Castle hotels are a popular and distinctive lodging choice for visitors wanting a mix of history, elegance, and adventure. These hotels offer visitors the option to stay in a real-life Castle, customarily with original features and historical furniture, while enjoying the services. Constructed as medieval fortresses to protect empires from invaders, these magnificent castles were symbols of power and prestige in their prime.
Several castles have been converted into magnificent hotels in recent years while retaining their unique beauty and individuality.
To fulfill the demands of today’s discerning travellers, the restoration process requires a careful balance of retaining historical characteristics while adding modern amenities and services.
Best Castle Hotels in Europe
Apart from the experience of living in a majestic medieval structure built centuries ago, the location of Castle Hotels also adds to its uniqueness. Several castles are set in magnificent countryside, with gardens, lakes, and forests to explore.
Visitors can also engage in traditional activities like archery, falconry, and horseback riding or unwind in spa facilities that provide treatments made from locally derived materials.
Here’s a list of the 10 best Castle Hotels in Europe where you can stay:
1. Hotel de la Cite, Carcassonne, France
Hotel de la Cite is a medieval hotel in the southern French-walled city of Carcassonne. The hotel is located within the walls of Carcassonne, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The hotel was built in the latter part of the 1800s as a stopover for people visiting the region. It was transformed into a hotel in 1909 and has greeted tourists ever since. The hotel has been refurbished and enlarged throughout the years, yet it has retained its original charm and character.
The hotel includes 60 rooms and suites, with breathtaking views of the Cite’s castle walls, towers, and roofs. A Michelin-starred restaurant, a bar, a spa, and a swimming pool are all available at the hotel.
The hotel is well-known for its excellent service and attention to detail. Throughout their stay, guests are given a warm welcome and customized attention. La Barbacane, the hotel’s Michelin-starred restaurant, is known for its inventive food and vast wine selection.
2. Swinton Estate, Masham, England
Swinton Estate is a historically significant estate near Masham, North Yorkshire, England. The Cunliffe-Listers family has governed the estate since the 1880s, and it has a long history extending back to the Norman Conquest.
The estate is home to various species, including deer, grouse, and pheasants, and spans 20,000 acres of undulating hills, woodlands, and farms. Swinton Park, a historical mansion turned into a luxury hotel, is also part of the estate.
Swinton Park provides a variety of services and activities to visitors, including exquisite cuisine at the hotel restaurant, a spa, and outdoor sports like falconry, fishing, and shooting. The hotel’s 31 rooms and suites are each uniquely furnished and provide breathtaking views of the surrounding countryside.
One of the unique features of Swinton Estate is its commitment to sustainability. The estate houses a working farm, and the hotel’s restaurant only serves locally sourced seasonal produce. Swinton Estate provides an exquisite and ecological way to enjoy the beauty and history of the English countryside.
3. Hotel Schloss Thannegg, Grobmig, Austria
Located in Grobmig, Austria, the castle was initially erected as a fortress to defend the region against invaders in the 12th century. It has now been turned into a magnificent hotel, providing visitors with the unique experience of staying in a medieval castle.
The majestic castle has been owned by the same family for over 300 years and was converted into a hotel in the 1960s. It has now been refurbished and modernised with modern conveniences while retaining its original beauty and character.
One of Hotel Schloss Thannegg’s unique features is its stunning gardens and parks, which provide a calm location for guests to unwind and appreciate the surrounding area’s natural beauty. In addition, the hotel includes a restaurant that provides traditional Austrian cuisine created from fresh, locally sourced ingredients.
Staying at Hotel Schloss Thannegg provides a once-in-a-lifetime chance to experience history and comfort in a breathtaking natural environment.
4. Castel Porrona, Tuscany, Italy
Castel Porrona is a small town in the Tuscany region of Italy. The medieval castle dates back to the 12th century and is the town’s main attraction.
The castle has been renovated multiple times and is now a magnificent hotel that attracts visitors worldwide.
The Aldobrandeschi family, feudal rulers in the region, first constructed it. The fortress was ideally positioned on a mountaintop overlooking the surrounding area, allowing the Aldobrandeschi family to defend themselves against intruders.
The castle changed hands multiple times over the ages until being abandoned in the nineteenth century. The castle was acquired in the twentieth century by a wealthy Italian businessman who repaired it and turned it into a luxury hotel.
Castle Porrona is well-known for its distinctive amenities, which include a spa, a swimming pool, and a restaurant. Cooking courses, wine tastings, and guided excursions to the local area are also available at the hotel. The medieval architecture and rich history of the castle make it a one-of-a-kind and fascinating location to stay.
5. Balfour Castles, Orkney Islands, Scotland
Located on Shapinsay island in the Orkney Islands off the coast of Scotland, the Balfour family, wealthy proprietors in the region, erected the castle in the mid-nineteenth century.
Before, the Balfour family possessed another castle on the island, but a fire destroyed it in 1846. They chose to build a new castle on the location of the previous one, and Balfour Castle was finished in 1848. Edinburgh architect David Bryce created the castle, which is recognised for its unusual Gothic architecture.
The castle is well-known for its stunning setting and one-of-a-kind facilities. The castle’s lovely grounds, which include a walled garden, a rose garden, and a Japanese garden, are open to visitors. The property also has a private beach and a tennis court.
Guests can stay in one of the castle’s nine deluxe bedrooms, individually designed with ancient antiques and modern facilities. The castle also has a dining room, a bar, and a lounge area where guests may relax and enjoy the unique ambience of the castle.
6. Obidos Castle, Obidos, Portugal
Obidos Castle is a medieval castle in the town of Obidos, in the central-western region of Portugal. In the 12th century, the Moors built the castle as a bastion to protect the town from invading invaders.
In the 13th century, Christian soldiers led by King Afonso III captured Obidos Castle, which became a royal fortress. Throughout the Middle Ages, the castle was a home for Portuguese queens and a military bastion.
Staying at Obidos Castle is a one-of-a-kind and unforgettable experience. The castle has been transformed into a luxury hotel with 17 rooms and suites designed in classic Portuguese style. Each room is uniquely decorated, with antique antiques and contemporary comforts.
Visitors at Obidos Castle may use the castle’s distinctive amenities, including a swimming pool, a spa, and a restaurant serving traditional Portuguese cuisine. The castle’s location within the walls of Obidos also allows tourists convenient access to the town’s historic sights, shops, and restaurants.
7. Hostel Heemskerk, Heemskerk, Netherlands
If you want to live in a castle without emptying your pockets, Hostel Heemskerk in the Netherlands is the place for you. The hostel is built in a historic structure once used as a school in the 18th century.
In the 1990s, the structure was rebuilt and transformed into a hostel, and it has since become a popular destination for backpackers and budget visitors. The hostel can accommodate up to 60 visitors at a time and offers private rooms and dormitory-style accommodations.
Hostel Heemskerk is well-known for its cheerful and friendly ambience, as well as its distinctive amenities. There is a spacious common space where visitors may interact and relax, as well as a fully equipped kitchen where they can make their meals. The hostel also features a garden and an outside patio where guests may relax and enjoy the weather.
The location of Hostel Heemskerk is one of its distinguishing features. The hostel is in the center of Heemskerk, recognised for its historical attractions such as the Castle of Heemskerk, a medieval fortress dating back to the 13th century. The hostel’s guests have easy access to the town’s historical monuments, shops, restaurants, and cafés.
8. Chateau de Chantore, Bacilly, Normandy, France
Château de Chantore is a medieval castle in the Normandy region of France, located in the commune of Bacilly. The castle was erected in the 18th century by the Marquis de Champs, a wealthy landowner. The castle has been used for several reasons, including a family residence, a hospital during WWII, and a school. The present owners bought the castle in 1987 and restored it to its former magnificence.
Château de Chantore is now a luxurious bed & breakfast where visitors can experience the castle’s history, beauty, and surroundings.
Visitors staying at Château de Chantore can choose from one of the castle’s five large guest rooms, all designed in a typical French manner and offering antique furnishings and modern facilities. The castle also has a dining room, a lounge area, and a library where guests may relax and enjoy the unique ambience of the castle.
Staying at Château de Chantore is an excellent chance to immerse yourself in the beauty and history of Normandy.
The castle is set in a peaceful town surrounded by beautiful scenery, just a short drive from the ancient city of Bayeux.
9. Witchery by the Castle, Edinburgh, Scotland
In Edinburgh, Scotland, the Witchery near the Castle is a medieval hotel. The hotel is built in a 16th-century structure initially used as a guest house for the staff of Edinburgh Castle, which lies nearby.
The structure has a fascinating history and is said to be haunted by the ghosts of prior tenants. The Hellfire Club, a secret club known for its wild parties and immorality, utilised the property as a meeting place in the 17th century.
Witchery by the Castle is already well-known for its unique features and beautiful lodgings. The hotel has nine specially designed Gothic-style suites with antique furnishings, rich fabrics, and elegant finishes. The suites are named after historical figures such as Lady Macbeth, the Witchery, and the Laird’s Lug.
In addition, the hotel has a restaurant serving traditional Scottish food in a beautiful and evocative environment. The restaurant is famous for its extravagant cuisine, which includes roasted saddle of lamb, haggis with neeps and tatties, and Scottish smoked salmon.
10. Burg Wernberg, Germany
Burg Wernberg is a medieval castle in Wernberg-Köblitz, Bavaria’s Upper Palatinate area. The castle was built in the 12th century and has served as a dwelling for noble families, a hospital for the needy, and a jail.
Burg Wernberg was transformed into a Renaissance mansion in the 16th century by the noble family of the Counts von Pappenheim. The castle was heavily destroyed and fell into disrepair during the Thirty Years’ War in the 17th century. It was finally abandoned and sat idle for more than 200 years.
Burg Wernberg is now a luxury hotel and restaurant known for its superb dining and one-of-a-kind features. The castle has 32 distinctively furnished rooms and suites with ancient antiques and contemporary facilities. Visitors may enjoy breathtaking views of the surrounding Bavarian landscape from the castle’s towers and walls.
Burg Wernberg is also home to the Kastell, a Michelin-starred restaurant recognised for its inventive cuisine and use of local products. The castle’s wine cellar has approximately 500 fine wines, many obtained from surrounding Franconian vineyards.
Conclusion
Finally, castle hotels provide travellers looking for a one-of-a-kind accommodation experience with a unique combination of history, elegance, and adventure. European castles have been converted into spectacular hotels that provide contemporary facilities and services while keeping their original beauty and character. The hotels are usually in attractive countryside locations with gardens, lakes, and forests to explore. Traditional sports like archery, falconry, and horseback riding, as are spa treatments from locally sourced ingredients, are available to visitors.
