When I was a little girl I always dreamed of being a princess, of wearing all those magnificent dresses/ pink in particular, in case you wonder /, I wanted to have super long hair, literally reaching the floor. I have always loved the idea of living in a castle with a big, beautiful garden and fountains, having many horses and having my prince charming by my side. But let’s just put aside my dreams for a while and focus on some real, mesmerizing castles, which happen to be hotels, as well. You don’t need to be a real princess, to feel like one.
This massive castle was built over a number of centuries, starting in 1228. The beautiful royal adventure begins when you enter through the grand stone gates of this remarkable 800-year-old building. As a National Geographic Unique Lodge of the World, Ireland’s top hotel destination and former home of the Guinness family this place is fascinating in every way. In the 1900s, the castle was turned into a hotel, which was probably the biggest change since it was built, it was doubled in size, and became a true 5 star property. There you can enjoy different activities such as horse riding, falconry, lake cruising, fishing, clay shooting, archery, golf, and much, much more. They even offer a SPA that was recently awarded 'Overall Spa of the Year 2018' by Irish Tatler. Over the years, many powerful guests have stayed here, from Mary Queen of Scots, King George V, Princess Grace, Brad Pitt, President Ronald Regan, and more. Even the author Oscar Wilde visited the castle as a kid since his dad had a property near the place. There is a portrait gallery on the 2nd floor that shows most of the famous people who have stayed in the castle. Another interesting fact is that due to Mary Queen of Scots connection to the place, the castle was featured as the home of the French royal family in the hit TV series Reign.
“I never saw a lovelier or more romantic spot,” – these words belong to Queen Victoria and are written down in her diaries of her visit to Inverlochy Castle back in 1873. They perfectly describe the magnificent place that is surrounded by rich in landscape and history area. Amongst these breath-taking places are the falls at Glen Nevis, the monument at Glenfinnan and the mountains of Glencoe. In case you are a fan of the Starz series Outlander, you have without a doubt noticed the gorgeous Scottish Highlands landscapes. In the castle you can fully enjoy the many different activities that this place offers such as romantic hill walks, photography tours, cycling, and a great number of sporting and country pursuits. Just make sure you are home for dinner. The fine culinary experience which the father-son duo gets to offer is something worth not missing. Dining at 'Albert and Michel Roux Jr at Inverlochy Castle' can be arranged in any of the three different dining rooms. Each one of them is decorated with an eye to every detail and with elements representing different periods of time.
Located on Cap Diamant, headquarters of Québec City for more than 400 years, due to its fascinating and strategic view of the Saint Lawrence River, the Château is one of Canada's most iconic buildings. The place was burned down in 1834 and wasn’t rebuilt to its current form until 1893. During the Golden Age of rail travel between 1890 and the 1930s the Canadian Pacific Railway built a group of hotels amongst which is Château Frontenac. An interesting fact that adds even more fascination to the place is that Winston Churchill and Franklin D. Roosevelt historically met at Château Frontenac in 1943 to discuss plans for WW2.
The story of this castle is really remarkable. If you have ever watched the TV series about The Tudors then this is the right place for you. Thornbury Castle is the only castle hotel once owned by the famous Tudor dynasty which ruled the UK, Ireland, and France over periods from 1485-1603. King Henry VIII of England, stayed at the castle for ten days in August 1535 after his wedding with his queen, Anne Boleyn. This historical place is fully decorated with pieces from this period, spiral staircases, original fireplaces, the rooms have the perfect Medieval castle feel to them and there is even a dungeon dining room.
