Eight breathtaking European castles you can SLEEP IN – from a royal retreat beloved by King Henry VIII to an island fortress

Looking for a knight you will never forget?

A stay in one of these breathtaking castles will stay with you for a long time.

From an English castle beloved by King Henry VIII to a “dream castle” in France and an island fortress in Norway, these historic properties offer guests fairytale experiences.

And they cost just (£96/$124) per night.

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Jaunmoku Pils, Latvia

A stay in one of these breathtaking castles is guaranteed to be remembered for a long time. Jaunmoku Pils (above), in Latvia, was originally designed as a hunting lodge and offers palace rooms and stable accommodation

Built in 1901 for the former mayor of Riga, Jaunmoku Pils was originally designed as a hunting lodge in the heart of Latvia’s green western region.

Now it is a hotel with two rooms in the palace itself and 20 rooms in the former stable (don’t worry – there are no remains of former residents). There is also an on-site museum exploring the castle’s history.

According to the team, the palace “reflects the roots of our country and the legacy of the past”.

Palace rooms start from €115 (£96/$124) per night, while rooms in the former stables cost just €55 (£46/$59).

Thornbury Castle, UK

Edward Stafford built Thornbury Castle (above) in Gloucestershire, but was convicted of treason and so Henry VIII took over the estate with his lover-turned-wife, Anne Boleyn. Guests can now sleep in the same room the royal couple once occupied

Henry VIII was generally not fond of competition in love or country. Edward Stafford – a man who equalled the king in wealth and status – built Thornbury Castle in Gloucestershire in the 16th century.

He was convicted of treason shortly after its completion and Henry took over the estate with his lover, who became his wife, Anne Boleyn. The Thornbury team say the castle ‘served as a beloved retreat for Henry VIII and Anne’ and is ‘steeped in royal grandeur’.

The castle’s 27 bedrooms are decorated in opulent Tudor style, and guests can book a stay in the Henry VIII Suite, the room where Henry and Anne slept during their royal journey in 1535. Deluxe rooms start from £299 ($386) per night, while the Henry VIII Suite is available from £649 ($839) per night.

Schloss Hugenpoet, Germany

Schloss Hugenpoet, pictured above, in Germany, has a billiard room, wine cellar, several opulent salons and a chapel. It is set in a vast park and is surrounded by moats

Although the German meaning of Great poet is ‘toad pool’, this hotel just outside Essen could not be more luxurious.

The castle is set in a vast park and surrounded by moats (perhaps with a few toads). The team behind it say it is ‘a magically inspiring place, inviting you to stay and, even more, to return.’

The property has a billiard room, wine cellar, several luxurious lounges and a chapel. A classic double room costs from €216 (£180/$232) per night, while the Ustinov Suite with a king-size bed and separate living room costs from €590 (£496/$641) per night.

Oscarsborg Fortress Hotel and Resort, Norway

Here you see Oscarsborg Fortress Hotel and Resort, which was built in the 19th century to defend the area. Now it is a hotel that Visit Norway describes as a “historical gem” with 86 guest rooms.

Oscarsborg Fortress was not designed for luxury. The fortress, 30 minutes south of Oslo, was used to defend Norway from Germany in World War II, after being built as a defensive fortress in the 19th century. Shells and torpedoes fired from the island fortress even sank the German ship, the Blücher.

Although Norway was occupied, the events at Oscarsborg are credited with giving the king and parliament the chance to leave Oslo. This castle-like building thus has an impressive heritage.

The fortress is now a hotel described by Visit Norway as a “historical gem” with 86 guest rooms. Room rates start at NOK 1,495 (£107/$138) per night, while the island can also be visited on a day trip.

Pousada Mosteiro Crato, Portugal

The photo above shows Pousada Mosteiro Crato, built in the 14th century and serving as both a monastery and a castle. The property no longer has monks in residence, but it still has a “monastic atmosphere” that is “calm and peaceful,” according to the hotel team

Located in the Portuguese Alentejo region, close to the Spanish border, Pousada Mosteiro do Crato has served as a palace, monastery and castle. Built in the 14th century, the property no longer has monks in residence, but still has a “monastic atmosphere” that is “calm and peaceful,” according to the hotel team.

The property has 24 rooms with a luxury suite in a former dungeon in the hotel’s medieval tower. There is also an outdoor pool with a sun terrace.

Prices start at €120 (£100/$129) for a standard room and at €260 (£218/$282) for a master suite.

Castello Di Petroia Dimora d’Epoca, Italy

The medieval tower bedroom of Castello Di Petroia Dimora d’Epoca offers views over the entire valley – guests will feel ‘as if [they’re] sleeping in the Middle Ages. The Umbrian castle has housed many Italian nobles over the years

This medieval castle in Umbria, this hilltop hotel is surrounded by forest. It was built in the 12th century and has been owned by many Italian noble families over the years.

The hotel team say: ‘It doesn’t get more fairytale than this: enchanting bedrooms that make you feel like you’re sleeping in history, while looking out at endless, breathtaking views.’

Castello Di Petroia Dimora d’Epocas The bedroom in the medieval tower offers a view of the entire valley and guests will feel ‘as if’ [they’re] sleeping in the middle ages’.

Rooms start from €120 (£100/$129) per night, while the largest suite starts at €240 (£201/$260).

Castle of Origny, France

Pictured here, the Chateau d’Origny, in France’s Rhône-Alpes region, has just five suites, each individually decorated – and there’s even a helipad for those who want to arrive in style

Located in the Rhône-Alpes region of France, this castle began life as the home of a wealthy potter merchant in the 16th century. Now it Castle of Origny has been transformed into a ‘dream castle bed and breakfast’, according to the owners.

The castle has just five suites, all individually decorated. There is even a helicopter landing pad for those who want to arrive in style.

Rooms start from €190 (£159/$205), while the château’s largest Marquis de Luzy suite costs from €379 (£318/$411).

Hotel Schloss Fernsteinsee, Austria

Pictured is Hotel Schloss Fernsteinsee, Austria, which sits above a lake and was a favorite spot for King Ludwig II of Bavaria. It now offers eight suites for guests to sleep in

A fairytale estate situated above a lake in the Austrian region of Tyrol, Fernsteinsee Castle The design covers three periods: with architecture from the 12th, 14th and 19th centuries.

The property team says: ‘The castle atmosphere has been deliberately preserved throughout the building’ and has retained its ‘individuality’. The castle was a favourite retreat of King Ludwig II of Bavaria.

Guests staying longer than two days receive a free diving permit for Fernsteinsee lake, while all eight suites come with a private kitchen. Castle suites start at €110 (£78/$100) per person per night.