Dromoland Castle

Dromoland Castle was once the ancestral seat of the O'Brien clan, a family whose lineage goes back to one of Ireland's last high kings. Today, the Irish fairytale palace is one of the most beautiful palace hotels on the island and is home to one of Ireland's largest art galleries. The majestic façade is impressive from the moment you arrive. Towers and battlements rise high into the blue sky. As soon as you climb the stairs to the entrance, you seem to have arrived in another world. Knight's armor, oil paintings, chandeliers and huge flower arrangements adorn the lobby. The reception resembles a theater set. Here you can truly spend the night like royalty. The generously sized rooms and suites have comfortable four-poster beds, checkered carpeting and marble bathrooms. The Drawing Room is a dream in ruby red. Our favorite spot is the romantic "Gallery" with fine antiques, a flickering fireplace, hunting trophies and ancestral portraits on the walls. You can spend hours here: reading your morning newspaper over a coffee, ordering a delicious brioche toast with bacon and avocado at lunchtime or enjoying an aperitif later on. If the weather is fine, you can row out onto the lake in the afternoon with a champagne picnic. The highlight of the evening is an elegant dinner with harp music in the magnificent Earl of Thomond restaurant. It provides the perfect backdrop for David McCann's award-winning cuisine. The excellent old-world service is hard to beat. If you prefer something less formal, choose the casual "Fig Tree" restaurant in the golf club. After breakfast, I gain an insight into the fascination of falconry. With falconer Dave and falcon Funky at my side, I set off on a walk across the extensive estate grounds. The moment when the big bird lands on my gloved fist for the first time is unforgettable.

Test highlight: The hawk walk across the castle grounds with Funky, a 17-week-old falcon