Dating from the 13th century, this castle has been visited by everyone from King Charles VIII of France to Hollywood nobility Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman. Set among the vineyards of the Beaujolais countryside, 17 miles from Lyon, it has 21 guest rooms--one furnished with a Louis XVI bed draped with gold silk brocade--as well as a one-Michelin-star restaurant.(www.bagnols.com)

This luxe, turn-of-the-20th-century castle, a member of Relais & Châteaux in the outskirts of Reims, the French champagne country, has a legendary, two-Michelin-star restaurant, Chateau Les Crayeres. The hotel is set in its own 17-acre park, a perfect place to jog off calories; park-view guest rooms are highly recommended.(www.lescrayeres.com)

One of Ireland's finest five-star resorts, this early 15th century castle situated on a beautifully landscaped 567 plot of land, features a world class golf course and has become increasingly popular after David and Victoria wed here. Located on the outskirts of Dublin, the estate has lakes and woodlands that are ideal for fishing, hunting, or just strolling to enjoy the flora and fauna. La Mora, the castles' modern Irish restaurant serves contemporary dishes using local and artisanal ingredients in a relaxed atmosphere. (www.luttrellstown.ie)

An hour's drive south of Paris, the castle, a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, was built in 1543 for the Archbishop of Tours; it has always been the home of aristocrats, statesmen and politicians because of its proximity to the French capital and to Versailles. It is located in a 150-acre wooded park surrounded by moats and a pond; falconry is available upon request. The restaurant features traditional haute cuisine, plus a selection of more than 400 wines.(www.slh.com)

A member of Leading Small Hotels of the World, this 13th-century castle is a half hour from Galway, on the shores of Lough Corrib, Ireland's second-largest lake. Once the home of the Guinness family, it has been a luxury hotel since 1939. It now welcomes families and has a conference and banqueting executive who can help arrange weddings for everyone from Pierce Brosnan to lesser mortals. Falconry courses and golf are available.(www.ashford.ie)

Famous for celebrity nuptials, Skibo is run as a private membership club called the Carnegie Club, which is named after its former owner, industrialist Andrew Carnegie; nonmembers can stay only once. An hour north of Inverness, it is situated on 7,500 acres in the heart of the Scottish highlands, overlooking Dornoch Firth. Described as “comfortable Edwardian,” the castle's decor features an organ in the Great Hall--one of Carnegie's favorite possessions--that is still played each morning. One guest room bathroom has its own snooker table, while another has his and hers tubs.(www.carnegieclub.co.uk)

Built in 1870 for the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Ayrshire, the Relais & Chateaux castle offers views across the Irish Sea to the Isle of Arran. Restored in the 1990s by its current owners, it has 17 individually furnished and decorated bedrooms. Golf is available at local courses or at others an hour's drive away, including Turnberry, Royal Troon and Prestwick; salmon and trout fishing can also be done locally. (www.glenappcastle.com)

Owned and operated by the Marquis Ricci and his wife, the Princess Eleonora Massimo, this castle dates back to the Middle Ages, when it served as the castle of the county of Siena. Guest rooms are furnished with the owners' antiques; its papal villa even has a museum filled with their heirlooms. The hotel's Tuscan roots can be found everywhere from olive oil-based toiletries in guest rooms to the cuisine in the Oliviera Restaurant.(www.lasuvera.it)

A member of the Leading Hotels of the World, this fairytale castle on Lake Fuschl, outside Salzburg, dates to 1450. With décor ranging from the Renaissance to Biedermeier to contemporary, accommodations include six private, lakeside cottages--each with its own sauna, terrace, open fireplace and private lake access--as well as 39 suites featuring butler service and 65 rooms. Vintage cars from the 1950s and 1960s are available for hire, either self- or chauffeur-driven.(www.schlossfuschl.at)

This 18th-century fortress-palace controls one of the three main passes into the valley of Udaipur, in the Indian state of Rajasthan. Today a luxury hotel that is a member of Preferred Hotels and Resorts, it has 39 suites, whose contemporary design features local marble and semiprecious stones; the presidential suite has its own black marble swimming pool. Meals can be served, upon request, in a variety of venues, including the maharani's former meditation room. Flute, sitar and dance performances, as well as camel rides and safaris can also be arranged.(www.preferredhotels.com)