If you harbor dreamy memories of being a princess in a past life, you can live them in the present at Chateau Mcely in the Czech Republic. About an hour outside Prague, it’s an aristocratic residence fit for Bohemian royalty — and destination weddings.
I’m not in the market for a destination wedding (or in fact any wedding) but I do like to be a pretend princess.
The location is so magical that a fairy tale story — the Nine Flowers — has been written about Nely, a princess who “lived” in the chateau. In fact, the hotel prides itself on being “family-friendly”. Services just for children — and I must point out that there’s a definite emphasis on girls here — include princess-themed menus and even a Princess Nely Suite.
A whole host of Princess Nely items are available for sale (in addition to the book). There are dolls, stuffed animals, a tiara, and even a series of butterfly porcelain.
Just about twenty years ago, the manor house was derelict, abandoned in the Soviet era. In 2001, Inéz Cusumano caught sight of it. The entrepreneur saw its future: a boutique hotel, one that today is billed as a spa hotel and forest retreat.
Chateau Mcely (named for its village) is small: just 24 rooms, but each is individually furnished with élan in “modern chateau” style. The first floor is called the Floor of the World. The second floor follows the theme of Time. (In addition to weddings, it’s ready for corporate meetings and other gatherings.)
I stayed in a Superior Room. As is typical in hotel speak, this is the lowest category (about 215 square feet) so not really superior to anything else, but lovely nonetheless. There is an oversize painted flower on the wall and an endless view over the countryside from a dormer window in the roof. Maybe this top floor was once a warren of housing for the “help”, but now it’s a series of compact garrets with queen-size beds and amenities including free WiFi and en suite bathroom.
Since “luxe” is in its DNA, the Mcely Chateau includes a spa which makes use of its own specialty products (and the storyline behind them). The MCELY BOUQUET line of “pure, natural, organic” skincare products was developed by Inéz Cusumano to “share the alchemical and herbal heritage of this historic aristocratic residence in the heart of Bohemia and its healing energy”.
No time to spend the night? You can dine in the chateau’s Piano Nobile Restaurant for breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, or dinner (or, outside on the terrace, weather permitting). Executive chef Honza Štěrba emphasizes homegrown herbs, homemade marmalades, fish and meat smoked in the chateau smokehouse, and other locally-sourced specialties.
A superior room with breakfast starts about $175. You can book a room on the hotel’s website or via one of the usual hotel booking sites such as Hotels.com or Expedia.
(Photos by Susan McKee and courtesy of Mcely Chateau, where she stayed as a guest of Czech Tourism)
It drives me crazy that hotels called the lowest category of rooms “superior.” Besides it being deceptive, it’s just grammatically illogical because what’s it superior TO? The maid’s closet? Just be honest and say it’s the Standard category.