Restoration accommodation…the rest is history

Staying in a restored building can be a unique experience and in the process you will be helping to preserve the character and distinct culture associated with such buildings. Here we pick eight of our favourite converted accommodations from times gone by…

Restored farmhouse in Transylvania, owned by Prince of Wales –  from £29 per person per night, B&B
In 2006, the Prince of Wales decided to buy and restore this 18th century Saxon traditional farmhouse in the Transylvanian village of Viscri / Deutschweisskirch, a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. Sensitively restored with simple and unpretentious style and a number of Transylvanian antiques belonging to the original inhabitants, it consists of two buildings, one with two double rooms with a bathroom and the other with a double room, bathroom and kitchen.
Renovation has been carried out using traditional techniques, with original, hand-made and locally produced building materials and local craftsmen.

15th century Auvergne guesthouse, France – from £30-£55 per double room, per night
This 15th century farmhouse is situated on top of a volcano in a natural park. Renovated with the use of local and natural materials, respecting old traditions and using local builders, there are four comfortable rooms plus terraces with wonderful sunset views. Local and organic products are used by the kitchen and the surrounding area is great for hiking, cycling and horse riding. The guesthouse also runs sophrology (harmony of the consciousness), African dance and drum weekends.

Luxury Loch Ness apartments – from £315 – £650 per apartment, per week (sleeps 4)
These apartments are in the former school of St Benedict’s Abbey at Fort Augustus, dating from 1876. Having lain empty for years after the monks left, it has been sensitively restored – no chemical treatments were used during the building’s restoration and heated bat boxes were put in several of the loft spaces. Trees with potential bat roost sites have been retained as have the majority of the mature trees.

Surrounded on three sides by the waters of Loch Ness, the Caledonian Canal and the River Tarff, there’s a tennis court, a cricket pitch, boat cruises, bike hire, canoe hire and plenty of walks to keep you occupied.

Umbrian farmstay, Italy – from £44 – £51 per room per night
This farmstay, in the Carpina Valley, is in a remote natural area in Upper Umbria and comprises a total of three houses, including a recently restored 14th century farmhouse, once believed to have been a monastery. In the two small farm restaurants, Silvana serves organic dishes prepared according to the traditional local recipies, while Gino guides the guests along the farm paths for nature walks and leaf peeping (admiring the varied colours of leaves).

Rajasthan homestay in a fort – from £24 – £45 per room per night
This Haveli (house) has developed over a period of about 300 years and has a traditional rural Indian village feel. There are seven fully furnished rooms with ensuite bathrooms and one with private terrace. Learn how to cook traditional Indian recipes, visit local farms, walk in the surrounding area, relax in the lush green gardens and visit local temples and fort towns.

Restored cottages in Western Crete, Arosmari – from £591 per person, per week
Over the past two decades the local people of Vamos have formed a co-operative to restore and rebuild this village to its former glory. Modern building materials and methods were rejected – the renovations have been carried out following traditional techniques and styles of the region.

The traditional cottages have kitchenettes and access to the gardens with a shared pool. The co-operative also manage a taverna which prepares food in the traditional Cretan way following ancient recipes handed from mother to daughter. Produce used in the preparation of food is all local.

Italian Riviera eco village accommodation – from £29 – £42 per person, per night, half board
This 13th century medieval village, located in the Ventimglia hinterland (a few kilometres from the sea and the French border) has been gradually bought and renovated by an NGO since 1989 to turn it into an ecovillage with a permanent cultural centre, a guesthouse, and a resident community. 

The aim was to preserve the traditions and bring the village back to life. Restoration of the buildings was carried out with respect for the original historical character and using locally available material (stones) and ecologically friendly materials (natural lime, cork, sustainable timber).

The guesthouse offers double and multiple rooms (up to four beds per room), with and without private bathroom; a restaurant with special evening meals (Mediterranean and ethnic cuisine, meat, fish, vegetarian dishes) based on organic and locally-grown produce; and ample terraces for sun-bathing and relaxing.

Children under three go free and children aged between three and twelve stay for half price.

Cave hotel in Cappadocia, Turkey  – from £76 – £95 per room, per night on B&B basis
An exquisitely restored eighteen-room cave house opened in 1999, in Ayvali Village near Urgup in the heart of Cappadocia, Turkey. The hotel is located in a restored thousand-year-old Byzantine monastic retreat which offers modern conveniences. Part of the hotel was used by Christian monks until recently.

Only local materials were used for construction and renovation. Choose from twenty rooms and a range of activities such as Turkish cooking, wine-making, jam-making, baking bread, yoga and massage therapy.

For other restored accommodation options visit www.responsibletravel.com

Courtesy of  responsibletravel.com