It’s hard to surprise anyone with a high-tech hotel with a rooftop pool, sterile furniture and a loft-style restaurant. It seems like there are these in every city: different at first glance, but completely identical inside. And the more you travel, the more you want to find a unique place with atmosphere and history. We have selected 10 hotels with an interesting past.
Ashford Castle, County Mayo, Ireland
The five-star Ashford Castle Hotel in County Mayo looks like a classic Irish castle from a book about the Middle Ages. The interior is not inferior to the exterior: majestic and sophisticated at the same time. The building stands on the shore of a lake surrounded by lush green vegetation. In 1228, a small monastery was built on this site; by the 16th century, the building was overgrown with extensions and began to resemble a castle. Now this historical site has become one of the most luxurious hotels in Ireland. Ashford Castle was renovated with $150 million and reopened in 2015.
The territory of the castle hotel is very large: there is a golf course, a forest for walking, a lake, and an old church. Entertainment here is in the spirit of kings: falconry, horseback riding, fishing. In the restaurant «George V» There is a dress code: jacket or tuxedo, without which you will not be allowed to dinner. The place is often visited by celebrities: Ronald Reagan, Brad Pitt, members of the group U2.
L’Hôtel, Paris France
The 4-star hotel with the simple name L’Hôtel is located in the historical district of Saint-Germain-des-Prés and 5 minutes from Notre Dame de Paris and the Louvre. But this is not what makes the hotel remarkable. It was in this hotel that the English writer Oscar Wilde spent his last days. Anyone can stay in the room where the author went to his ancestors. Other famous personalities also stayed here: Salvar Dali, Frank Sinatara, Princess of Monaco. Le Restaurant, awarded one Michelin star, serves seasonal French cuisine.
Sextantio Le Grotte Della Civita, Santo Stefano di Sessanio, Italy
In the Italian Alps, at an altitude of 1250 meters above sea level, there is a small village of Santo Stefano di Sessanio. The historical center was a fortress, so all the architecture is defensive in nature. The two- and three-story houses are made in the same style and take you straight to the Middle Ages.
A few years ago, the population of the city was only 60 people – the city was almost uninhabited and neglected. But a Swede came to the village and was so amazed by its charm and mountain views that he decided to open a hotel. Part of the ancient settlement of Santo Stefano di Sessanio has been converted into the comfortable Hotel Sextantio, consisting of several buildings. Each ancient building has 5–7 rooms. The spacious rooms recreate the atmosphere of the medieval era, but, thanks to their high-tech equipment, maintain the level of comfort at the highest level. The hotel is so unique that it has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Nashville Union Station Hotel, Tennessee, USA
Nashville Union Station Hotel will appeal to lovers. The fact is that the four-star hotel in the center of Nashville occupies a restored railway station building built in 1900. Trains no longer run here, but the unusual interior decoration and 18-meter streams remain. The hotel is located quite close to the city center, the rooms are a little old, but the staff is as polite and courteous as possible.
The Fullerton Hotel, Singapore
The building of the five-star hotel The Fullerton Hotel is significantly different from other modern glass buildings in the city: a monumental facade, snow-white marble, five-meter columns, openwork bridges across the pond. The hotel has this appearance because it was opened in the building of the Higher General Post Office of Singapore, built in 1928. This building also housed a bank branch and a club.
Now the hotel consists of 400 modern rooms, a SPA center, restaurants and bars. Fullerton Singapore is located in the central business district of Singapore. It is a 5-minute drive from Clarke and Boat Quays.
Liberty Hotel, Boston, USA
Guests can stay in any of the hotel’s rooms, but this was not always the case. In 1851, this building housed the Charles Street Jail, which was home to several notorious criminals at the time. The prison was officially closed in 1990, and in 2007 it was opened as a fashionable Liberty Hotel. Only the 27-meter atrium reminds of the past; several prison cells, which are located in the restaurant, have also been preserved.
Hotel Sarotti-Höfe, Berlin, Germany
The red brick hotel Sarotti-Höfe served as a workshop for the Sarotti chocolate factory in the 19th century. This is where millions of chocolate confectioneries were held. The hotel is located in the lively Berlin district of Kreuzberg, around the corner is a bohemian street with many antique shops and cafes, and at the end of the street there is a market. The rooms are homely, although they are stylized as factory ones, and the windows overlook a quiet courtyard.
Blow Up Hall 5050, Poznan, Poland
Blow Up Hall 5050 is one of the most high-tech hotels in Poland. Guests are provided with an iPhone, which serves as a room key and a device for communicating with staff. Everything in the hotel is robotic. But upon closer inspection, it turns out that the hotel is located in the building of a 19th century brewery. Some of the walls were rebuilt, but in some places the original ancient masonry was preserved.
Hotel Blow Up Hall 5050 is located in the center of Poznań, in the Stary Browar complex – a center of trade, business and art.
Sala Silvergruva Hotel, Sala, Sweden
It is a rare occurrence when a hotel guest has to take the elevator down instead of up. At the Sala Silvergruva Hotel, from the reception you really have to go several meters underground. And all because the hotel is located in a former silver mine at a depth of 150 meters. The Swedish Sala Silvergruva mine, known since the 15th century, is considered one of the five largest silver deposits in the world: zinc and lead were also mined here until the closure of the mines in 1908.
The only and main drawback of the hotel is that there is only one room for two. Most of the furniture in the Comfort Suite is made from silver mined from the mine. Mobile communications are unavailable due to the great depth. Walkie-talkies are provided for guests to communicate with hotel staff. The cost for a day “underground” is about $478 (the price includes a tour of the mine).
Jumbo Hostel, Stockholm, Sweden
The owner of a chain of hostels in Stockholm gave a second life to the plane. In 2007, he bought a Boeing 747-200, manufactured in 1976, and turned it into a hostel.
The rooms are mostly standard: 4 and 3 beds, bath and toilet are shared. There is a superior room with access to the terrace. The best room or “Suite” is in the cockpit: the owner left the controls and instrument panel. Standard rooms are small, only 5 square meters, and the beds are located like in a train compartment car.
The hostel is located between the terminals of Arlanda Airport, you can walk to it, but it is best to take the free bus No. 14
