I bought this princess castle for my 2 1/2  year old daughter this Christmas from fatbraintoys.com.  It retailed for $100.00, but was on sale for $69.99.  I am NOT a fan of plastic toys and basically wanted to preempt a well meaning relative from buying some 4 story pink and purple plastic abomination, so I bought one before they did.  I wanted something that would be easy on my eyes as well as attractive to my little girl's desire for imaginary play, and I wanted a piece that could be family heirloom quality and passed down for years to come.  

I could not be more pleased with my choice.  This castle is SO pretty and well-made, I just love it and so does my daughter. It is built of solid bare natural wood and has hand-painted small pink and green flowers.  The turrets have mocha-brown painted accents.  When folded, the castle is about 18 inches x 18 inches square.  It has a sturdy metal hinge that allows the castle to open up pretty wide.  This features allows little hands access to all parts of the castle and they can really get in there and play.  There are two turrets that can be moved around to change the height and look of the castle.  There is also a little drawbridge and a sliding stable door.  My daughter has been playing knights and princesses since she discovered it Christmas morning.  Actually, we have had a number of family members of ALL ages who have been really excited about playing right along with her, and everyone has commented on what a solid and pretty piece it is.  When I put it in my daughter's room, it looked like a piece of art instead of just more toy clutter.

Parents or grandparents who are looking for a really fancy or elaborate dollhouse with tons of moving parts or tiny pieces may be disappointed, because while this is a beautiful castle, it is not what I would call complex or ornate.  (But I think that makes it even better because it leaves something for the child's imagination.)  I purchased the Melissa and Doug Royal family to go with it and those little dolls have worked quite well to populate the castle.
  

Recommended: Yes

Amount Paid (US$): 69.99
Type of Toy: Playscene
Age Range of Child: 12 to 36 Months