If you're looking for a romantic vacation, then what better place to stay than in a castle? It's the stuff of legends. Who wouldn't want to peer out of a turret down to the moat or river below? Or take long walks in secluded woods? Once considered cold and draughty, canny developers and restoration experts have pulled out all the stops in castles around the world to ensure your vacation is filled with sumptuous suites, grand views and fantastic dining options. As a result, a holiday in a castle is now affordable for mere mortals, and not simply reserved for the nuptials of celebrities like Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes. Channel your inner princess or knight in shining armor at one of these castle hotels.
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UNITED
STATES
 New York
Castle on the Hudson
www.castleonthehudson.com
Although
the United States has never had official royalty, it
somehow managed to produce a few royal retreats. Paying
homage to the Norman fortifications of Wales, Scotland
and Ireland, this sprawling, medieval-style castle resides
on the Hudson River just half an hour out of Manhattan—in
fact, one of the dining rooms in its Equus restaurant
overlooks the New York City skyline. (Another dining
room was first owned by Louis XIV and brought to the
U.S. when the castle was built 125 years ago by the
son of a Civil War general.) While the swimming pool
feels a little Vegas à la the Excalibur, the
overall atmosphere is majestic. Rooms with wood-burning
fireplaces and turret alcoves are recommended.
Washington
Thornewood Castle
www.thornewoodcastle.com
When we think about Washington State, we think pioneers
and Native Americans. But industrialist Chester Thorne
had a different vision in the early 1900s when he had
a 400-year-old Elizabethan manor dismantled in England
and shipped to the Pacific Northwest to provide the
foundation for Thornewood Castle. The 27,000-square-foot
castle sits on the shores of American Lake south of
Seattle, surrounded by gardens designed by the Olmsted
brothers of New York City’s Central Park fame.
Musts when visiting: watching the snow fall through
stained glass panels dating back to the 1300s and exploring
the original wishbone sticks (to ward off evil spirits
and bring good fortune) hung around the perimeter of
the basement by the Native American workmen who helped
construct the castle.
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ENGLAND
West Sussex
Amberley Castle
www.amberleycastle.co.uk
Make your way to West Sussex for an idyllic getaway in the picturesque village of Amberley, and its major draw, Amberley Castle. The 14th-century stone castle is home to original medieval architecture, including a high curtain wall, a twin-tower gatehouse and a water gate. Landscaped gardens, a croquet lawn and tranquil lakes are all designed to allow you to indulge in a relaxing vacation. Climb the rope bridge to the thatched-roof tree house, play some tennis, enjoy a round of golf on the professional 18-hole course or simply hide away in your room on your four-poster bed and then take a soak in your personal Jacuzzi.
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FRANCE
Thouet Valley
Château de Saint-Loup
www.chateaudesaint-loup.com
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You know that a castle is the real deal when it comes complete with its own water-filled moat. Standing tall in the Thouet Valley in the southernmost part of the Loire Valley in the Poitou-Charentes region, the Chateau de Saint-Loup was built during the reign of Louis XII and is today owned by Count Charles-Henri de Bartillat. In keeping with its medieval origins, rooms feature four-poster beds and stained-glass windows. The grounds boast manicured gardens with an orangery, a flower garden, canal, pavilions, courtyards, 1,000 fruit trees and a vegetable garden dating back to the Middle Ages. Wander through the castle and check out the library music room, complete with piano, available to all guests. Sip cocktails in the sitting rooms and enjoy a feast in the grand dining room. If you can drag yourself into some 21st-century pursuits, you can choose from a variety of activities, including biking, fishing and even taking a hot air balloon ride over the Valley.
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HOLLAND
Maastricht
Château St. Gerlach
www.chateauhotels.nl
Rescued
from ruins, this pretty castle on the banks of the River
Geul received a posh $26 million makeover from hotelier
Camille Oostwegel. The transformation was stylish while
respecting the castle’s heritage, which dates
back to the 15th century. Enveloped by the Ingendael
Wildlife Preserve, the garden-dappled grounds also contain
an old farmhouse, convent, granary and Baroque church.
The lovely bedrooms are located in the farmhouse, the
convent operates as the estate’s museum and the
castle is home to Les Trois Corbeaux, well known for
its French cuisine. Also of note: the onsite Kneipp
Wellness Center, with an ornate Roman-style swimming
pool that is worth the trip alone.
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INDIA
Rajasthan
Taj
Lake Palace
www.tajhotels.com
This
lustrous white marble palace rises like a mirage from
the center of Lake Pichola in the city of Udaipur. You
arrive by motorized gondola and are immediately ensconced
in a kind of opulence unimaginable in today’s
Philippe Starck world. The palace was originally built
in 1740 as a summer retreat, a cool lake-top escape
from the city’s landlocked, main royal residence.
Romance is the defining characteristic here, from the
beautiful gardens and lily pond to bedrooms adorned
with silks and murals. With their opulent furnishings
and to-die-for terraces, some of the suites will take
your breath away. Neel Kamal restaurant pays tribute
to the local wood-fired cuisine of Rajasthan, and the
spa focuses on ancient Indian healing practices.
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MALTA
Mdina
Xara
Palace
www.xarapalace.com.mt
Among
this castle’s many significant attributes is the
fact that its walls are integrated into the walls that
make up the bastions of the fortified medieval city
of Mdina. Just a few steps from the main entrance into
the city, Xara Palace was built in the late 17th century
to house the noble Moscati Parisio family, and was inhabited
by the British during WWII—today it is once again
family owned, this time by the Zammit Tabonas, who are
responsible for its beautiful restoration. Because of
its historic setting, its rooftop terrace dining will
wow you. The bedrooms are decorated with period pieces
and original local and international artwork, and their
views range from the external courtyards to Vilhena
Palace.
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NAMIBIA
Windhoek
Hotel Heinitzburg
www.heinitzburg.com
There
are some parts of the world where you simply don’t
expect to find castles, and for us Namibia is one of
them. This is tented camp and Big Five territory, after
all. But it is also a land of romance, which was the
inspiration behind this intimate palace. It was built
by Count von Schwerin for his fiancée in 1914,
and its interiors are matched by its lovely views of
Windhoek and the surrounding Khomas Hochland mountains.
Accommodations are not as opulent as in most other castles
on this list, but they’re extremely tasteful.
The onsite restaurant serves game dishes and vintages
from the country’s largest private wine cellar.
Dramatic African sunsets and a vista of city lights
make this a perfect setting for evening cocktails.
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PORTUGAL
Lisbon
Lapa Palace
www.lapapalace.com
With its elegant, understated façade and dramatic
interiors, the Lapa Palace reflects the spirit of the
country it inhabits. It was built in 1870 by a viscount
for his son and then owned by the Count of Valenca who
decided to turn it into a palace. The décor also
offers a taste of national identity, with works by local
ceramist Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro and walls and ceilings
by portrait painter Columbano. While all of the rooms
are beautiful, those in the Palace Wing are preferred.
Its Noble Floor features original furnishings, and its
Tower Room is incredible, with an elevated walkway to
a tower terrace that feels as if it’s been set
adrift above the city. Cooking classes are offered,
but take note—they’re taught in Portuguese.
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SCOTLAND
Ayreshire
Glenapp Castle
www.glenappcastle.com
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Live out your ultimate fairytale fantasy in this Scottish castle on the Ayrshire coast, 100 miles southwest of Edinburgh. This Victorian mansion, built in 1870 and restored in 1994, is situated amidst 36 acres of gardens and woodland with spectacular views over the Irish Sea to the Island of Arran and its signature granite rock of Ailsa Craig. It’s also the hotel Winston Churchill stayed in in 1944 while hammering out the D-Day invasion plan with Dwight Eisenhower. You’ll stay in one of seventeen guest rooms which have been decorated with antiques bought at Sotheby’s by owners Fay and Graham Cowan. There's plenty to do here, from salmon and trout fishing to golf, mountain bike riding, bird watching and walking tours. Be sure to try chef Matt Weedon’s six-course tasting menu in one of the castle’s grand dining rooms. If you’re all about authenticity, then Glenapp Castle, with its sandstone battlements and soaring turrets and towers is the perfect place for your royal vacation.
 More Top Castle Hotels in the World
(Updated: 02/21/08 KH) |
