Many of the owners of these historic hotels are direct descendants of the original builders, so it's not uncommon to be hosted in England by an authentic duke or in France by a titled baron, prince or contessa. In renovating these buildings, mos t have retained the original style and furnishings, so you'll find bedrooms decorated in Louis XIV, elegant sitting rooms displaying family coats of arms over massive fireplaces and wide range of room optionssingle rooms converted from former monk's cells to sprawling suites with terraced balconies overlooking the nearby village. Lunch might be served in the inner courtyard behind stone walls, the former meeting place of Norman warriors and king's knights. In addition to a special bedding-down experience, the properties also offer a variety of diversions ranging from hikes to tennis and horseback riding. Exactly where these historic hotels are located and what they have to offer is the purpose of this book.
Many vacationers prefer traveling by rail which is fast, efficient and reasonably priced.
In that case, many of the hosts will send a car down to the local station to pick you up. Rates vary with the type of accommodations and the time of the year. When rates vary by season, they're included in the writeup. Reservations are always recommended, so we've included addresses, telephone and fax numbers and e-mail addresses when available. See some sample text below Portugal Pousada Sta.