1. Ashford Castle – Cong, Mayo, Ireland
Built nearly eight centuries ago, Ashford used to belong to Ernest Guinness (the heir to that Guinness family) and was transformed into a luxury hotel in the 1930s, quickly becoming a favourite destination for glamorous guests.
2. Hotel Schloss Mönchstein – Salzburg, Austria
Castle Mönchstein, first documented in 1350 AD as the Tetelheimer Tower, was transformed into a hotel in 1948 and features 11 double rooms and 13 suites. The unique exterior features towers and step gables covered by clinging ivy, while the elegant, refined interiors are full of priceless antiques.
3. Ackergill Tower – Caithness, Scotland
In the heart of the stunning Scottish highlands lies Ackergill Tower, an exclusive castle hotel which boasts five-star facilities, a private beach, and miles of gorgeous coastline. It’s also rumoured to be haunted, which can be a pro or a con, depending on the kind of couple you are!
4. Pousada de Obidos, Portugal
Castle Obidos is known as the one of the seven wonders of Portugal, and has undergone countless transformations throughout the years, before it became one of Portugal’s finest hotels in the 20th century, its air of medieval romance kept perfectly intact.
5. Chateau de Bagnols – Lyon, France
Chateau de Bagnols dates back to the 13th century, and comes complete with a drawbridge, moat and towers. Another thing that recommends this excellently converted castle is the fact that it’s right in the heart of the gorgeous Beaujolais countryside, surrounded by lush vineyards, forests and rolling green hills.
6. Thornbury Castle – Bristol, England
Thornbury Castle hosted Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn during their honeymoon tour in 1535, but hopefully your union will have a happier outcome. The castle’s Tower Suite, reached by a spiral staircase of 77 stone steps, features the largest hotel bed in the UK.
7. The Castle Hotel and Spa – New York, USA
You can make your castle fantasies come true even if your honeymoon takes place in the New World! The Castle was built between 1897 and 1910, and transformed and restored into a world-class luxury hotel during the 1990s.
8. Chateau Rhianfa – Anglesey, Wales
Located on the Welsh Isle of Anglesey, the waterside Chateau boasts striking gothic architecture, beautifully-landscaped gardens, a private beach and mountain views.
9. Landgoed Duin and Kruidberg – The Netherlands
This unique Dutch castle, surrounded by ancient trees and the lakes of the Zuid-Kennemerland National Park, has a rich heritage with contemporary styling and service — and a restaurant with a Michelin star.
10. Taj Lake Palace Hotel – Udaipur, India
Fancy a castle floating on the water? The magnificent Taj Lake Palace Hotel on the waters of Lake Pichola, has tastefully refurbished interiors that pay tribute to its colourful heritage, proving once again that satisfying your castle honeymoon itch isn’t just for European honeymooners.