Althoff Grandhotel Schloss Bensberg

12 New Hotels For Winter Weather Travel in Europe - AFAR

"An early 18th-century royal hunting lodge transformed into a grand castle hotel perched on a woodsy hill just outside a major city, featuring a rambling whitewashed palace with five octagonal cupolas and gardens lined with pines and snowy walking paths. Dining is a highlight with a two-Michelin-starred restaurant led by chef Joachim Wissler, while a Four Elements Spa invites serious pampering. The interiors showcase an impressive private art collection (including works by Joseph Beuys, Georg Baselitz, and Salvador Dalí), original Medici-era ceiling plasterwork, giant stone fireplaces, velvet sofas, clawfoot tubs, and distant views of the city cathedral." - Adam H. Graham