Castle. The word transports you to a fairytale realm of turrets and towers, of conniving stepmothers, beautiful princesses, Prince Charmings and happily-ever-afters. The forbidding stone structure sprawled amidst lush surroundings makes it both fascinating and mysterious. Who knows what lies within the stern facade — Shrek fighting Lord Farquaad or Robin Hood’s merry men locked up in the dungeons? Whatever it may be, there’s no denying the fact that a castle transports us to an intriguing realm limited only by our imagination.
Perhaps it’s time to indulge that imagination. Let it run wild through spiral staircases, hidden chambers, cobbled corridors, towers and dungeons. And if that’s too unruly for you, just sit back and relax, take in the beautiful surroundings, go for long walks or participate in some country games.
If you are planning a holiday in Europe, give the staid hotels a miss and stay in a castle instead.
Imagine driving across a moat, the creaking sound of huge iron gates opening into a cobbled courtyard, and then, just when you think you are in medieval Europe, a porter helps you with your luggage, a receptionist smiles at you and you are shown to your room, complete with modern amenities such as an LCD TV and Wi-Fi.
Take for instance the 15th century Thornbury Castle, near Bristol in England, which is the only Tudor castle to be converted into a hotel. The castle was once owned by Henry VIII; he and his wife Anne Boleyn stayed here for 10 days on their honeymoon. Complete with turrets, steep spiral stone staircases and oriel windows, it offers a combination of history and splendour, with beautiful walled gardens and vineyards. Dine in the dungeon that has been converted into a restaurant, or sleep in England’s largest four-poster bed, which measures some 10 feet across. For entertainment, there’s croquet, archery and falconry. If you prefer a cosier setting and the chance to interact with the owners, check out various castles that have been converted into B&Bs. Typically, the family stays in one part and one portion is let out. The 16th Century, pink Castle of Park in Cornhill, Scotland, voted as one of the best B&Bs in the U.K., is surrounded by 40 acres of grounds that boast waterfalls, orchards, ponds, a rhododendron tunnel and a rose garden. “It is our family home and we have given access to three of our nine bedrooms, as well as all the reception areas to paying guests as a way of subsidising the maintenance of the castle,” says Rebecca Campbell Wilson. Also on offer is a hearty Scottish breakfast. On the other hand, if you wish to live life king-size, you could rent an entire castle. This particularly makes sense if you are travelling in a large group. Your choice is only constrained by the size of your wallet. If the turrets in fairytales fascinate you, Walton Castle in South West England is the place for you. Each of the eight rooms is located within a turret.
The Irish castles are considered some of the most beautiful properties in all of Europe. Ashford Castle is set in 350 acres and dates back to 1228. Located on the banks of Lough Corrib, Ireland’s second-largest lake, it is 35 miles away from Galway. When you are not exploring the medieval building, you can participate in archery, clay pigeon shooting, go for a round of golf, fish in the lake or ride horses along the water. And if all that isn’t exciting enough, you can try your hand at falconry at the oldest school in Ireland. The hotel has hosted royalty and dignitaries alike — King George V, Ronald Reagan and Brad Pitt have stayed at the castle. The staterooms are located in the oldest part of the castle and boast of high ceilings, four-poster beds and pedestal claw baths. While mystery and history go hand-in-hand with castles, ghosts and haunted houses aren’t too far behind. The 16th Century Ballygally Castle located on Ireland’s Antrim Coast has a resident ghost called Lady Shaw, who apparently enjoys knocking on the doors of the guest bedrooms. Another ghost called Lady Nixon is often seen floating around in her silk dress. Cross the English Channel, and in France, you can stay in opulent chateaux hotels on the French Riviera or your own self-catered castles in Normandy. The 17th Century Chateau d’Etoges in Champagne, just one-and-a-half hours away from Paris is ideally situated to explore Reims and Epernay. Both Louis XIV and the unfortunate Louis XVI have stayed at the chateau, which sits imposingly in the middle of a 50-acre park, and is surrounded by a moat.
Across the border in Germany, you can stay in a true fairytale castle at the Castle Sababurg, renowned as the Sleeping Beauty Castle. The famous Brothers Grimm lived close by, in the city of Kassel, and used the surrounding countryside, forests and castles for many of their stories. Sababurg, with its surrounding thorn bushes, was probably what inspired Sleeping Beauty . Today, you can sleep in one of the 16 rooms, walk around in the castle garden, and even watch a play in the open-air stage in the inner court of the castle.
While staying in a castle is an experience in itself, and for most it’s a complete holiday, you may want to combine it with sightseeing or exploring places nearby. In which case, select a castle in close proximity to a city. “The bedroom and public areas as well as the history of the property are also important while selecting a castle hotel. You may want a room in which Henry VIII slept,” says Roger Masterson of Celtic Castles, a UK-based travel company that has 93 castles listed with it.
So this summer, go ahead and book yourself a castle holiday and touch a bit of history.
