Want to stay somewhere nice? Instead of staying in a hotel or an Airbnb, experience Top 8 castles to rent in Europe. You should visit one of these eight beautiful castles in Europe. Some of them date back to the 12th century.
Backpacking through Europe was once a summer “rite of passage” for everyone in their 20s. Fast forward to 2021, and we’ve moved on to a more luxurious version of this idea: renting castles for a spectacular first-class holiday. We’ve found eight charming European houses, some of which date back to the 12th century, where you can spend at least a couple of nights, if not a few weeks, on your post-pandemic vacation.
Top 8 castles to rent in Europe
1. Palazzo Odescalchi, Rome, Italy
This four-bedroom house has Flemish tapestries from the 1600s, Greek black-figure vases, Rubelli silks and brocades, and more. It is also filled with paintings by Baroque artists Bernardo Strozzi and Anthony van Dyck, and the main balcony was built by Gian Lorenzo Bernini and is a great example of Baroque art.
In the 1600s, a cardinal built the house, which was then taken over by the Odescalchi family, an Italian noble family. Princess Maria Pace Odescalchi, a member of the same family, now owns the house. A few years ago, she had it fixed up with 1,100 square feet of marble from old quarries in Italy. For an extra fee, you can hire experts from the worlds of food, fashion, and art who are part of the Odescalchi clan to show you around the city and its surroundings.
2. Lismore Castle, Lismore, Ireland
Lismore Castle is on the banks of the River Blackwater. Over the last 100 years, it has been visited by famous people like Fred Astaire, Cecil Beaton, Lucian Freud, and John F. Kennedy. When the Duke of Devonshire’s family isn’t staying there, all 15 beds can be rented out for up to 27 people.
King John built Lismore in 1185 AD. During the Cromwellian wars in the late 17th century, a Catholic confederacy pillaged it. The walls of Lismore still have the marks of gun balls. Its gardens are in Waterford, which is Ireland’s oldest city, and are thought to be the oldest grounds that have always been tended to.
Even though the river valley is beautiful on its own, nature fans can also visit the nearby Fota Wildlife Park in Cobh. The park is 100 acres big and is the only place in Ireland where you can see cheetahs running after their prey.
There are buildings like the Rock of Cashel, which is Ireland’s national monument, and the St. Finbarrs Cathedral in Cork City for people who are interested in culture and history. And if you go to the Blarney Castle north of Cork City, don’t forget to kiss the “Blarney stone.” It is thought that doing so will give you the ability to speak well.
3. Pałac Warmątowice Sienkiewiczowskie, Krotoszyce, Poland
The house has a 12-acre park with a well-kept garden that can be seen from every room. The house has five artistic guest rooms with names like “White,” “Green,” “Red,” “Gold,” and “Apartment.” Each room has wallpaper in a different color scheme that goes with its name.
You can see how Polish, German, and Czech history meet in the design of the palace, which was built in the 17th century as a fortified house with a moat. From horseback rides to hiking, the palace gives its guests a wide range of fun things to do outside.
Special events can also be planned here, like a business meeting or a wedding. The Evangelical church of Jawor, which is on the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites, is one of the most interesting places in the area. After the Peace of Westphalia in 1648, the wooden building with a frame of logs was built.
4. Palácio Belmonte, Lisbon, Portugal
Palácio Belmonte is in the old neighborhood of Alfama, right by the River Tagus, which is also called the River Tejo. During Portugal’s Moorish time, which began in 1449 and lasted for 200 years, building began.
Two master tile-makers from Portugal put up 59 panels with more than 3,800 custom-made tiles along the walls of the building at the beginning of the 18th century. These panels are one of the best architectural features of the building. In 1994, landscape collector Frederic Coustols, who was born in France, bought the house back. He and his wife, Maria, then fixed it up.
Each suite in the house is made in a different way and is a different size. For example, the Padre Himalaya is a three-story double room in the Roman tower of the palace. It has windows that look out over the Alfama and the Tagus in all directions. On the other hand, the Ricardo Reis suite has hand-painted frescoes from the 15th century and custom-made tiles. The bedroom is reached by a spiraling medieval stairs.
There are three ways to really see how beautiful the building is. First, you can rent the whole Palácio Belmonte, which gives you access to all 10 suites and everything else in the house. The second option is to book one of the Garden Suites, which have three suites, a library, three Piano Nobile rooms, an East Terrace with a view of the river, a garden, and a pool.
The third is called the Dom Afonso Henriques experience. Guests can not only book the whole palace, but they can also enjoy perks like eating at Grenache Restaurant for three nights, riding in a limousine, getting a guided tour of Alfama, taking a boat ride over the Tagus, and spending a special night listening to traditional Fado music from Lisbon.
5. Château Třebešice, Třebešice, Czech Republic
How about taking some time to look at a unique group of great modern art? Since 2003, the Chateau Tebeice has let Czech and foreign artists stay there for a few weeks and make artworks that reflect the history and memories of the older generations.
About 80 of these works of art can be seen at the chateau. In fact, the rooms in this house from the Renaissance could be used as galleries. Guests can look at the paintings, walk through the grounds, go hiking, or go to the nearby town of Kutná Hora, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Kutná Hora is only five kilometers away.
The Empire-style Kaina Castle is one of the Top 8 castles to rent in Europe another major attraction. It was built between 1806 and 1824 as the summer representative house of Johann Rudolf, Count Chotek of Chotkow and Wognin, who was president of the governorate and the highest burgrave (German nobleman) of the Kingdom of Bohemia at the time. The castle is 11 km from Chateau Tebeice and was made a national cultural monument in 2001.
6. Westbury Castle, Prestatyn, Wales
Imagine having a house all to yourself with 17 rooms. The Mostyn family, one of the two lines of the Welsh baronetcy, has lived in Westbury Castle since the 15th century. It was later turned into an abbey for Benedictine Nuns, making it an important part of Wales’ past.
Everything about it is luxurious, from the big entrance hall to the state dining room. Glittering chandeliers hang from the ceilings, and soft sofas and fancy carpets fill the rooms. One of the living rooms also has a grand piano that gets all the attention. Up to 200 people can fit in the elegant church banquet hall. Here, you can have a party, get married, or just spend some quiet, peaceful time away from all the noise.
7. Walton Castle, Somerset, England
English lord John Poulett, 1st Baron Poulett, built the building we see today at the beginning of the 17th century. In 1984, record label mogul Margarita Hamilton and her then-husband Rai Hamilton bought the house and did a lot of work on it.
The octagonal keep of the Grade II listed property has eight rooms, five of which are in the towers. The UK government defines a Grade II listed building or structure as one that is “of special interest and should be kept in good condition at all costs.” The castle sits on top of a hill and looks out over the woods of North Somerset and the Bristol Channel, which splits England and Wales. The views from the Top 8 castles to rent in Europe are unbeatable and would look great on Instagram. You can ride horses, try your hand at ancient archery, or just take long walks to get to know the pretty area.
8. Södertuna Slott, Gnesta, Sweden
The castle was built as a country house four hundred years ago, in the 18th century. It is also a high-end hotel with a grand front and English-style grounds that are kept in perfect shape.
It is one of the best places to see the unspoiled natural beauty of the Swedish countryside. It is in Sodermanland County, which is also known as Sormland. All of its grand rooms offer beautiful views of the clean lake. Another nice thing about the property is that it has rooms that people with disabilities can use, and it also allows pets.
