — 5 acres of history from 1814 to 1915
The family cemetery where the Bry family is laid to rest
The 1790's Winehouse/Pigeonnire — original brick, so much history
The historic bottle museum collection
The Victorian parlor with original family pieces
The library of 1800's books — I could have stayed all day
The Audubon dining room
The grand staircase
Original fireplaces and mantels in every room
The gardens with 40+ camellias — if you go in spring, it's heavenly
The residential apartment that is still lived in
Photos and documents from when Monroe was Fort Miro
That peaceful feeling you only get in a home that's been loved for 200 years
Nana's Tips for Visiting Layton Castle
Book online ahead! Only 25 spots. Don't drive 4 hours and get turned away.
Wear walking shoes, cher. You'll be on grass, gravel, and old floors — no high heels. Grab comfortable walking shoes before you go.
Bring your water bottle and binoculars — for Black Bayou after, and for seeing the Pigeonnire details up top.
Bring a picnic! After the tour you can stroll and picnic on the grounds — they encourage it. I brought chicken salad sandwiches and sat under the oaks. A picnic blanket makes it even easier.
Best photo spots: Morning light is perfect for that red brick. Front gate at 10 AM, and the side garden with the camellias. Bring your camera.
Be on time. Tour starts at 10 AM sharp with Pam — she has stories, and she sticks to that 75 minutes.
Cash or card? $18 online is easiest, but they take $20 at the door if there's room. I say book online.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it really a castle?
It's called Layton Castle because it looks like a small red brick castle — turrets, thick walls, 5 acres. It's a historic home built to feel like a castle, evolving from 1814–1915. Not a European fortress, but a real Louisiana castle home.
Is it kid-friendly?
Yes, but it's a historic home, not a playground. Best for kids 8+ who love history and can be gentle inside — no running. The grounds are great for kids afterward.
Can I bring my dog?
Dogs on leash are okay for the grounds and picnic after, but not inside the house tour or for the bottle museum and apartment. Service animals are always welcome.
How long is the tour?
75 minutes guided, then you can stay and stroll or picnic as long as you like that morning.
Can you drive up and walk around anytime?
Grounds are only open during tours or by private appointment, or if you rent a suite or have a wedding. You can't just drive up any day — book a tour.
Is it haunted?
Cher, it's 200 years old in Louisiana — what do you think? They welcome ghost hunters for private tours. I didn't see anything, but I felt that old home love.
Where to Stay & Eat in Monroe
If you make it a weekend like I did:
Stay:
Layton Castle Suites — the Carriage House + Lost Generation Apartment, right on property. Call 318-322-4869.
Hampton Inn & Suites Monroe — easy, central.
Hotel Monroe — boutique, downtown.
Eat:
Restaurant Cotton — Southern fine dining downtown.
Warehouse No. 1 — seafood on the Ouachita River.
Genusa's Italian — a Monroe staple since forever.
More Louisiana Road Trips
Melrose Plantation Road Trip: Cane River's Most Unique Louisiana History
Myrtles Plantation Road Trip: A Haunted 2-Day Louisiana Getaway
Avery Island Road Trip: TABASCO, Gators, and a 900-Year-Old Buddha
From Nana's Kitchen — and the Road
Y'all, I left Monroe with a full heart and a camera roll full of oak trees. If you go, tell Pam that Nana from Pearl River sent you — and bring me a camellia clipping if you go in spring!
Book your tour early — November and December sell out fast for those holiday photos.
Tell Nana: would you brave the ghost hunter tour, or stick to the daytime history?
Address: 1133 S. Grand St., Monroe, LA 71202 Phone: 318-322-4869
Add comment
Comments