Thornbury Castle , England
Built in 1511 , Thornbury Castle in southwest England is a castle straight out of a fairy tale with a chunky octagonal tower , bay windows , walled courtyards , and turrets . The castle hosted King Henry VIII and his second wife , Anne Boleyn , on their honeymoon in 1535 . The royal couple spent ten days at Thornbury after their wedding , sleeping in what is now called the Henry VIII ’ s Bedchamber . This historical sanctuary is accessed by an ancient spiral staircase that is still used today . This Tudor style castle offers modern excellence with all the beautiful comforts you would expect such as four poster beds , magnificent open fireplaces , a grand hall and even a dungeon dining room ! This castle is not a true military fortress but rather an early example of a Tudor country house .
Chateau Crystal , France
Chateau Crystal is a truly unique blend of history , location , architecture and grounds which has kept the original construction intact while adding all of the classic comforts of the 20th century . This castle was originally constructed during “ The Hundred Years War ” and required a moat and slots for archers instead of windows . The castle was rebuilt from the bottom up in the 1860s by a vast selection of artisans who carefully completed the undertaking . The Chateau is situated on a private lake and offers guests 105 acres to explore . History exudes everywhere in this castle with beautiful antiques as well as a dramatic double carved stone stairway in the entrance hall .
TRAVEL OFTEN . LIVE WELL . 49