LORD OF THE MANOR

CASTELLO DI RESCHIO, ITALY

Properties like this don’t — and can’t — come around often. Count Benedikt Bolza used to live in this 1,000-year-old castle, but this year he moved out, turning the estate and its former chapel into a stunning, 36room hotel. The location sells itself: tucked among the green furrows of the countryside, with cypress and pine trees. But what sets Reschio apart is that it’s a swirling modern excavation of the past. Bolza, an architect, has designed everything, from the beams to the lampshades, as well as a Roman-style spa in the former wine cellar, and a lush, foliagefilled Palm Court injecting some 21st-century frippery. Rooms deviate slightly from the stone-walled aesthetic, too, and are almost city-chic, with modern four-posters alongside deco-style lamps and mid-century chairs — with the exposed beams and bucolic views reminding you this is ultimately rural Umbria at its best. From €790 (£672), B&B. reschio.com

RUNNERS- UP AIRELLES CHÂTEAU DE VERSAILLES, LE GRAND CONTRÔLE, FRANCE

This is as exclusive as it gets, with just 14 rooms in the palace itself. There’s gilded stucco, chandeliers and regal upholstery, with bold-patterned accessories in the rooms. Guests get out-of-hours access to the grounds, and there’s also a Marie Antoinette-inspired afternoon tea.

From €1,735 (£1,468), B&B. airelles.com

BIRCH, HERTFORDSHIRE

It’s a country house hotel, but not as we know it. The Grade II-listed property, for years a conference centre, has been transformed into a warren of co-working spaces and lounges.

The vibe veers towards festival over hotel, with everything from a cocktail tipi to roaming chickens. From £150. birchcommunity.com