Austria

This Renaissance castle is set dramatically against the cliffs of the Danube River. The rooms are bathed in light and decked out with gold-and-cream wainscoting reminiscent of Viennese ballrooms; equally magnificent are the Olympic-size pool—surrounded by murals of seascapes—and the outdoor terrace of the restaurant overlooking the river. Nearby, abbey-filled villages (check out the organ at the baroque Dürnstein Monastery) and excellent wineries are on offer for day-trippers. About 1½ hours from the Vienna airport; open April through November. From $251 to $317 a night for a double (kids 5 and under stay free), (43) 2711-212.

France

It's easy to see why this 1543 Loire Valley estate was once a stopover for aristocrats—the château is a fairy-tale vision of blue-slated turrets, moats, and formal gardens. The formal restaurant is pricey, but cheaper thrills include croquet, archery, and hot-air ballooning. Ask the hotel to pack you a lunch, then spread out a blanket and picnic in the estate's woods (keep an eye out for deer). The Château de Sauvage animal park is five miles down the road, and if the kids want to make like Madeline, Paris is just over an hour away. About 1½ hours from Paris's airports; open year-round. From $250 a night for a double to $930 a night for a one-bedroom suite (free cots and cribs available), (33) 02-37-31-15-15.

Nestled among forested mountains in the south of France, this 15th-century former hunting lodge is ideally situated near hiking, canoeing, and rock-climbing spots; adults and children can fish for trout in the shallow Tarn River, which runs by the château. Inside, stone stairways and vaulted brick ceilings date back to the 1400s, and the guest-room decor is central-casting castle—four-poster beds, velvet drapes, and antique tapestries. About two hours from the Montpellier airport; open April to November. From $175 a night for a double in low season to $370 a night for a two-room suite in high season, (33) 04-66-48-51-01.

Germany

This 13th-century castle—its past incarnations include prison, fortress, and hunting lodge—is close to the hometown of the Brothers Grimm, and looks it. The imposing Gothic hillside building presides over the Fulda River and the quaint village cottages below. It has its own confectionery (try the caramelized strawberries in chocolate sauce) and a restaurant specializing in local game; it also hosts musical performances (such as a children's Mozart concert) all year long. One caveat: The standard double rooms are small, so families should reserve the gatekeeper's house. About 2½ hours from the Frankfurt airport; open year-round. From $127 a night for a double to $154 a night for the one-bedroom gatekeeper's house (extra beds for kids 10 and under available for $35 each), (49) 56-63-93-98-0.

Next Page: More regal hotels, from an Irish legend's haunted towers to a new-world castle on the Hudson