The 13th-century Castle of Saint Catherine in Jaen - the perfect place to stay.
Parador Hotels in Serrania de Ronda
Imagine spending the night in a Spanish castle, looking down from your perch on a lone hilltop. Or, how would you like to stay in an ancient monastery or a convent? Many such buildings are open to the public in the form of beautifully restored hotel facilities, thanks to a network of state-run Paradores.
You might expect such facilities to only be available to those with maximum spending power – but this is not so. In fact, one of the aims of the Parador hotels is to make these wonderful buildings and amazing destinations accessible to the average person. Therefore, while not exactly cheap, they are within the reach of those who really want to allow for such unique experiences.
Paradores are not always located in historic buildings. Sometimes the purpose of a Parador is to open up a fascinating – but remote – area to tourism. These are cases where private ventures hardly dare to risk setting up shop, so the government has taken the initiative to build quality facilities for those wishing to visit these out of the way places.
Even if you don’t stay in a Parador, you can still enjoy the amazing views, unique settings or just seeing the insides of castles, palaces and other historic buildings by having lunch, dinner or even just afternoon tea or a cup of coffee on the terrace.
One thing is certain: each Parador is a unique gem with a history all its own. However, you choose to get to know the Paradores you come across, be sure to find out the story behind each one – especially when restoration has been a factor. These are the history lessons you will never forget.
Book Parador Jaen
Map of Parador hotels