Pera Palace Hotel, İstanbul
This long-running hotel has become an İstanbul icon. Set in the Beyoğlu district – considered the heart of İstanbul – the 19th-century Pera Palace was designed by Alexandre Vallaury. Featuring a neoclassical façade, the hotel’s lush interiors incorporate Orientalist and Art Nouveau influences.
The story of the Pera Palace begins with the 1883 launch of the famed Orient Express railway line between İstanbul and Paris. The hotel was erected to host the well-heeled passengers of the Orient Express and was considered Türkiye’s first hotel with European- standard luxury. Its famous guests include the mystery writer Agatha Christie, as well as film director Alfred Hitchcock and numerous heads of state. The Pera Palace hosted Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founding father of the Republic of Turkey, numerous times between December 1915 and October 1917; those rooms have been preserved as a museum.
Divan Çukurhan, Ankara
One of the most beautiful buildings in Ankara is the Divan Çukurhan. Originally a caravanserai erected in the early 17th century, the Ottoman-era structure had wood floors and a stone-and-timber frame. Adjacent to the historical Ankara Castle, the building was restored by the Divan Hotels group and opened in 2011 as one of the city’s finest hotels. In addition to offering stunning views of the city, the Divan Çukurhan is in the heart of Ankara’s historical old district.
Hotel Balzac, France
Built as a “pleasure palace” for the director of the Paris Opera, the 19th-century neoclassical mansion was acquired in 1846 by novelist Honoré de Balzac, who lived there until his death and for whom the hotel is named. Set in the 8th Arrondissement, Hotel Balzac is just steps from the Louvre and the Champs-Elysées; as well, it houses the Michelin-starred Pierre Gagnaire Restaurant. Naturally, its rooms are equally luxurious and some have views of the Eiffel Tower.
Four Seasons Sultanahmet, İstanbul
Set in a former prison on the Historical Peninsula, the Four Seasons Sultanahmet is one of İstanbul’s top-ranked hotels. Erected in 1919 by Mimar Kemaleddin, the jail was built in the Turkish neoclassical architectural style and, over the years, was home to inmates as Turkish poet Nazım Hikmet. The structure was restored by the Four Seasons group, retaining many of the original architectural details, and opened as a luxury hotel in 1996.
Zum Roten Bären, Germany
Allegedly one of Europe’s oldest hotels, the Zum Roten Bären (“to the Red Bear”) in Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany, dates to the 12th century. Just west of the Black Forest, this picturesque hotel served merchants and travelers. Although the original Romanesque-Gothic edifice was damaged in the 18th century, it was rebuilt in a baroque style and retains some of the original structure, including a cellar now used for wine storage. The hotel’s interiors feature period details and furnishings.
The Old Bell, England
Believed to be the oldest hotel in England, The Old Bell, in Malmesbury, was erected in 1220 as a hostel for high-ranking visitors to the adjacent Malmesbury Abbey and the Abbey Gardens. Over the years, the structure has been renovated but many of the original details, such as a hooded stone fireplace in the bar, still exist in the elegant Edwardian-style building. The hotel is now owned and operated by a pair of Americans who are descended from a Malmesbury family.
The Francis House, United States of America
Set in Calistoga, a town in California’s Napa Valley, the Francis House dates to 1886, when it was erected as the family home for James H. Francis, a well-known local merchant. The stone house, the only French Second Empire-style home in the Napa Valley at that time, was closed in 1965; it was restored and then opened after 52 years. Now an upscale B&B, its seven elegant guest rooms feature a blend of contemporary and period details.
Hōshi Ryokan, Japan
Ranked among the most popular historical hotels worldwide, Hōshi Ryokan opened in 718 and for 1,300 years has been a family-run hotel – the current owners are the forty-sixth generation. This venerable hot spring hotel is in Komatsu, Japan and, in addition to its rooms and indoor and outdoor baths, it features the Enmeikaku, a Goten palace-style cypress wood guest house built during the Meiji Period. The Enmeikaku has hosted members of the Imperial Family of Japan and was designated as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property of Japan in 2016.
Hotel Interlaken, Switzerland
Originally established as a monastery and first opened as a guest house in the 14th century, this picturesque hotel is set on a piece of land between Lakes Thun and Brienz and features views of the surrounding mountain ranges. The cheery rest
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