TOP 10 BEST CASTLE HOTELS

Castles: Consider them the original luxury hotels. Although built as private residences, they were also often designed with accommodating guests in mind. From the exotic in India to the classic in Europe to the nouveau in the United States, these monuments to the art of fine living can be found around the globe. Whether they housed maharajahs or the offspring of Civil War "royalty," they are united by one common denominator: they are windows onto a grand aristocratic lifestyle that can never be replicated in a hotel, no matter how sumptuous. To learn more about our favorite castles, read on.

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FRANCE

Bourges
Château de la Verrerie
www.chateauxhotels.com

This 16th-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, 17th-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 15th 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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INDIA

Rajasthan
Taj Lake Palace
www.tajhotels.com

This lustrous white marble palace rises like a mirage from the center of Lake Pichola in the city of Udaipur. You arrive by motorized gondola and are immediately ensconced in a kind of opulence unimaginable in today’s Philippe Starck world. The palace was originally built in 1740 as a summer retreat, a cool lake-top escape from the city’s landlocked, main royal residence. Romance is the defining characteristic here, from the beautiful gardens and lily pond to bedrooms adorned with silks and murals. With their opulent furnishings and to-die-for terraces, some of the suites will take your breath away. Neel Kamal restaurant pays tribute to the local wood-fired cuisine of Rajasthan, and the spa focuses on ancient Indian healing practices.

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IRELAND

County Limerick
Glin Castle
www.glincastle.com

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.

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ITALY

Venice
Hotel 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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MALTA

Mdina
Xara Palace
www.xarapalace.com.mt

Among this castle’s many significant attributes is the fact that its walls are integrated into the walls that make up the bastions of the fortified medieval city of Mdina. Just a few steps from the main entrance into the city, Xara Palace was built in the late 17th century to house the noble Moscati Parisio family, and was inhabited by the British during WWII—today it is once again family owned, this time by the Zammit Tabonas, who are responsible for its beautiful restoration. Because of its historic setting, its rooftop terrace dining will wow you. The bedrooms are decorated with period pieces and original local and international artwork, and their views range from the external courtyards to Vilhena Palace.

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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
Lapa Palace
www.lapapalace.com

With its elegant, understated façade and dramatic interiors, the Lapa Palace reflects the spirit of the country it inhabits. It was built in 1870 by a viscount for his son and then owned by the Count of Valenca who decided to turn it into a palace. Décor also offers a taste of national identity, with works by local ceramist Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro and walls and ceilings by portrait painter Columbano. While all of the rooms are beautiful, those in the Palace Wing are preferred. Its Noble Floor features original furnishings, and its Tower Room is incredible, with an elevated walkway to a tower terrace that feels as if it’s been set adrift above the city. Cooking classes are offered, but take note—they’re taught in Portuguese.

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UNITED STATES

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.

Washington
Thornewood Castle
www.thornewoodcastle.com

When we think about Washington State, we think pioneers and Native Americans. But industrialist Chester Thorne had a different vision in the early 1900s when he had a 400-year-old Elizabethan manor dismantled in England and shipped to the Pacific Northwest to provide the foundation for Thornewood Castle. The 27,000-square-foot castle sits on the shores of American Lake south of Seattle, surrounded by gardens designed by the Olmsted brothers of New York City’s Central Park fame. Musts when visiting: watching the snow fall through stained glass panels dating back to the 1300s and exploring the original wishbone sticks (to ward off evil spirits and bring good fortune) hung around the perimeter of the basement by the Native American workmen who helped construct the castle.