Castle Hotels Worth the Trip

Spending the night in a building that predates your country is a particular kind of pleasure. A list of castle stays our editors keep returning to, sorted from grand and obvious to small and surprising.

Ireland

Ashford Castle, County Mayo

13th-century castle on Lough Corrib. Falconry school on site, a butler if you want one, and walking trails through 350 acres of estate.

Ballyfin, County Laois

A Regency house rather than a castle, but in the same conversation. 20 rooms, all of which feel slightly too good for you.

Scotland

Glenapp Castle, Ayrshire

On the southwest coast looking towards Ailsa Craig. Old-fashioned in the best sense, with a kitchen that takes itself seriously.

France

Château de Bagnols, Beaujolais

13th-century castle in the wine country north of Lyon, with Renaissance frescoes uncovered during restoration and a heated swimming pool tucked into the old moat.

Château de Mercuès, Lot

Above the Lot river. The Vigouroux family runs the hotel and the winery on the same hill.

Italy

Castello di Reschio, Umbria

Recent conversion of a 1,000-year-old hilltop estate. The bath house cut into the hillside is the most beautiful thing on the property.

Castello di Velona, Tuscany

11th-century castle above the Orcia valley, with a thermal spa using local sulphur springs.

Spain and Portugal

Parador de Cardona, Catalonia

9th-century fortress on a hill 90 minutes north of Barcelona. State-run hotel and very fairly priced.

Pousada de Óbidos, Portugal

Inside the walls of one of the prettiest small towns in Portugal.

Central Europe

Schloss Elmau, Germany

Bavarian Alps, with a strong literary tradition (concerts and writers in residence) and an enormous wellness floor.

Schloss Mittersill, Austria

Hohe Tauern park on the doorstep, falconry in the courtyard, and the kind of Alpine views that justify the steep drive.

Borgo Pignano, Tuscany

Not technically a castle, but a 14th-century estate worth bending the category for.