Best Former Castle Hotels in the World

Former Castle Accommodation

The 900-year-old castle is enclosed in a 60-foot high wall. Behind its walls visitors will discover landscaped gardens and an excellent atmosphere of tranquility. The 19 rooms of the hotel maintain the historic character of the castle, while also offering a luxurious environment.

Former Castle Hotel

The Castle has a 500 year history and behind its walls visitors can admire the carved stone and wood paneled Hall and the original tapestries. The decor of the 19 elegant bedrooms reflects the atmosphere of the castle as it used to be some hundred years ago, offering gracious yet modern comforts.

Former Castle Hotel

Zamek Reszel Kreativ Hotel is a 14th century former brick castle that had been converted into a prison in 1795. However, it was completely destroyed after the big fires of 1806 and 1807. In 1822 there had been some repair works and in the years 1976-1985 the castle had been converted into a place for art workshops and galleries. Since 2001, after the last restoration, the castle houses a hotel with a restaurant, an art gallery and a museum.

Former Castle Accommodation

Oheka Castle was built almost a century ago by the financier and philanthropist Otto Hermann Kahn for an estimated cost of $11 million ($110 million in today’s currency). During the Gilded Age of the 1920s, Kahn used the 127-room estate as a summer home where he hosted lavish parties. Heads of state and Hollywood stars have been among the people invited. After the death of Otto Kahn in 1934, the estate changed hands several times. It used to serve as a retreat for New York sanitation workers and a government training school for Merchant Marine radio operators. In 1948, the Eastern Military Academy bought Oheka but the school went bankrupt 30 years later. In 1984, developer Gary Melius purchased Oheka and the surrounding 23 acres and began restoring the Castle to its original grandeur. Today, after $30 million spent in restoration, Oheka is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a member of Historic Hotels of America.

Former Castle Accommodation

This impressive castle was built in the 12th century and it was protected by the medieval ramparts of Marrakesh. During the 18th century, the beautiful gardens which adorn the establishment were given to Prince Al Mamoun as a wedding gift and have been an inseparable part of the castle ever since. The castle's prestigious past and rich Arabic-Andalusian culture are reflected through all its colors, shapes and materials. From 1923 until today, it houses guests from all over the world as well as many famous people.

Former Castle Hotel

The castle boasts 27 rooms and suites, all of high standard and comfort, decorated in various and traditional ways. It was built in the 13th century and most of its features date from the 18th century. After changing many owners, it came to the possession of Henri de Jouvenel, a journalist and politician who was married to the famous French novelist Colette. She was so inspired by the atmosphere of the castle that she wrote several of her novels there.

Former Castle Accommodation

The castle's story starts in 1840 when John Tollemache inherited 36.000 acres of land that included the villages of Peckforton and Beeston. Since then, the castle was used during World War II as a hostel for physically disabled children evacuated from London. Over the years, Peckforton Castle has been the ideal place for making movies. In 1989 the castle was transformed into a venue for business conferences and wedding receptions. In 2006, the Naylor family took ownership.

Former Castle Hotel

Parador de Alarcón is an 8th century castle, positioned next to the Júcar River. The stone castle has original wood beams and traditional furnishings. It overlooks Alarcón, one of the loveliest villages of Spain that has been declared an area of artistic and historical importance thanks to its beauty and harmony.

Former Castle Hotel

The original structure is said to have been built some time during the 17th century and after the end of the Ottoman era in 1821, the local owner, Ibrahim Bey, ceded the property to the Ritsos and Kapetsini families. Lina Kapetsini lived in the mansion until the late 1970s and after her death the property fell into disrepair. In 2006, the mansion was restored and became a boutique hotel in 2010. The Ottoman features of the building, such as the large chimney and fireplaces, are still evident today, fused with Byzantine and Venetian elements.

Former Castle Hotel

The hotel is a member of Châteaux & Hôtels Collection. Its spacious apartments and rooms have a name of a character that illustrates the history of Touraine or the Castle.

Former Castle Hotel

The history of La Suvera dates back to the High Middle Ages, when the castle was owned by the Lordship of Siena. In the 16th century, the Suvera was donated to Pope Julius II of Siena, who entrusted the architect Baldassarre Peruzzi with the transformation of the castle into a Renaissance Villa. La Suvera was passed down to the Della Rovere family and later to the Sienese Bankers Chigi. Through marriage, inheritance and acquisitions, the current owners are the family of the Marquis Ricci who have turned their home into an impressive country estate.

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For a real local experience, the hotel provides guided heritage walks, cultural shows and astrology sessions. Leisure facilities include a hot/cold spa pool and a 24-hour fitness centre.

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Former Castle Hotel

Set just outside the entrance to Mdina's historic centre, the hotel offers its visitors quiet accommodation with breath-taking views over Malta. Interiors feature antique furniture and original paintings in combination with the latest modern amenities.

Former Castle Hotel

The story of the Castle begins shortly before the end of the 20th century, when General Howard Carroll, a well-respected newspaperman who used to work for The New York Times as the Washington D.C. correspondent, playwright and businessman, bought the land in order to build a home for his family. After General Carroll’s death in 1916, his widow and two children stayed at the Castle until 1940, when it was rented for a short period to a local school. In 1941, Emerson and Ruth Axe bought the Castle and 64 acres of land at the price of $45,000 and turned it into an investment counseling firm. In 1981, the town of Tarrytown designated τhe Castle a historic landmark, protecting the outside structure from any future alterations. Between 1994 and 1996 the Castle was transformed into a luxury hotel, whereas in early 2013, the Castle Hotel & Spa underwent a thorough renovation.

Former Castle Accommodation

The luxurious, historic castle hotel Schloss Igls offers a private indoor pool and enjoys a stunning location on the Igls Plateau.

Former Castle Hotel

The Witchery was established by James Thomson, one of the most famous restaurant owners in Scotland, at a historic building at the gates of Edinburgh Castle. It takes its name from the hundreds of women burned at the stake as witches on Castlehill during the 16th and 17th centuries. The Witchery occupies a substantial 16th century building, Boswell’s Court, named after a former resident, James Boswell. With its antique-filled suites secreted within dreamy 16th-century building, guests are swept into an opulent, Gothic fantasy.

Former Castle Hotel

The establishment was built in the 12th century as a Cistercian abbey and for many years it was home to many monks who occupied Burgundy at the time. Throughout the centuries, the abbey suffered many destructions and renovations, during which the monks were forced to leave its premises. In the 19th century, the Baron d’Oissel renovated the abbey once more, this time giving its buildings a neo-gothic style, closer to what it looks like today. After being used as a place for spiritual retreat for many decades, in 2005 it was sold to an English couple who decided to turn it into a hotel.

Former Castle Hotel

The hotel is located in Vila de Óbidos and is considered to be one of the 7 wonders of Portugal. The Pousada has great historical importance and some of its medieval features are dated as far back as the 9th century. The castle was given as a gift from King D. Dinis to Queen Santa Isabel for her wedding, which also took place in the establishment, and is one of the most impressive wedding sites until today.

Former Castle Hotel

Hôtel de La Cité was initially built in 1909 and its premises were extended in 1913 and 1927. In the 1920s, it became a stop-over for those travelling between Nice and Biarritz or between Biarritz and Barcelona. The hotel was closed during the WWII and reopened in 1945. During the 1950s, it was at the height of its glory but it started declining in the 1960s, with the restaurant closing in 1969 and the hotel itself in 1987. Two years later, in 1989, it reopened under new ownership, but in 1997 Hôtel de la Cité changed hands once again. It was entirely renovated from 1998 to 2001 and the two existing hotels, the four-star Hôtel de la Cité and the three-star Hôtel Dame Carcas were merged into a single luxury hotel. In August 2011, the hotel was acquired by Christine Pujol, an owner of several charming hotels in Carcassonne, thereby opening a new chapter in the hotel's history.

Former Castle Accommodation

A medieval castle fortification in Wales, close to the town of Ruthin; it was constructed during the 13th century by Dafydd, on a red sandstone ridge looking over the valley. The castle has changed many hands throughout the centuries and has survived numerous sieges and invasions to the Welsh land. In 1923, the castle was used as an international private clinic devoted to the treatments of obscure diseases, but it closed in 1950. During the 1960s, the castle was sold again and this time it was opened as a hotel and started taking the shape it has today.