26-05-2025
Regal stays: 8 historic hotels with aristocratic and royal connections
2. The Gritti Palace (Venice, Italy)
Set on the Grand Canal, The Gritti Palace is a triumph of Venetian Gothic architecture and heritage. Originally built in the 14th century, the palazzo became the private residence of Andrea Gritti, the Doge of the Venetian Republic, in 1525. Later transformed into a luxury hotel in 1895, it now belongs to Marriott's Luxury Collection, with interiors restored by Rubelli.
Ernest Hemingway once called it his Venetian home. John Ruskin, Winston Churchill and Grace Kelly were also frequent guests. The hotel now offers 82 rooms, including the Hemingway Suite and the Redentore Terrazza, with panoramic views of Venice. When dining at The Gritti Terrace or sipping cocktails at Bar Longhi, guests are enveloped in the city's cultural past. 3. Château de Bagnols (Beaujolais, France)
Dating back to 1217, Château de Bagnols is a medieval fortress turned Renaissance château in the heart of wine country. Royalty has walked its halls—King Charles VIII visited in 1490, and his crown still adorns the guardroom fireplace. Later residents included Madame de Sévigné, who wrote of the château in her letters.
Restored in the late 1980s and now a five-star hotel, its suites feature original frescoes, antique furniture and period tapestries. Surrounded by vineyards and formal gardens, guests can enjoy tastings in its ancient caves or dine at Michelin-starred Le 1217. 4. The Ritz (London, UK)
Designed in the French château style by Charles Mewès and Arthur Davis, its Louis XVI interiors and gilded flourishes have hosted royalty since 1906. Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her 80th birthday here, and King Charles III renewed its Royal Warrant in 2024.
Afternoon tea at The Palm Court is a London institution, while The Ritz Restaurant and the Rivoli Bar remain essential experiences. With individually styled suites and views over Green Park, The Ritz continues to attract London high society. 5. Villa d'Este (Lake Como, Italy)
Built in 1568 for Cardinal Tolomeo Gallio, Villa d'Este has hosted everyone from the Princess of Wales (Caroline of Brunswick) to Czarina Maria Feodorovna. Converted into a hotel in 1873, its 152 rooms and suites blend Renaissance charm with 21st-century comfort.
The 25-acre gardens—named a national monument—include mosaic grottos, a nymphaeum, and the iconic floating pool on the lake. Guests such as Greta Garbo, Elizabeth Taylor, Alfred Hitchcock and George Clooney have all stayed, lured by its baroque beauty and Como's timeless allure.
In case you missed it: Lamborghini Asterion LPI 910-4 makes a rare appearance at Grand Hotel Villa d'Este and Villa Erba, Italy 6. Rambagh Palace (Jaipur, India)
Once a garden retreat for a royal nurse in 1835, Rambagh Palace became the residence of the Maharaja of Jaipur by 1931. Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II and Maharani Gayatri Devi transformed it into Rajasthan's most opulent royal address. Queen Elizabeth II stayed here during her 1961 India tour, as did Jacqueline Kennedy and King Charles III.
The palace, now managed by the Taj Group, is known for its Indo-Saracenic architecture, Mughal gardens and heritage dining at Suvarna Mahal. Polo Bar and Steam—a cocktail bar set in a Victorian train station—lend period charm. 7. Hotel Imperial (Vienna, Austria)
Originally the Palais Württemberg, Hotel Imperial was built in 1863 and transformed into a hotel for the 1873 Vienna World's Fair. A masterpiece of Neo-Renaissance architecture, it became the go-to address for Emperor Franz Joseph I, who used it for diplomatic meetings and royal audiences.
Guests have included Queen Elizabeth II, Richard Wagner, Charlie Chaplin, Alfred Hitchcock and Freud. With 138 rooms and suites decorated with silk walls and antique furnishings, the hotel continues its tradition of imperial elegance. Café Imperial and its namesake torte remain an iconic Viennese indulgence. 8. Ashford Castle (County Mayo, Ireland)
Ashford Castle traces its roots to 1228, with the Guinness family later transforming it into a Victorian country retreat. The Prince of Wales (later King George V) visited in 1905, and the George V Dining Room still honours his stay.
Now part of the Red Carnation Hotel Collection, Ashford offers 83 individually styled rooms, including staterooms in the oldest parts of the castle. The 350-acre estate features formal gardens, falconry, and lakeside views of Lough Corrib. Grace Kelly, John Wayne, Ronald Reagan and Pierce Brosnan have all visited, drawn by its Celtic romance and grandeur.
