Check in to 5 quirky hotels in Europe

While in Europe, savour the accommodation as part of the holiday itself

Ruthin Castle is a 13th-century retreat on a hilltop. PHOTO: ISTOCKPHOTO/THE STAR

(THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - The next time you visit Europe, stay at The Sound of Music Palace in Salzburg, Austria, or sleep onboard the largest passenger ship ever built in the Netherlands

1. Stay at The Sound of Music Palace in Salzburg, Austria

Keep your ears peeled for the sound of music at Schloss Leopoldskron. PHOTO: TRAFALGAR

The Schloss Leopoldskron provided the backdrop for some of The Sound Of Music's most famous romantic outdoor scenes. The 18th-century palace of the Prince Archbishop of Salzburg is a national monument. Guests can enjoy the unique heritage experience and learn how their stay funds the building's care, restoration and training of its staff in effective conservation methods.

2. Stay at an 18th-Century water mill in Albi, France

Hotel Mercure Albi Bastides in Albi is located on the banks of the Tarn river. PHOTO: HOTEL MECURE ALBI

Hotel Mercure Albi Bastides in Albi, which features modern rooms, is not only a historic mill on the banks of the Tarn river, but also a Unesco World Heritage Site.

3. Sleep onboard the largest passenger ship ever built in the Netherlands

The SS Rotterdam, which features a 1950s style, is the largest passenger ship ever built in the Netherlands. PHOTO: ISTOCKPHOTO/THE STAR

Stay on the SS Rotterdam, the largest passenger ship ever built in the Netherlands. The ship, which has a permanent mooring at Rotterdam harbour, has sailed the seven seas as the flagship of the Holland America Line. Considered one of the best hotels in the city, the ship, which features a 1950s style, has been beautifully renovated with authentic decor and original masterpieces and boasts beautiful views of the Maas river and skyline of Rotterdam.

4. Former residence of Ireland's pirate queen, Galway, Ireland

The sprawling estate of the Ballynahinch Castle Hotel. PHOTO: BALLYNAHINCH CASTLE HOTEL

The Ballynahinch Castle Hotel is set on 182ha of woodland and was built in the 18th century. The original castle dates to the 1560s, when owner Donal O'Flaherty was married to Ireland's fearsome pirate queen, Grace O'Malley.

5. Follow in the footsteps of Royalty in North Wales, Britain

The gatehouse to Ruthin Castle. PHOTO: WIKIMEDIA COMMONS/THE STAR

Ruthin Castle is a 13th-century retreat on a hilltop. Peacocks wander the parkland and sheep graze at the nearby meadow, making for a tranquil setting. It was constructed in the late 1200s and was originally known as the Red Castle because of its red sandstone walls. In the 1500s, King Henry VIII took over ownership and the estate continued to pass through royal hands until the English Civil War, when it was left in ruins. Centuries later, many famous people have visited the castle, including former British prime minister Winston Churchill's mother, Lady Randolph Churchill, and Prince Charles.

Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.