The pros and cons of castle living

Staying in a castle is a closet dream for many of us, and in Europe, where these citadels of former empires and kings still stand, the contemporary traveller has a chance to stay in one and see what it was really like.

Many villas and castles in Europe now operate as hotels, and Altour, an American luxury travel company directs their clients to the properties that best fit their desires.
“The best way to discover a certain part of history is to live in a property from that time period. Most of the ones converted into hotels are in the countryside of Europe, since that is where the great country houses and castles were built,” says Altour’s senior vice president of leisure travel Martin Rapp.

One consideration is that while history buffs will marvel at the authentic furniture, tapestries and frescoes, certain amenities one would usually expect in a luxury residence may not be available. Rapp says, “It can be difficult to make structural changes to a historical property. As a result, you might not have air conditioning in the summer or central heating in winter, or the water pressure might be weak in the bathroom.”

Though concessions may need to be made when staying in a historical building, many companies are still trying as best they can to include facilities such as internet access and spas.; something the original owners would never have dreamed of.