Hotel Burg Liebenstein

Explore the castles, vineyards and vestiges of the Roman empire from the comfort of a cruise ship on Europe’s busiest river.

One of the few Rhine castles never to be destroyed, ‘Burg Eltz’ has remarkably been owned by the same family since records began in 1157 – 33 generations. Crammed onto a 70m-high rock spur, with eight dramatic towers and views over the Elzbach Valley and River Eltz, it’s one of the world’s most beguiling castles.

From hilltop-smothering fortifications to simple one-room towers, here’s our round-up of the best ‘real castles’ for a unique heritage stay, and an authentic experience of life from a bygone era.

Here’s our round-up of 60 unique and unusual places to stay – from castles to palaces, treehouses to caves and even UFOs – that justify a place on any travel bucket list in their own right.