Boasting ancient architecture and carefully preserved interiors, well-maintained castles are some of the world’s greatest examples of grandeur in design. So it makes sense that hoteliers around the world would jump at the chance to convert a castle into a vacation destination. Boasting exquisite gardens, sprawling estates, and history around every corner, these 20 magnificent edifices have been transformed into accommodations suitable for the present-day traveler. From the top-notch ambience found within the walls of Germany’s Burg Wernberg hotel to the former ancestral home of Ireland’s Kings of Thomond at Dromoland Castle, this roundup of the world’s most breathtaking castle hotels will have you feeling downright royal. Whether you’re a history buff looking to be transported back centuries or a garden lover interested in walking amid the designs of legends such as Gertrude Jekyll, these properties around the world will make for an incredible, enriching vacation. Next time you want to be treated like a king or queen, look no further than these castle hotels that take the crown when it comes to luxury.
Château Herálec, Czech Republic
Photo: Courtesy of Chateau Herálec Archive
Chateau Herálec, Czech Republic
Set in a Bohemian castle with walls dating back to the 13th century, Château Herálec transports travelers back in time. Elegant murals enhance the ceilings and walls, and the English Park surrounds the property. Over the years, the castle has served as the home of noble families and later housed a textile school and boarding school for children with disabilities. The Kasper family purchased it in 2004 and, following a two-and-a-half-year renovation, gave it a new lease on life as a hotel. Guests can explore the natural beauty of the Czech Highlands, swim in the vaulted indoor pool, or relax at the L’Occitane spa.
Althoff Grandhotel Schloss Bensberg, Germany
Photo: Courtesy of Althoff Hotels
Althoff Grandhotel Schloss Bensberg, Germany
Prince-elector Johann Wilhelm II of Duesseldorf drew inspiration from Versailles and Winchester Castle when he set out to build a grand home in the Cologne countryside where he could spend the rest of his days. While Wilhelm never got to enjoy the finished castle, visitors to Althoff Grandhotel Schloss Bensberg can experience the splendor he’d imagined. The Baroque-style hunting lodge’s accommodations include 77 hotel rooms and 34 suites, and travelers can enjoy three restaurants, including the two-Michelin-starred Restaurant Vendôme.
Glenapp Castle, Scotland
Glenapp Castle, Scotland
At Scotland’s Glenapp Castle, Victorian grandeur is alive and well. The Scottish Baronial castle was built by industrialist James Hunter, who commissioned the design from architect David Bryce in 1870. Bryce combined Gothic and Renaissance elements in the estate’s regal design, accentuating the exterior with turrets, towers, and battlements. The Relais & Chateaux property’s grounds are equally spectacular and include an Italian garden designed by the legendary early-20th-century designer Gertrude Jekyll.
Fairmont Frontenac, Canada
Photo: Fairmont Frontenac
Fairmont Frontenac, Quebec, Canada
When the president of the Canadian Pacific Railway opened the château in 1893 to lure the world’s crème de la crème to Quebec, he wanted it to be an icon. He succeed: Frontenac Quebec is currently the most photographed hotel in the world. From the Prohibition era, when Americans would visit to drink, to Wold War II, when Winston Churchill and Franklin D. Roosevelt made strategies for Allied campaigns, the hotel has quite a few anecdotes attached. Now a Fairmont property, this Châteauesque hotel combines Gothic Revival and Beaux Arts architecture. The huge 611-room property has a spa, several restaurants, and views of the St. Lawrence River and the city’s Old Town.
Amberley Castle, England
Photo: Courtesy of Amberley Castle
Amberley Castle, England
Steeped in 900 years of British history, this West Sussex landmark features 19 bedrooms, each named after one of the county’s castles. Located less than 60 miles from London, the hotel is surrounded by a 60-foot-high stone wall that makes it easy for guests to forget the outside world and fully embrace the 12-acre grounds and ancient gardens.
Ashford Castle, Ireland
Photo: Courtesy of Ashford Castle
Ashford Castle, Ireland
Recently inducted into the Red Carnation Hotel Collection, this five-star castle is set on 350 acres along the shores of Ireland’s Lough Corrib. Boasting decor from the 13th century, the 83 rooms of this opulent hotel offer an unprecedented combination of luxury and Irish hospitality.
Cliveden House, England
Photo: Courtesy of Cliveden House
Cliveden House, England
This award-winning hotel, located in the heart of Berkshire, has been hosting England’s elite for more than 350 years. Sitting on over 376 acres of lush landscape, this 17th-century wonder exudes opulence with elegant suites, plush decor, and decadent antique furnishings.
Burg Wernberg, Germany
Photo: Courtesy of Burg Wernberg
Burg Wernberg, Germany
Located near Munich, this world-class residence features a gourmet restaurant helmed by two-Michelin-starred chef Thomas Kellermann, as well as a 12th-century dining experience suited for royalty. Sweeping views of the Bavarian countryside can also be seen from the peak of this hilltop estate.
Dromoland Castle, Ireland
Photo: Courtesy of Dromoland Castle
Dromoland Castle, Ireland
Embellished with stunning antique chandeliers and grand staircases, this renowned hotel was once home to the O’Briens of Dromoland, known throughout Ireland as the Kings of Thomond. Settled on 400 acres, the 16th-century monument offers an 18-hole golf course, as well as archery and falconry classes.
Fenton Tower, Scotland
Photo: Courtesy of Fenton Tower
Fenton Tower, Scotland
Boasting panoramic views, this 16th-century castle just 18 miles east of Edinburgh is settled among some of the country’s most famous golf courses, including Muirfield, Gullane, and North Berwick, and has hosted such distinguished visitors as King James VI. With a 12-guest limit, the magnificently restored tower is as exclusive as it is charming.
Thornbury Castle, England
Photo: Thornbury Castle/Relais & Châteaux
Thornbry Castle, Gloucestershire, England
King Henry VIII didn’t take it lightly when Edward Stafford, the duke of Buckingham, wanted to display his wealth and ambition by making Thornbury his home. Soon after Stafford was convicted of treason, the king acquired the castle and turned it into his retreat instead. Built in 1511 on a 15-acre sprawl in Gloucestershire, the Tudor castle is now a Relais & Chateaux property with much remaining from the original structure. For some extra royal extravagance, book the King Henry suite and make sure to visit the Privy Garden and Labyrinth for two refined takes on classic Tudor gardens.
Manoir de Lebioles, Belgium
Photo: Manoir de Lebioles
Manoir de Lebioles, Spa, Belgium
At the Manoir de Lebioles, fascination with the architecture of the Palace of Versailles in France transcends. The beautiful 18th-century hotel certainly qualifies for a mini Versailles of the Ardennes. The castle is a fully authenticated masterpiece, blending classical Renaissance elements, such as columns, pilasters, pediments, arches, and stringcourses, with modern state-of-the-art facilities. Try the hotel’s spa that fuses earth, water, air, and fire in its treatments for holistic wellness.
Alila, India
Photo: Alila Fort Bishangarh/Hyatt
Alila Fort Bishangarh, India
This 233-year-old pale ochre citadel rises out of a single-cut granite rock from the oldest mountain range in the world—the Aravallis. It’s one of those lofty places where you peer down on the little houses of the village and start to feel like a king. The larger bulbs are transformed into suites, while Jarokha windows conceal the lounging corner. The amenities are encountered amidst the windowless boulder-strewn corridors and terraced lookouts. Here, you can retreat into the sleek darkness of the bar that was once used to address the army before the onset of war, or you can read a book in the war strategy room where coups have been quietly hatched. Now it is a quintessential Hyatt and Alila property.
Photo: Courtesy of Adare Manor/Jack Hardy
Adare Manor, Ireland
In 1832, Windham Henry Quin, the 2nd Earl of Dunraven, and his wife, Lady Caroline, began the 28-year process of building a castle in Limerick, Ireland, to rival the great homes of Europe. The grand home features Gothic Revival elements and is a Calendar House with 365 windows, 52 chimneys, 7 stone pillars, and 4 towers. Adare Manor remained in the family until 1981, and in 1988 it became a hotel. The 840-acre grounds are rich with history, from gardens designed by famed architect PC Hardwick to inscribed Ogham Stones from the early-5th to mid-7th century.
Castello Di Vicarello, Italy
Photo: Castello Di Vicarello
Castello Di Vicarello, Maremma, Italy
Castello Di Vicarello is for people who wish to be whisked away to rolling hills and olive groves without leaving behind modern-day luxuries. The 12th-century castle has ancient Italian country architecture—such as exposed stone and brick walls, arched doors and timber roofs—complemented by a tasteful mélange of antique and modern furniture. All of this accompanies an oriental touch, which stems from the owner’s years spent in Indonesia.
Burghotel auf Schönburg, Germany
Photo: Burghotel auf Schönburg
Burghotel auf Schönburg, Oberwesel, Germany
If you’re in Germany, you’re bound to encounter a castle, but only some, like Schonburg Castle, are available to spend the night in. Now restored as a luxury hotel, the structure’s Romanesque and Gothic architecture still shines. While here, stroll through the town’s charming streets, visit the local museums, or take a river cruise on the Rhine.
Parador de Granada, Spain
Photo: Parador de Granada
Parador de Granada, Granada, Spain
Parador is a network of historic Spanish properties that the government manages due to their cultural value, and the Parador de Granada is one of the most impressive properties in the portfolio. The building has evolved from a 14th-century fortress to a Moorish mansion then a Franciscan convent and now a luxury hotel. Inside, the hotel has preserved Arab baths with star-shaped skylights, vaulted ceilings, and arches. The gardens of Parador are also a testament to ancient hydraulic engineering that uses snowmelt from nearby mountains for irrigation.
Thornewood Castle, USA
Photo: Thornewood Castle
Thornewood Castle, Washington, USA
Though it’s now in the States, Thornewood castle was initially a 400-year-old Elizabethan manor in England. In 1908 it was sold to an American who had the daunting task of dismantling and shipping it block by block from England, then reassembling it on the West Coast of the USA. Renowned architect Kirtland Kelsey Cutter oversaw the construction of this English Tudor/Gothic mansion. The property is dotted with 15th- and 17th-century hand-painted glass artwork and a unique Kingsdale Hounds statuary collection. Thornewood Castle has also been a popular location for films and photo shoots.
Castello Reschio, Italy
Photo: Courtesy of Reschio
Castello Reschio, Italy
Following in the footsteps of his father, Count Benedikt Bolza painstakingly restored an ancient castle into a stunning 36-room hotel, Castello Reschio. The castle, which dates back to 1050, is set in the rolling hills of Umbria on the Reschio Estate, a 1,500-hectare property complete with historic houses, stables with purebred Spanish horses, and a farm. While the architectural details are firmly rooted in the past, the interiors are filled with modern comforts and contemporary accents that nod to the castle’s past occupants.
Château de Bagnols, France
Photo: Courtesy of Château de Bagnols
Château de Bagnols, France
The beautiful Beaujolais region of France is home to Château de Bagnol, a storybook castle that was built by Guichard d’Oingt beginning in 1217. Numerous families and owners have made their mark on the chateau during its over 800 year history, including by its current owner, Jean-Claude Lavorel, who added modern luxuries such as a spa, contemporary suites, and a glass roof over the inner courtyard. The Relais & Chateau property’s most exquisite accommodations, the Chateau Suites, are filled with period furniture and decor and boast elegant murals and marble bathrooms.
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Photo: Courtesy of Adare Manor/Jack Hardy
Photo: Courtesy of Adare Manor/Jack Hardy
