When I think of castles, I think of gallant knights, beautiful princesses, grandeur and untold wealth. I also imagine what it would have been like to live in one. Getting a glimpse into life from a time gone by is possible thanks to these 12 beautiful castle hotels:
Neemrana Fort Palace, Rajasthan, India
This list kicks off with a wildcard entry – this is a 10-story, 15th Century fort-palace located in the Indian state of Rajasthan. Spread over three acres, this beautiful hotel is built in a horseshoe shape into a hillside on the Delhi-Jaipur highway. The Aravalli mountain range can be seen from the hotel.
Pousada de Óbidos, Obidos, Portugal
Lying within the city walls of Obidos, this castle is now one of Portugal’s finest hotels. Think well ahead if you’re planning on staying here though – the hotel only has nine rooms, including one in the tower pictured above.
Swinton Park, Yorkshire, England
Swinton Park is an ancestral home that has been transformed into a castle hotel. It’s complete with turrets, long, echoing corridors and grand staircases. All the rooms are individually decorated so you can enjoy fine English country living tailored to your needs.
Castello delle Quattro Torra, Tuscany, Italy
This castle is located on the outskirts of Siena, in the Tuscan region of Italy. It’s over 800 years old and was initially constructed as a private residence. It’s strategic location turned out to be of militarily importance, and it was later converted into a fortress. It’s now a private residence once again, with the rooms and suites inside its walls available for you to stay in.
Château de Bagnols, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France
Located in the rolling French countryside, this beautiful chateau has all the quintessential features of a castle, such as a moat, drawbridge and towers. In its modern configuration, it’s a lavishly-decorated five-star hotel containing rooms adorned with antiques and works of art.
Château Frontenac, Quebec, Caanada
This is a castle-like hotel rather than a castle hotel, but it’s fully deserving of its spot on this list – it’s widely considered to be the most photographed hotel in the world. It features more than 600 rooms spread across 18 floors, and dates back to the 19th Century.