For some people ancient castles and stately homes are gloomy while others associate them with fairytales, four-poster beds and rose gardens.

If you are among the latter, you can spend a night or two living like a prince or princess in one of the many historic homes across Europe providing rented accommodation to the public.

"There are a total of 800 castles in the Loire Valley region, 100 of which are open to the public," said Melanie Jeschke from Maison de la France in Frankfurt.

France's tourist organization for historic houses, Bienvenue au Chateaux, counts 26 Loire Valley privately owned homes many of which were built in the 15th and 16th centuries.

The organization's catalogue lists a total of 128 stately homes, castles and manors in western France that offer bed and breakfast at less than $100 per night, Jeschke says.

Some of the historic homeowners along the German-Dutch border have formed the Culture & Castles association.

It has 49 buildings, including castles and monasteries all of which allow paying guests to stay within their walls.

A few of the homes are quite a distance from the German-Dutch border.

"We now count one house in Paris and two in Belgium among our members," says Sandra Kimm-Hamacher from Culture & Castles.

Guests have access to parks and gardens and a double room including breakfast in some of the homes starts at $141 a night.

Some of the more modern homes in the association were built in the 17th and 18th centuries while the oldest were constructed in the 12th or 14th centuries.

Spain can boast castles that are even older. The hotel chain Paradores has a total of 91 residences in Spain, 40 of which are historic homes.

"That includes homes built in the sixth, seventh and eighth centuries," said Roswitha Hildebrand who represents Paradores in Germany.

Paradores is a publicly owned company and none of the homes are in private hands. "Paradores also offers packaged trips lasting several days such as the Route de la Plata in the south of the country," explained Leonor Castelos from the Spanish tourist office in Dusseldorf.

Prices and comfort levels vary greatly as Paradores also has five-star homes in its range.

Many of the historic homes in Britain and Ireland are still privately owned. "But there are hardly any castles in England," said Wulf Scheunert from Britain & Ireland tours. "They are mainly stately homes."

Most of his clients are interested in homes in southern England and Scotland. "However, there is a greater number of historic stately houses in northern England and in central parts," said Kerstin Tegtmeyer from the British Travel Company in Frankfurt.

Many of those homes are 300 years old and more. Prices range from $156 to $780 dollars per room per night.

For more information, see:

www.paradores.es/en/

www.bienvenue-au-chateau.com

www.culture-castles.com

-- Ragah Kamel/DPA/Expatica