Best B&B Castle Hotels - 2022

Carberry Tower Castle Hotel, Musselburgh, near Edinburgh, Scotland, is an award winning, luxury 4 star hotel with a history going back to the 15th century and connections to the infamous Mary, Queen of Scots. There is a superb bistro restaurant here and you can enjoy a drink at the Champagne Terrace, or some aristocratic style afternoon tea, all in beautifully elegant surroundings. The setting is peaceful and atmospheric, with flower filled gardens, ancient woodlands and the famous Carberry Hill where in 1567, after being on the wrong side of the Battle of Carberry, Mary, Queen of Scots would announce her abdication from the throne. ACCOMMODATION: They have a range accommodation from small single rooms, to a top of the range suite, the 700 square feet Royal Suite. Between those two extremes are various other classes of rooms and suites. Check out all your options on the booking page here. In some hotels there isn’t always a huge amount of difference between superior or executive rooms and junior suites but in Carberry, if you have the budget, we’d advise paying the extra for a suite. Though there isn’t much of the medieval to be felt in the rooms, they do all display a nice READ MORE

The 15th century era Château de la Motte is an authentic and charming French castle B&B near Châtellerault where Poitou-Charentes meets the southern Loire Valley. It is a special property, with a rich local history and a carefully maintained old world atmosphere. At first glance the interior design barely seems to touch the 21st century, such is the authenticity of the place, but modern comforts and facilities are also here. THE ACCOMMODATION: Though the building is large Château de la Motte has just 6 rooms in total for guests; 3 cosy double/twin rooms and two ‘deluxe doubles’ which have more space, an extra bed and the added perk of a spa bath in the bathroom. Finally there is a ‘family suite’ with two extra beds. Check your options on the booking page here. All of the rooms come with views, and some also come with a nice romantic open fireplace, put a note in the booking form to request if you’d like. The decor of all is beautifully old fashioned; all the double beds are four poster for example and almost every piece of furniture is antique. The breakfast at the château is a great feast to be taken in READ MORE

Chateau Mareuil, as UK visitors may know from the Channel 4 series Escape to the Chateau DIY, is a very charming 15th century chateau with a lovely setting overlooking the Asse valley in the Hautes Vienne region. It has, as fans of the series will know, been painstakingly restored and the result is a chateau guest house with an authentic look and feel. The environment is gorgeous too – the chateau’s flower gardens and lawns are flanked by a river, and surrounded on all sides by silent green fields in this deeply rural part of central France. THE ACCOMMODATION: There are three guest suites in chateau itself – The Princess Suite, referred to on the booking page as Deluxe Family Room with Private Bathroom is the largest, sleeping up to four (one double and two singles) over a full 64 m² (689 square feet) space, but somehow still feels cosy and intimate. The two other suites – referred to as the Deluxe Triple Room & Comfort Triple Room have one double bed and one single each are smaller but still perfectly formed. Lastly there is a double studio apartment with a kitchen in an adjoining, also historic building. Check out READ MORE

Most Famous Former Residents & Guests: Michelangelo, Vittoria Colonna, Ludovico Ariosto. The inspiration behind House Greyjoy of Pyke from Game of Thrones, Ischia Island’s 15th century Castello Aragonese is a stunning hilltop fortress with equally stunning views over the Gulf of Naples. Within the walls of this incredible building are the labyrinth like guest quarters of Albergo Il Monastero, the former castle convent now converted into a very unique hotel. THE ACCOMMODATION: Built at the end of the 16th century and originally dedicated to Santa Maria della Consolazione, the convent section of Castello Aragonese, having been upgraded to suit the 21st century traveller, naturally looks a lot different today. The layout is old; the same rooms and hallways have been used for centuries and the interior design and decor, though relatively modern, are carefully simple and unassuming with a lack of overt modernism that allows the place to retain a distinct historical atmosphere. They have a range of single and double/twin rooms, all of which are, again, simple and unassuming. Check your options on the Check your options on the booking page here. The accommodation is generally neat, crisp and clean, with white walls and traditional tiled floors and all READ MORE

A strong candidate for Florence’s best hotel, the 5 star Four Seasons Gherardesca Palace Hotel is a veritable oasis in the heart of one of the world’s most visited cities. It has 11 acres of peaceful walled gardens to separate you from the tourist masses and, though the exteriors are relatively unassuming, the lavish interiors are an incredible, Renaissance era, feast for the eyes. Housed between the 15th century Palazzo della Gherardesca, which served as a private residence for Florentine nobility (including one Pope) and a 16th century convent across the gardens known as La Villa, it has a tremendous sense of history and is incredibly rich in historic features, right down to the smallest detail. Frescoes, stuccos, bas-reliefs and even old silk wallpapers have been carefully restored, magnificent pieces of classical art abound, and the whole hotel has the look and feel of a living museum. Facilities include a large outdoor pool nicely set in the gardens, perhaps Florence’s best spa facilities, and perhaps its best restaurant in the form of the Michelin starred Il Palagio. THE ACCOMMODATION: You can choose from 116 rooms and suites, from superior and deluxe double rooms all the way up to some tremendously READ MORE

This elegant 19th century neo-Baroque castle, in Pontresina near St. Moritz, Swiss Alps, has long been considered a very special property but never more so than now, in its current form as one of Switzerland’s finest luxury 5 star hotels. It has panoramic views of some of the country’s most wonderful scenery; the Bernina glaciers and the Engadine Mountains, an award winning restaurant, a luxury spa and a host of other superb facilities. The service here is impeccable and the wonderful staff go out of their way to ensure both adults and children have a smooth, stress free luxury hotel experience in an opulent, distinctly old style, ambience. THE ACCOMMODATION: The have a great choice of rooms and suites, 112 in total, from standard singles to the top of the range, 48m², Grand Premium junior suite. In between are various rooms and junior suites consisting of singles, doubles and twins with some of the larger spaces also having a sofa bed to sleep extra occupants. Check your options on the booking page here. All of them are elegantly furnished and superbly clean and comfortable. They, along with all of the castle, lack no modern convenience but they still manage to retain a READ MORE

Most Famous Guests: Oscar Wilde, Ronald Reagan, John Lennon. The most renowned of all Ireland’s Castle Hotels, 5 star Ashford Castle in Co. Galway, is an extremely impressive property, with an extravagant setting, an imposing exterior and very lavish interiors. Those factors combined with a great range of modern facilities, fantastic food and extremely high levels of service, make Ashford Castle a fairly consistent choice for any list of the best hotels in Ireland, Europe, and quite possibly the world. THE ACCOMMODATION: They have a huge choice of rooms and suites, 83 in total, as well as one private ‘Hideaway Cottage‘ on the castle grounds, check your options on the booking page here. They are all individually designed, and with great attention to detail, containing many well chosen antique furniture pieces, works of art and high quality fabrics that compliment the castle’s original features. The result is old fashioned elegance and opulence but with all the modern luxuries of a five star hotel. PRICES: Check out all the details – prices, reviews and more photos – on the booking page here. FACILITIES & THINGS TO DO: The grounds are as beautiful as you can imagine, the castle sits by the shores READ MORE

Most Famous Guests: Victor Hugo, Charlie Chaplin, Coco Chanel. The 5 star Beau Rivage Palace sits in 10 acres of its own private gardens on the shores of Lake Geneva, Lausanne, and has stunning views across the lake and of the French Alps beyond. The hotel itself, including its spacious and elegant rooms and suites, is equally stunning and the entire experience is one which will satisfy even the most discerning of luxury hotel aficionados. It has four restaurants to choose from all of which are excellent quality but with one particularly stealing the show; the 2 Michelin starred Anne-Sophie Pic at Beau-Rivage Palace. Add to that some chic bars and lounges, some very opulent Cinq Mondes spa facilities, tennis courts, swimming pools, hot tubs, and from beginning to end extremely high levels of service, and it becomes easy to understand why Beau Rivage Palace is one of Switzerland’s very best luxury hotel resorts. It is also a place of great historical and political importance with, on 24 July 1923, the Treaty of Lausanne being signed here and, in April 2015, negotiations on the Iran nuclear deal framework taking place with foreign ministers from Iran, the U.S.A. and the European Union amongst READ MORE

The 4 Star Château de Labro is a luxury vineyard hotel & spa near the town of Rodez in central France’s Occitanie region, previously known as Midi-Pyrénées. The medieval château oozes old world elegance and the grounds have charming gardens, a swimming pool, orchards and vineyards. There is a very fine restaurant at the château too and the food and the wine is superb. For an extra novel stay, if a medieval château bedroom doesn’t appeal, you can also spend the night at the luxury treehouse in the gardens. THE ACCOMMODATION: The treehouse is a very popular choice so can get booked out months in advance. It is a fine piece of engineering, architecture and design and once inside it feels more like luxury studio apartment than what you might imagine a treehouse to be. The 16th century château itself has charmingly romantic rooms, with antique furniture pieces and four poster beds. The rooms are mainly doubles but there is also a family room which can sleep up to four, as well as a self catering apartment to also sleep up to four. Being a luxury hotel you can expect the accommodation to be high quality. Comfort is paramount, and READ MORE

Il Castello Delle Quattro Torra – the castle of the four towers – is an iconic sight on the outskirts of the walled city of Siena, Tuscany, and comes with tremendous views over the city on one side and the great plains of the Crete Senesi on the other. It dates all the way back to the 13th century and has been a Siena landmark ever since. Much may have changed since then but luckily, in its present incarnation as a B&B, the family owners decided not to modernize it too much. Inside and out it has a tangible historic feel, with the modern niceties you would expect in such a well regarded place not being allowed to intrude too much on the rustic, authentic atmosphere. Outside it is surrounded by beautifully tended Italianate gardens which are a pleasure to stroll around. You’ll find the owners warm and friendly, along with the B&B they also run an organic farm, vineyards and farm restaurant a few minutes’s down the road – be sure to sample some of their excellent food and wine there. READ MORE

Known as one of the most beautiful chateaux in Deux-Sevres, Aquitaine, the majestic Château de Saint Loup, which was commissioned in 1609 to honour Good King Henry; Henri IV of France, is now an intimate boutique hotel. The chateau is a stirring sight, it still has a wonderfully medieval atmosphere and, though you may be paying for the pleasure, it feels quite a privilege to stay there, knowing that in times gone by such a property would have been out of bounds for all except the highest levels of French aristocracy. ACCOMMODATION: They have just nine spacious rooms to choose from; doubles, triples and one larger ‘family room’ which has two separate sleeping quarters and can sleep up to four. All of them are carefully decorated to maintain the medieval ambience with some lovely four poster beds, antique furniture and art pieces, and private bathrooms with old style bathtubs. The chateau has much lovely common space to explore too, with a library, a music room with piano, sitting rooms and a drinks bar at your disposal. The estate surrounding the moated chateau covers over 120 acres and includes some stunning 18th century landscaped grounds, including lawns and flower beds, an READ MORE

Most Famous Guest: Czar Peter the Great of Russia. Schlosshotel Münchhausen is a classically beautiful 5 Star Castle Hotel near Hanover, Lower Saxony, Germany, with extremely high levels of comfort and service. It comes with top of the range facilities too; a spa & beauty treatment centre, a swimming pool, a Michelin Star winning restaurant, and its own park which has a lake and an 18 hole golf course. The castle dates back to the 16th century and has an enviable location in the peaceful, green Weserbergland Schaumburg-Hameln Nature Park. THE ACCOMMODATION: There is a choice 67 stylish rooms and suites, 31 of which are in the castle itself and 36 in the adjoining Tithe Barn. Check your options on the booking page here.) All the suites and rooms are relatively modern in style, the ones in the converted barn slightly more so, which might disappoint those seeking a more traditional castle stay atmosphere but it is a five star hotel and the quality and comfort on offer are hard to beat. All of them are luxuriously large with their terrific suites being up to 77 square meters in size, and both they and the rooms will have seating, writing desks, spacious READ MORE

Most Famous Former Guests: Grace O’Malley (Grainneuaile), Daniel O’Connell, U.S. President Gerald Ford. Consistently rated as one of Ireland’s best luxury hotels, the first thing to recommend about the four star Ballynahich Castle in Galway is the superb location: It has 350 acres of peaceful, mature woodland that sit below the Twelve Bens Mountains like a green oasis in what is very much the heart of Connemara, one of Ireland’s most beautiful natural landscapes.  It will also impress with its extremely high levels of service, comfort and facilities, its salmon lake, its top class restaurant and welcoming bar, and also with its interesting, rather eclectic history. THE ACCOMMODATION: The castle hotel has a range of luxury rooms and suites in both the castle and the newer Riverside Lodge. The pick of the bunch, for those with the means, is the Lettery Lodge; a four double/twin bedroom private self catering lodge one minute’s walk from the Castle. It offers privacy, and supreme luxury and comfort, as well as tremendous views of Ben Lettery mountain from the ground floor master suite. Check your options on the booking page here. You will find all of the accommodation choices extremely comfortable and stylish, with an elegant, READ MORE

Most famous former guests: King Henry VIII, King Charles II, Queen Elizabeth II. The 12th century era Amberley Castle is a unique luxury hotel just south of London, in West Sussex, England with an impeccable historical pedigree. Some of England’s most famous historical figures have passed through its doors and it still retains a huge amount of historical features, including 60 foot high defensive walls, portcullis and moat. In its present incarnation as a luxury hotel it offers an immersive historical experience as well top class service and facilities including an 18 hole putting green, tennis courts, a croquet lawn and a famous fine dining restaurant. ACCOMMODATION: It has a selection of extremely comfortable, nicely decorated rooms and suites divided between the castle itself, and two atmospheric 17th century stone buildings tucked into the castle’s dry moat, known as the Manor House and the Bishopric. Most of the rooms and suites are historical in nature, with four poster beds, antique furniture, classic thick velvet curtains and lattice windows, with a few being more modern in style, though never modern enough to make you forget you are staying in a deeply historical building. Tip: If you request a four poster bed READ MORE

Parador de Alcañiz is a stunning hilltop castle overlooking the town of the same name between Zaragoza and the Mediterranean. It has a history going all the way back to the 12th century and some of its original features intact, from that time, from the later medieval period and from after its conversion from a defensive fortress to a monastery and then to a residential Palace in the 18th century. The views from all around are absolutely stunning, you could spend many happy, peaceful hours just wandering the atmospheric grounds. Internally, though renovated on numerous occasions over the years (and centuries!), the castle has a very charming old world feel. Much of the common areas – the dining hall in particular – look and feel tremendously medieval, and the food, mostly local and traditional, is excellent. THE ACCOMMODATION: The castle, despite its size, has just under forty rooms in total and so maintains a quite cosy feel. They range from doubles and twins to triples, with extra bedding being available for children.       READ MORE

Schloss Schadau is a wonderfully elegant 200 year old manor house which offers old world charm and atmosphere, friendly staff, a lovely restaurant and a very romantic setting by Lake Thunersee, just south of Bern in Switzerland’s Bernese Oberland region. ACCOMMODATION: It has a choice of accommodation from small double rooms to suites ranging in size from 18 to 44 m². The larger suites and rooms have a balcony and some terrific views over the lake and mountains, with the best value perhaps being the ‘Deluxe Room with Balcony’ which is only marginally smaller than the suites and has equally good views. The entire hotel is unashamedly old style, and the decor of the rooms, and the common areas, reflects this. They may have modern hotel features; cable TV and WiFi, satin sheets and Weseta linens etc. but nothing distracts much from the very charming late 19th-early 20th century ambience. Note: The accommodation is for over 18s only. PRICES: Check out all the details – prices, reviews and more photos – on the booking page here. FACILITIES & THING TO DO: There is a very fine restaurant at Schadau Castle where you’ll find modern interpretations of classic Franco-Mediterranean cuisine. It READ MORE

Château de Sédaiges near Aurillac, Auvergne, France is a gorgeously rustic property with an interesting mix of medieval and neo-gothic architecture, and a history going all the way back to the 12th century. It is situated in 17 acres of parkland with its own pond and woods and, in the neat gardens, a swimming pool. The hotel is family run, it has been run by the same family since 1230 in fact, something which certainly makes a stay here extra special. You’ll find the service extremely warm and personable; the owners show a genuine interest in their guests, and a great sense of pride in the château and their associated family history. THE ACCOMMODATION: All the accommodation is B&B and they have a mixture of rooms and suites, from double rooms to a two double bed suite. All of them are comfortable, neat and clean, and classically decorated with many antique furniture and art pieces. Check your options on the booking page here. There is a tangible ambience of staying in a château bedroom as opposed to a hotel bedroom here, without much in the way of obvious modernity to distract from the experience (apart from WiFi and relatively modern bathrooms); everything seems, READ MORE

The Napoleon III era Château de Sacy is now a sophisticated boutique hotel near Reim in the heart of France’s Champagne region and just over an hour from Paris. With just 12 rooms and suites it is a homely, intimate place, which has friendly, helpful staff, an excellent restaurant and sweeping views over the surrounding vineyards. THE ACCOMMODATION: Your choices are between classic, superior and deluxe rooms and two lovely 50 m² suites. All are individually decorated, opulent and chic, and get the balance just right between modern and period style. They are also spacious with even the most basic rooms; the classic rooms, covering a minimum of 23 m². Of all the room choices these Classic Rooms probably represent the best value behind just a tad smaller than the Deluxe Rooms but equally stylish and comfortable, though their bathrooms have just a shower and no bath, if that’s important to you. Speaking of bathrooms and baths, those of the suites are really quite something, and come with classically romantic roll top baths. Modern conveniences include Wifi and cable TV but, oddly enough for such a plush looking place, no mini-bar or tea coffee making facilities, though this may be READ MORE

Most Famous Guests: Richard Wagner, Johannes Brahms, Emperor Franz Joseph I, Charlie Chaplin. “Stay at the Imperial and feel like an Emperor,” said Charlie Chaplin during his visit, and that just about sums Hotel Imperial up. Completed in 1866 as a residence for Duke Philipp of Württemberg the neo-classical Palais Württemberg, as it was known, was within 10 years transformed into the Imperial, a hotel which quickly became known as Vienna’s finest and grandest. Not much has changed; Hotel Imperial has still such a reputation, and has managed to retain the ambience of the grand old days of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, with its ornate marble, hand-carved statues and massive crystal chandeliers, while subtly adding modern facilities and comforts along the way. The service here is consistently impeccable and its Michelin star restaurant, the OPUS, is considered one of the very best in Vienna, be sure to try at least one evening meal. THE ACCOMMODATION: There are 138 double/twin rooms in total, 62 of which are suites, a much higher proportion than usually found in, even the most luxury of, hotels and thus are relatively good value compared to rooms. The suites are really a cut above, and if you need extra convincing; READ MORE

Most Famous Guests: Manuel Teixeira Gomes, François Mitterand, Rudolf Nureyev. The 5 Star Avenida Palace is regarded as Lisbon, Portugal’s very first, and still grandest, luxury hotel. It was built in 1892, at the height of the Belle Epoque era, and its lavish art nouveau interiors have been wonderfully preserved. It stands at the corner of Lisbon’s main avenue, Avenida Liberdade, the heart of the city, close to Bairro Alto and the Chiado, and right beside the beautiful, Late Portuguese Gothic, Rossio Station, a building which was in fact designed by the very same architect; José Luis Monteiro. Though modern comforts and facilities are of course present; it is a 5 star hotel after all, Avenida Palace is all about old fashioned elegance, romance and opulence, and history buffs too will be intrigued by its reputation as a den of spies during WW2. THE ACCOMMODATION: The hotel has 82 chic rooms in total, including twenty suites. They all display lots of old world sophistication and elegance but with no comfort, modern or otherwise, spared. All are also well soundproofed and so despite the central location the noise of the city is kept to a minimum. All the rooms and suites READ MORE

The 400 year old Château de la Pommeraye is a wonderfully atmospheric boutique hotel near Caen, and the D-Day landing beaches, in Normandy, France, with an intimate, friendly atmosphere and a gorgeously peaceful rural setting. It is a relatively informal place and in common with many great boutique hotels, a stay at the chateau feels more like being in the company of distant relatives than being in a hotel. ACCOMMODATION: They have a choice of rooms and suites, all of which are doubles/twins and which range in size from 36 to 85 m². There are no ordinary or standard rooms here, every one is either in the ‘luxury’ or the ‘prestige’ category, and are broadly similar except in terms of extra space. Broadly similar means polished wooden floors, large windows with old style tie-up curtains, regal looking beds, plump soft fabrics and an array of classic art works and antique furniture pieces to accentuate the romantic, historical ambience. With even the smallest room having 36 m² to play with, space becomes really not much of an issue and so the lower cost choices should be more than adequate for most people. PRICES: Check out all the details – prices, reviews READ MORE

Most Famous Former Guests: Empress Victoria of Germany (& Queen of Prussia), U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower. In the lovely old spa town of Kronberg, and conveniently near Frankfurt Airport, Germany, Schlosshotel Kronberg is a beautifully evocative building, both inside and out. Though only dating back about 130 years it has plenty of 19th & 20th century historical intrigue and big connections to both the Prussian and British Royal Families (see the history section below). On the subject of the latter – Schlosshotel Kronberg was recently chosen to double for Sandringham House in the upcoming film Spencer, starring Kristen Stewart and based upon the life of Princess Diana. It is these days a top of the range 5 Star Hotel, undoubtedly one of the best in Germany, with tremendous facilities including an 18 hole golf course, a fantastic fine dining restaurant, a beauty salon and beautifully atmospheric old English style gardens. The interiors are resplendent with an amazing array of antiques and art pieces; treasures such as original paintings by Titian, Rubens and Gainsborough, and the whole experience is one of tremendous grandeur and opulence. There is hardly a thing out of place anywhere, and though the rooms and suites are READ MORE

Most Famous Residents: Ferdinand II of Aragon, Isabella I of Castile. Castillo del Buen Amor/Buen Amor Castle near Salamanca, Spain, and less than two hours from Madrid, is a splendidly atmospheric place with a history going all the way back to 1227, and the reign of King Alfonso IX. The property is huge, with a great amount of common space; there are a total of seven living rooms for example and outside there are beautiful gardens, a vineyard, a maze, a pine forest and a saltwater swimming pool. THE ACCOMMODATION: They have a range of rooms and suites, 41 in total and all doubles or twins (all with king or queen size beds as standard), from Standard Rooms through Deluxe and Superior Rooms to the largest of all, the Junior Suites. Check your options on the booking page here. In most hotels there would be a great difference between these room types but the standard rooms here are elegant and spacious enough to warrant a grander title perhaps. The deluxe and superior rooms though, apart from being slightly more ornate, have more space and more natural light and, as the price difference is relatively small, it’s probably worth the upgrade. A READ MORE

Most Famous Guest: Sir Winston Churchill. Glenapp is an extremely charming luxury castle hotel hidden away in the forests of South Ayrshire, near Glasgow, Scotland. It has, since its inception in the year 2000, offered the best in five star luxury with consistently high levels of hospitality and friendly service. Designed by renowned architect David Bryce in the 1860’s, it is to this day one of the finest examples around of the Scottish Baronial style of architecture. It is filled with elegant period features and furnishings, has a world class, Michelin Star winning, restaurant, and with acres of landscaped gardens, sea views and a secluded forest setting it makes for a wonderfully romantic hideaway. ACCOMMODATION: There are seventeen B&B rooms and suites to choose from at Glenapp Castle. Many of them (on the upper floors) have sea views where you can look out upon the famous volcanic rock of Ailsa Craig, the Isle of Arran and Holy Island in the distance, and on clear days it’s even possible to catch a glimpse of the hills of Antrim far across the water in Ireland. These are more expensive, naturally, than the ground floor rooms but you will find all of their rooms super comfortable, spacious READ MORE

Roch Castle is an early Norman era castle turned luxury B&B hotel with a lovely hilltop setting overlooking St. Brides Bay and the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, Wales. The impressive exteriors testify to the castle’s 12th century origins but, though they display suitably demure colour schemes, the interiors are contemporary chic. This modern style not be to the liking of some but as the layout is very much that of a castle it still feels somewhat medieval, with lots of oddly aligned walls and ceilings, archways and embrasures on display. THE ACCOMMODATION: Roch is very much a boutique hotel with just six bedrooms to choose from. They are divided in simple terms as King Rooms and Super King rooms, with the Super King having a little extra space and super king size beds as opposed to plain ol’ king size. They are then sub divided between those having only a shower and those having a shower and bath with the latter having a slight premium. All rooms are minimalist and slick, with light grey coloured walls and pale wood floors, and all luxury hotel mod-cons are offered; flat screen TV, iPod dock, WiFi, digital radio, tea/coffee makers etc., as well READ MORE

If food, wine, history and romance are important factors in choosing a hotel, but you prefer the modern over the rustic, then Stromburg Castle near the Hunsrück mountains and the River Rhine is a solid choice. It is owned by one of Germany’s most famous TV chefs, the Michelin Star award winning Johann Lafer and is something of a place of pilgrimage for food lovers in the north west of the country. The castle, which dates back to the 11th century is located above the tiny village of Stromberg, at the edge of the mountains, and has sweeping views over the surrounding countryside. It is a boutique hotel with a small number of modern, contemporary style rooms, and a classy, refined atmosphere throughout. THE ACCOMMODATION: There are only 14, very sleek, rooms and suites at Stromburg and so booking ahead is well advised. The style of the rooms is best described as contemporary, minimalist chic so if you want the feeling of waking up in the 16th century then this isn’t the place for you. They have all the comfort and facilities (smart TVs, ipod docks, espresso machines etc.)  of modern luxury hotel rooms but transplanted into a medieval castle. READ MORE

Most Famous Former Guests: Queen Anne Boleyn, Queen Anne of Cleves. Hever Castle Hotel near London in the Garden County of Kent, was the childhood home of Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII’s second wife and the mother of Elizabeth I, putting it right in the top league of England‘s historically meaningful properties, and perhaps at the very top of historically meaningful properties that you can actually stay at. Now before you start to imagine waking up in Anne Boleyn’s bedroom, it must be pointed out that that though the double moated castle dates back to the 13th Century their 28 B&B rooms are set in two Edwardian era extensions. That being said though, as a guest at Hever you are also allowed exclusive access to the castle itself, right up until midnight each day. Named the Astor Wing and Anne Boleyn Wing, these two Edwardian extensions were built in 1903, in a tasteful mock Tudor style by the then castle owner, William Waldorf Astor, as extra accommodation for friends and family. Each wing comes with its own dining and lounge area and they and the rooms display a strong sense of the past with some gorgeous antique furniture, old tapestries and art pieces READ MORE

The 5 Star Lympstone Manor Hotel in South Devon is a Georgian era manor house turned exclusive contemporary hotel that has realistic ambitions to become one of South West England’s very finest. It describes itself as a ”new generation’ country house hotel and it oozes style and class; the superb interior design blending old and new with great panache. The setting is tremendous too with gardens running all the way down to the Exe estuary and the Jurassic Coast, and to top it all it has a restaurant that achieved its first Michelin star within six months of opening. THE ACCOMMODATION: They have a range of individually styled, soundproofed rooms and suites all with hand crafted beds, temperature regulating duvets, plush fabrics and stylish furniture. Many come with balconies with estuary views and some of the suites have an outdoor hot tub on the private terrace. The bathrooms are particularly fantastic at Lympstone with enormous rainfall showers, romantic roll top baths and luxury L’Occitane toiletries. The hotel in general has an immaculate sense of style and there is much to learned here about interior design and attention to detail. Classic and contemporary art go hand in hand, warm, soothing colours READ MORE

Most Famous Guests: Catherine the Great, Alexander von Humboldt.  A very special hotel in a very special location; Castle Hotel Mönchstein sits, fairy tale like, atop the Hill of Mönchsberg in old Salzburg, is surrounded by its own wooded parkland and has stunning views of Mozart’s city below, and the glorious Alps. It has excellent spa facilities, massage, beauty and wellness treatments, an infinity swimming pool and an outdoor hot tub. It also has two of the very best restaurants in Salzburg, and a chic, stylish bar. All in all Schloss Hotel Mönchstein is a top of the range luxury 5 star hotel with an elegant ambience, exceptional levels of service and one which consistently appears in any sensible list of Austria’s very best hotels. THE ACCOMMODATION: The have a range of double rooms and suites, all of which are spacious and well appointed, and with some nice marble bathrooms (with jacuzzis, and some jacuzzis with a view). All the suites, and the largest of the rooms; the Executive Rooms, have space for another two single beds, or one double, if required, and so can sleep up to four people in total. The interiors of the rooms and suites, and indeed of the hotel generally, READ MORE

Staying within the walls of one of Europe’s most iconic historical sites, Granada’s Alhambra fortress, and being able to stroll around the grounds after the tourist hordes have left feels like an exclusive experience and that it certainly is. The only way to do this is to stay in the luxury Parador de Granada, something which makes it one of Andalusia’s and Spain’s most desired hotels and so, unless you are lucky, it can be extremely difficult to find a room there without booking months in advance. THE ACCOMMODATION: The accommodation is in a beautifully atmospheric medieval building, a building which was once part of the Alhambra Mosque & Palace later converted into a convent just after the Reconquista. It was also once the burial place of Spain’s most famous Royal couple, King Fernando and Queen Isabel, before their remains were later moved to Granada Cathedral. The spot that was their resting place is still there to be seen today. They have double and twin rooms, some of which also come with a sofa bed to sleep one extra person if needed. There are also 5 suites at the hotel, around 40 metres square they have a separate living room READ MORE

The Manor House Hotel, Castle Combe, has been removed from our listings. It can still though be found, and booked, here at Booking.com: The Manor House Hotel at Booking.com.   To browse our recommended castle hotels in England click here: Best Castle Stays in England – 2021                   The Manor House in Castle Combe is a quintessentially English, luxury castle hotel next to what is undoubtedly Wiltshire’s, and the Cotswold’s, loveliest village. The Manor dates all the way back to the 14th century but the present building and the general ambience lie firmly in the Victorian and Edwardian eras. The hotel has extremely high levels of service and comfort, and an elegant sophisticated ambience throughout. It also has superb facilities including a Michelin starred restaurant; The Bybrook, a full 18 hole championship golf course, tennis courts, a croquet lawn and some gorgeously well manicured Classic, Gothic & Italianate gardens THE ACCOMMODATION: There are 48 indulgent bedrooms & suites, to sleep up to three, in both the main manor house and in the Mews Cottages which lie along the lane between the main building and the village. Some rooms are relatively modern but READ MORE

Just outside the town of Tralee, Ireland, County Kerry’s only castle hotel is the 4-star Ballyseede Castle which has a history dating back to the 16th century and pleasingly blends its many modern comforts with historical grandeur and elegance. It has award winning food, beautiful grounds, and a pleasant, relaxed atmosphere throughout. THE ACCOMMODATION: It has a choice of rooms and suites both in the castle itself and in the nearby lodge. Be aware when booking which is which as the lodge accommodation, though pleasant, is a quite different experience. It is near the estate entrance; the site of the old gatehouse and is more of an upscale, modern, B&B, though guests do have access to the main building, the castle, throughout the day. The rooms and suites in the castle are quite lovely, a step ahead really, with the beautifully furnished suites and superior rooms particularly being the height of comfort and space. Check your options on the booking page here. You may find some of the standard double rooms (all are double, no twin rooms) quite small, or let’s say cosy, but they also are nicely furnished and apart from the size should not disappoint in any other READ MORE

Buckland Manor is an elegant, very historical boutique hotel in the Cotswolds. It lies on 10 acres of landscaped grounds in the village of Buckland and is in the heart of some of the Gloucestershire/Worcestershire Cotswolds loveliest countryside. It is also within easy reach of many of its most charming villages: Broadway, Stanton and Snowshill for example are all just a few minutes’s drive away. The manor house hotel has just 15 guest rooms and so is very much a boutique affair, with an intimate, though quite formal, Olde England atmosphere. The service is top class, as is the food at their highly praised restaurant. Other facilities include tennis courts and a croquet lawn. THE ACCOMMODATION: It has just 15 individually designed and styled rooms in various sizes, with the oak paneled superior four poster room being our particular favorite. They are all though extremely elegant, and comfortable, and offer plenty of luxury hotel niceties – Nespresso coffee machines, homemade biscuits, Vispring beds and expensive soft fabrics etc., as well as L’Occitane skin care and bath lotions in their opulent, underfloor heated, bathrooms. Some bathrooms also come with a bath, and some rooms have electric fireplaces. PRICES: Check out all READ MORE

Known in the U.K. as one of the chateaux from the Channel 4 series – Escape to the Chateau DIY, Chateau Lalande is a very charming property dating back to the 15th century that has been tastefully, carefully renovated by its – now TV famous – owners. It is a family home with some very lovely, old style chic, guest rooms, and you can expect a warm welcome and an informal familial atmosphere. THE ACCOMMODATION: Note: There is a minimum stay of two nights.  The accommodation ranges from singles, twins and double rooms to larger suites and self catering apartments – one one bedroom apt. and one studio. Their family suite being the largest which can sleep up to four. Check out all your options, plus reviews and more photos, on the booking page here.  All are tremendously well decorated and furnished and wouldn’t look at all out of place in a period movie. They are also spacious and comfortable and have plenty of modern home comforts, just no TVs to spoil the historic atmosphere. You’ll be treated to a very fine breakfast in the morning, with lots to choose from – fresh baguettes, pastries and croissants, a array of READ MORE

The spectacular Château Gütsch is a Lucerne, Switzerland, landmark  — a fairytale like, 19th century folly castle, it sits high on a hilltop with stunning views over the city and Lake Lucerne. The setting is peaceful and isolated but the hotel has its own historical funicular which runs from 4.30am until 1.15am and so guests can come and go to the city in a matter of minutes. THE ACCOMMODATION: They have a choice of 31 spacious rooms and suites at Chateau Gutsch with the rooms, both doubles and triples, being pretty much identical except for the view. There is an extra premium for the ‘Lake View’ rooms which have those magnificent views over the city and the lake from their windows, while the others have views of the surrounding forest. Then there are the Junior and Deluxe suites both of which are really quite beautiful and, if budget allows, worth the extra. They have those tremendous views too and are lavishly decorated. The Junior suites cover around 40 m², and the Deluxe 73 m², but what makes the deluxe the real show stealers is their huge terrace, 82 m² of it, even larger than the suite itself. You’ll find all READ MORE

Castello di Tornano is a rustic, and extremely charming, castle hotel in southern Chianti with a history going back over nine hundred years. It has a broad selection of accommodation ranging from relatively basic rooms up to luxury suites in the castle itself, and then some spacious self catering apartments in the adjacent restored farm buildings. Facilities include a swimming pool, out in the beautifully tended gardens and cleverly carved out of the castle moat, tennis courts and a very fine traditional Tuscan restaurant. The surroundings are classic Chianti countryside – vineyards, olive groves and woodland – and Castello di Tornano makes a nice base to explore some of the wonderful little villages that make Chianti so admired. Your hosts will be more than happy to offer recommendations and advice and can also arrange tours, excursions etc. REVIEWS: “The staff, especially Loredana was extremely helpful even before my arrival. Even though my home country was thousands of miles away, the moment I arrived at the property Loredana made me feel at home. The overall feel, ambience was one of warmth and coziness despite this being a thousand year old castle! A great deal of effort and care had been given READ MORE

Castello di Pavone is a tremendously authentic, 4 star, castle hotel just outside Turin. Once a medieval hilltop fortress it commands tremendous views over the surrounding little village of Pavone Canavese, the surrounding mountains and the city of Turin. It has twenty seven very atmospheric romantic double or twin rooms and suites to choose from, all of which are enormously comfortable and filled with elegant period furnishings. Modern conveniences are here though too – satellite TV, WiFi, mini bar and air conditioning for example, but don’t seem to intrude very much on the sense of history of the place. The castle restaurant has a great reputation in the Turin area – it has won many awards. The food and service are impeccable and and you have a choice of various dining halls and rooms to appreciate them in, intimate frescoed rooms and large, grand halls.     READ MORE

Chateau de Chantore is a truly gorgeous 18th-century era Norman chateau B&B, with a view on the Mont-Saint-Michel, and surrounded by nearly fifty acres of peaceful woods and parkland which includes a lake. It has a selection of tremendously elegant rooms and suites that really are a treat for the eyes and, though modern with some touches, they are so in keeping with the historical fabric that you’d be forgiven for a waking dream that Louis XV is still on the throne. The eye for design, the attention to historic detail is very impressive indeed. There are no duvets for example – only traditional linens and wool blankets on the beds, and certainly no TVs, though there is WiFi. If you’re looking for a thoroughly authentic French chateau stay, but with the comfort levels of today, then this is it. REVIEWS: “Chateau de Chantore is a magical place! Everything about it is wonderful – the most beautiful grounds to walk and experience calm and peace – peacocks, swans and fish in the lake, beehives, horses, beautiful apple trees (organic cider!) and the most sumptuous breakfast you will ever experience. Thank you to our wonderful hosts….” “I truly felt like a READ MORE

The Alchymist, Prague Castle is a quite splendid boutique hotel set in a restored 15th century mansion house just below the castle and it offers a sense of history, culture and romance that few other hotels can match. Having just seven rooms and one suite to choose from the place also feels very exclusive and you will have more the feeling of staying at the home of some newly discovered royal relation than at a hotel. Thus it is well suited for longer stays. The staff at The Alchymist are consistently rated as among the very best hotel staff in the city, their warmth and personalized service enhancing greatly the homelike atmosphere, and you will have a private butler, a tour guide and a concierge at your disposal too. THE ACCOMMODATION: The seven rooms and one suite are spread over three floors of the building and all display much historical detail with some lavishly painted wooden ceilings and various antique and art pieces. The suite (titled the one bedroom apartment on the booking page) is open and bright and lies on the top floor with the original wooden ceiling beams still intact. It has a living room, a kitchen, one bedroom READ MORE