Hesse hotels

Comfortable, pastel-shaded rooms with well fitted bathrooms in the centre of this small town famous for its summertime cultural festival. The Stern is a traditional-style town centre inn with market-square terrace and surprisingly large indoor pool and spa.

Antlers-and-chandeliers ambience in this 15^th century building, still mainly occupied by its aristocratic owners, but with an accommodation annexe. Big on hunting, shooting and fishing in a region of forests and downland. More of a fortress than a palace, and more than a touch of old-school majesty.

Terrific location on a hilltop above the mythical and mystical Lakeland of Edersee, a popular escape for stressed-out execs from Frankfurt. The thousand-year-old castle comes complete with spa and gourmet restaurant, where lobster and goose are on the menu. It has done time as a prison, but it is now all sophisticated and boutiquey on the inside, while on the outside the UNESCO-registered Kellerwald Forest rumbles on and on over the hills as far as the eye can see.

The tiny town of Trendelburg is dominated by its castle-hotel, which plays up to its fairy-tale image. Grand old creaking staircase, oil portraits, original antique furniture, and rather basic bathrooms hidden away behind wardrobe doors. Rooms in its exterior tower were supposedly used by the artist who first illustrated Rapunzel letting her hair down. There’s a limited attempt at a spa, and a tremendous dungeon-like dining room used for special occasions, plus a great view from the walls.

Ultra-luxurious hotel located at the heart of the sleepy little gem of a town, right on the cobbled market square, in a fetchingly-pretty array of half-timbered 16^th century houses, and on either side of a medieval town hall roofed with witches’ hats. Five restaurants, 60 rooms and a tunnel under the marketplace to the Moroccan-themed spa. Celeb hangout, although perhaps not internationally renowned celebs, with mega ratio of staff to guests. Rooms are pretty, and sun-themed, but can be a bit small. Owned by a wealthy industrialist, the hotel even has its own airport, a few short kilometres away.

A castle in a great location, surrounded by a rare breeds wildlife park and a remarkably extensive forest of oak and beech trees. Makes a lot out of rather tenuous connections with the Sleeping Beauty fairytale. The main castle part is actually a ruin, so the rooms (around 10 only) are in the towers, and recently refurbished. Charismatic family owner Günther Koseck is aristocratically-descended, but without the usual airs and graces. Nearest city Kassel.

Very pretty rural location, for a very pretty piece of accommodation. The 500-year-old half-timbered mill is run by three sisters, all of whom have had previous international careers. Rooms are comfortable and conservative in design, public spaces are intimate and sociable. No TV; you need to like peace and quiet to come here. The Edersee lakes and UNESCO-recognised beech forest are nearby.