Five Castles You Can Get Married at in Europe

Salzburg from Hohensalzburg Castle © Dgcampillo | Dreamstime

When it comes to wedding locations, nothing is perhaps as romantic as a castle in Europe. Packed with history, intrigue and romance, a number of ancientstructures have opened up their doors to happy couples looking to tie the knot. If you are in search of one of these magical locales to marry, here are a few castles in Europe that host weddings.

Castello di Tornano

Located in Gaiole in Chianti, the Tuscany castle of Castello di Tornano has been around in some form since 790. The Middle Ages come alive for weddings and events at the castle. Couples reap the benefit of having a whole castle available for their wedding.

Leeds Castle

Set up in Kent, England, Leeds Castle boasts a page-turning history. The 900-year-old castle was once a Norman stronghold, the private property of six of England’s medieval Queens and also used for a time by Henry VIII and his first wife Catherine of Aragon. The castle can accommodate weddings up to 100 guests across its 500 acres of parkland and formal gardens.

Hotel Schloss Leopoldskron Salzburg

Fans of The Sound of Music find Hotel Schloss Leopoldskron the perfect spot to marry in Austria. Prince Archbishop of Salzburg first commissioned the castle as a family estate in 1736. It functioned as the Von Trapp family residence in the 1965 film The Sound of Music.

Ashford Castle

The photo opportunities abound at this Irish castle in County Mayo. Open lawns, a Victorian-walled garden, lakeside woodland pathways and a castle to boot make Ashford Castle an idyllic wedding location. With foundations in 1228, Ashford Castle opened up to travelers as a hotel in 1939 and now couples can get married on site.

Parador de Oropesa

Part of the Parador chain of historic hotels run by the Spanish government, the Parador de Oropesa was the first in the chain to be converted from a historic property to a hotel. Made into a hotel in 1930, the parador was once the ancestral castle of the Álvarez de Toledo family and the counts of Oropesa. With views of the Sierra de Gredos Mountains, the castle perches in the medieval town of Oropesa. It boasts a number of halls where you can host your wedding.