Among the unique accommodations to try while traveling, we recently told you about the possibility of sleeping on the Waterloo battlefield. Even more original is the idea – why not, after all – of spending the night in what was once a prison, with several addresses across Europe offering this unusual experience.
From the Netherlands to Slovenia via Switzerland, here’s a European tour of some fascinating prison hotels:
- Hotel Liberty Offenburg: Located in Offenburg, Germany. This former women’s prison in a mid-19th century brick building has been transformed into a luxury hotel with 38 rooms.
- Het Arresthuis: In Roermond, Netherlands. This is also a former 19th-century prison that has been converted into a rather upscale establishment.
- Malmaison Oxford: In Oxford, United Kingdom. Located within the historic grounds of Oxford Castle, this former Victorian prison offers cells converted into elegant and comfortable rooms.
- Hostel Celica: In Ljubljana, Slovenia. This youth hostel ranks among the most original in the world. It’s housed in a former military prison from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, where the cells (“celica” in Slovenian) – complete with original doors and window bars – have been decorated by Slovenian and international artists since its opening in 2003.
- Langholmen Hostel: In Stockholm, Sweden. Located on an island in the Stockholm archipelago, this establishment is also a youth hostel installed in a former prison building that operated from 1840 to 1975.
- Barabas Luzern: In Lucerne, Switzerland. This is the city’s former prison, transformed since 2018 into a hotel with modernized cell-rooms and even one converted into a suite in honor of a prisoner-artist called Barabas who left his wall paintings there and gave his name to the establishment.
- Four Seasons Sultanahmet: In Istanbul, Turkey. Here’s a luxury hotel located in the heart of the historic Sultanahmet district in what was a prison until 1998. The complex is built around a courtyard that was once the prisoners’ yard and is now a beautiful garden.
- Aux Prisons: Located in Montagny, near Lyon, France. This hotel-restaurant offers an unusual stay in a former prison transformed to provide all modern comforts, while retaining original doors from former prisons for a more “realistic” immersion.
- Hôtel La Prison: But it’s in Béziers, France, where the experience remains most compelling. Now a well-known destination, this former Béziers detention center was transformed into a hotel and opened its doors in 2023. You’ll now find 50 comfortable rooms fitted into former cells, a restaurant with panoramic views, and a swimming lane, all combined with certain elements from the site’s prison past such as high walls, walkways, and some graffiti from former inmates.
Hello! I’m Ben Fischer, a travel enthusiast who has journeyed far and wide to bring you unique and inspiring stories. Each destination is a new adventure for me, a chance to explore diverse cultures and share unforgettable experiences.
In my articles, I take you beyond mere descriptions of places. I share the encounters, special moments, and anecdotes that make each trip unique. My writing is an invitation to see the world through my eyes, blending practical tips with personal insights.
As a lifelong traveler, I approach each journey with respect and curiosity, eager to uncover the stories hidden in every corner of the globe.
