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DENMARK
Funen
Hvedholm Slot
Built in 1570 and lavishly renovated in the nineteenth century by Count Bille Brahe Selby, Hvedholm Castle...Read the full review.
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FRANCE
Thouet Valley
Château de Saint-Loup
Surrounded by its own water-filled moat in the southernmost part of the Loire Valley, the Château de Saint-Loup...Read the full review.
This
sixteenth-century castle has the distinction of being built
by the Stuarts of Scotland. It enjoys a bucolic lakefront
setting surrounded by woodland, between the Sancerre
vineyards and Loire Valley castles on the Route Jacques
Coeur. All of the rooms are elegant, but we suggest
requesting one that faces the lake. Focusing on regional
market produce, meals are served in La Maison d'Hélène,
a half-timbered, seventeenth-century cottage that offers shaded
terrace dining in season. There is also a lovely chapel
and gentrified pursuits such as horseback riding, fishing,
shooting and hunting. The highlight: history coming
to life over drinks with the owners, Comte and Comtesse
Antoine de Vogüé.
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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 fifteenth 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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IRELAND
Cong, County Mayo
Ashford Castle
www.ashford.ie
If you're looking for an exceptional place to say "I do" (Pierce Brosnan tied the knot here in 2001), Ashford Castle is one of Ireland's most romantic escapes. This 350-acre lakeside destination, built in the thirteenth century as a crenellated castle, has also served as the former home of the Guinness family and a fishing and hunting lodge in the nineteenth century. The "horse and hound" spirit is still very much alive here, and guests will enjoy activities such as lessons in falconry, archery and clay shooting, golf and fishing on Ireland's second largest lake, and dining options that include private medieval banquets.
County Limerick
Glin
Castle
*Note: This property is no longer available for overnight stays. It is only available for exclusive rentals and private bookings.
Ireland
has no dearth of castles, and choosing just one was
difficult. There are castles with golf courses, castles
with spas, even castles with state-of-the-art conference
centers. But we decided to eschew the bells and whistles
for what we feel is the most important aspect of a castle
stay: character. We're talking about both atmosphere
and inhabitants. A visit here means mingling with the
29th Knight of Glin and his wife, Madame FitzGerald,
in a beautiful setting overlooking the River Shannon.
The drawing room offers views of a croquet lawn, and
the dining room table is presided over by ancestral
portraits. Meals are a highlight, incorporating freshly
caught fish, locally reared beef and lamb, and veggies
and fruit grown in the walled organic garden.
Waterford
Waterford Castle Hotel & Golf Resort
This exquisite property is situated among woodlands on a private 310-acre island on the River Suir. Although the...Read the full review.
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ITALY
Venice
The Gritti Palace
www.starwoodhotels.com
Certainly
the best known of the regal retreats on this list, this
intimate palazzo has long been a favorite with royalty,
heads of state and film stars. Most notably, both Ernest
Hemingway and Somerset Maugham made this their Venetian
home away from home. The palace was built in 1525 as
the residence for the Doge of Venice, and you can get
a taste of the old magistrate's lifestyle in the
luxe Doge Suite. The gorgeous guestrooms inspire sighs,
but even more impressive is the setting on the Grand
Canal. The legendary waterway makes a stunning backdrop
for terrace dining and lounging on the balconies in
the spacious, much recommended corner rooms.
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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
Olissippo Lapa Palace
With its elegant, understated façade and dramatic interiors, the Olissippo Lapa Palace reflects the spirit of the country...Read the full review.
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SCOTLAND
Ayreshire
Glenapp Castle
Live out your ultimate fairytale fantasy in this Scottish castle on the Ayrshire coast, 100 miles southwest of Edinburgh...Read the full review.
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SPAIN
Cuenca
Parador de Alarcon
Situated in the ancient village of Alarcon above the Jucar River, Parador de Alarcon is a spectacular eighth-century...Read the full review.
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UNITED
STATES
Lakewood, Washington
Thornewood Castle
Dismantled in England and shipped to the Pacific Northwest, this 400-year-old Elizabethan manor sits on the shores of...Read the full review.
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.
(Updated: 02/11/13 CT) |
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