Step Back in Time at Europe's Most Enchanting Historic Stays
For travellers seeking more than just a bed for the night, Europe offers countless opportunities to sleep within living history. Guardian readers have shared their most memorable experiences staying in properties steeped in centuries of stories, from Venetian palaces to German castles, often at surprisingly affordable prices.
Venetian Opulence on a Budget
One couple discovered that experiencing 500-year-old Venetian grandeur doesn't require a royal budget. They secured a double room at the magnificent Palazzo Abadessa in Venice's Cannaregio district for just €100 per night. The palazzo's unassuming exterior belies the opulence within, where visitors first encounter a lush ornamental garden before entering a fresco-adorned entrance hall illuminated by glittering Murano chandeliers.
The property's historical significance is palpable - it originally belonged to a family that provided Venice with two of its doges during the 16th century. Stone corridors and high-ceilinged rooms maintain a noble atmosphere that seems to whisper of Caravaggio or Tintoretto possibly gracing these very spaces. Mornings began with cappuccino and croissants served in the courtyard by friendly owners, completing the authentic Venetian experience.
From Scottish Quirks to Spanish Paradors
Further afield, readers discovered equally remarkable historic accommodations. In Scotland, the 18th-century Pineapple structure on the Dunmore Estate near Stirling offers what one visitor called "hard to explain" architecture. This fruit-themed folly provides unique self-catering accommodation through the Landmark Trust, complete with historic reading materials and logbooks dating to the 1970s.
In Spain's Extremadura region, the Parador in Cáceres provided a medieval palace experience during the city's spectacular St George's Day celebrations. The hotel combines gothic, Renaissance and baroque architecture within Cáceres' unspoilt old town, recently featured in Game of Thrones. Guests reported feeling transported sleeping under classic Spanish gilded, beamed ceilings while enjoying balcony views over the historic town.
Castles, Cookery and Continental Charm
Italy's Castello di Montalero in Piedmont's Monferrato region offers history dating to the 11th century, though most of the current structure was built around 1700. Today, it houses a residential cookery school run by the family who lovingly restored it, providing what one visitor described as a "once-in-a-lifetime experience."
Transylvania revealed another gem at the 18th-century Apafi Manor in Mâlâncrav. Beautifully restored with interiors by British designer David Mlinaric, the property sits beside one of the region's most exquisite Saxon fortified churches. Candlelit dinners prepared by a village cook and afternoons in the magnificent library create an atmosphere straight from a 19th-century novel.
For more adventurous spirits, Germany's 13th-century Wildenstein Castle hostel perched dramatically above the Danube offers medieval atmosphere with modern comfort. Accessed via a challenging zigzag cycle route, the whitewashed fortress features a tavern in a crypt and panoramic views across the Upper Danube nature park.
Preserving Memories Across the Continent
Other notable reader recommendations included Belgium's Talbot House in Poperinge, which served as a club for British soldiers during the First World War and remains preserved by knowledgeable volunteers. In Norway, traditional 19th-century fishers' cabins on the Lofoten and Vesteralen islands provide insight into the region's maritime heritage.
England contributed the beautifully restored Victorian Alton station in Staffordshire, a Landmark Trust property where one bedroom occupies the former ticket office and stunning Minton tiles recall railway's golden age.
The Guardian continues to invite readers to share their travel discoveries for a chance to win a £200 Coolstays voucher, proving that history's most fascinating chapters often make for today's most memorable accommodations.
