Have a Fairytale Vacation at These “Beauty and the Beast” Castles with HomeAway

There’s been plenty of Beauty and the Beast-themed products lately, from Carrie k. jewellery to Skin Inc skincare, and even Asics shoes. Still, nothing beats the magic of actually experiencing how the characters lived, something that you can now do thanks to HomeAway.
The vacation rental service recently compiled its list of the top 20 Beauty and the Beast-style castles, featuring a medley of magnificent chateaus and moated castles for you to live out your wildest Disney dreams.

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That’s just the tip of the iceberg though. HomeAway lists more than 900 castles for rent on its website, with properties based all over the world, from America to Austria.
There are a few requirements for the castles to be considered Beauty and the Beast-worthy: they must have a fairytale vibe; but more importantly, they need to have a rich history, so visitors feel like they’re stepping back through time.
Best of all, each of these castles are available for rent, but do be warned – some of these properties will cost you as much as US$6,500 a night. There are however more reasonably priced listings that range from US$60 to US$100.
Here are our top picks:
Stühlingen, Germany
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Built over 400 years ago, this charming building is actually the former rectory of St. Fridolin Church Bettmaringen, and is now furnished with a modern interior that wouldn’t look out of place in a snazzy condo. Bookings start at US$60 a night.
Montegiove, Italy
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Located between the cities of Florence and Rome, this restored castle is perfect for exploring the historical provinces of Todi, Perugia, and Siena, and also comes with a splendid infinity pool that overlooks the lush Montegiove valley. Bookings start at US$273 a night.
Unsleben, Germany
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If you want a quiet and tranquil spot to spend time with your significant other, perhaps this medieval castle – which features one very luxurious bedroom – may catch your eye. Oh, and it has a moat too! Bookings start at US$103 a night.
Thurles Townparks, Ireland
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With a total of nine bedrooms and a minimum stay of seven nights, the historic Irish castle of Lisheen is definitely a place that’s ideal for bringing along your fairytale-crazy friends. Staying here won’t come cheap though. Bookings start at US$1,085 a night.
Challain-la-Potherie, France
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Here’s one place to live it up Beauty and the Beast-style. This opulent French chateau offers you every modern creature comfort in a quaint 19th century setting, and it pretty much looks like the castle of our dreams. Bookings start at US$6,500 a night.
For more information, visit www.homeaway.com.
All images taken from HomeAway.