Exceptional European Hotels and Bed & Breakfasts: The 2011 Selection

The Web’s Premiere Guide to Historic Hotels and Accommodation in the UK, France, Italy and Western Europe

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Historic Holiday Cottages
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The Oldest Hotels
The 2011 Selection

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The United Kingdom

Culloden House: A four-star hotel near Inverness which is, without doubt, one of the most historic places to stay in Britain.

Swinton Park: A grand four-star heritage hotel perfectly placed for discovering northern England’s most fabulous places.

Hope House: A classy little B&B set within one of Oxfordshire’s most famous little towns.

Ocklynge Manor: If somewhere boasts links to both Peter Pan and the Crusades it must be historic. And so it is.

Trerose Manor: A ‘period boutique’ bed & breakfast close to the exquisite Helford River in Cornwall.

France

Hotel d’Aubusson: To be a romantic hotel in a romantic city may seem an easy task. But to be this good takes a great deal of effort.

Chateau de la Barre: Chambres d’hotes at their best, this history-rich chateau even boasts a self-catering option.

Chateau de Mirambeau: Baglioni have an enviable reputation, and this classic property only adds to the legend.

Chateau de la Treyne: A truly beautiful Dordogne hotel which boasts Henry of Navarre as a former guest.

Pavillon de la Torse: In chic Aix en Provence lies this exceptional little bed & breakfast, infinity pool and all.

Italy

Al Ponte Antico: Venice is an embarrassment of riches when it comes to historic hotels. This proves the point.

Aia Mattonata Relais: An old farmhouse transformed into a celebrated accommodation and wellness centre.

Castello delle Serre: If ancient Tuscan B&B hotels are your thing, this could be your perfect place.

Castello di Monterone: With a history stretching back to the 13th century, this is a history enthusiast’s dream.

Palazzo Murat: Napoleon’s brother-in-law’s old home, no less. And he had an eye for the perfect location.

Spain and Portugal

Palacio de Prelo Hotel: A designated Historic Monument set amid the Parque Histórico del Navia.

Pousada de Guimaraes Santa Marinha: A former convent set above the Portuguese city they call the Cradle of the Nation.

Parador de Trujillo: Four-star accommodation in a town famed for its connections to the conquistadores.

Hotel Boutique Condes Fucares: Between Madrid and Seville, this five-room property dates back over half-a-millennium.

Quinta do Scoto: Lisbon is within easy reach of this rural manor house in Sintra.

The 2011 Selection

Welcome to our special section devoted to historic hotels, inns and bed & breakfasts which have been the recipients of excellent independent online reviews during the preceding 12 months.

Of course, we haven’t personally inspected them all, and our list is based purely upon research. It therefore follows that we cannot be held responsible should anyone find the property or hospitality not to their liking. That said, having combed through numerous assessments we believe such an event to be highly unlikely!

Please note that this does not suggest that any of the following are in any way superior to other accommodation listed in the main sections of Nights In The Past. If anything, this section simply allows us to explore some fabulous hotels and inns in greater detail.

We look forward to uploading similar selections in future years.

This site is very much a Labour-of-love, and though we try to make sure that factual information is correct, we simply cannot guarantee accuracy either on this page or on any other. That said, we’re trying to make it the best guide on the internet for period accommodation and historic hotels in Europe. As such, we would love to hear from anyone with information relating to an inn, hotel or bed & breakfast we might have overlooked in our research. We also hope you find the site useful, and check back in the future. Thank you for visiting.

We are aiming to upload a 2012 Selection based upon composite independent reviews and heritage value in January. In the meantime, if you believe any of the above hotels, inns and bed & breakfasts should not be included here, please email us and let us know why.

Also remember that there are many more exceptional period properties offering excellent accommodation featured on the site. Browse by country, region, county and city via the main navigation bar to the left of every page.

You might also be interested in our guides to great period places to stay in some of the UK’s most historic cities (excluding London):