The castles and châteaux of Europe are not only spectacular historical landmarks, but are also used by the world’s wealthiest as luxurious holiday sanctuaries.

Insignia Lifestyle Management has teamed up with Eloise Napier to look at some of the most beautiful castle residences Europe has to offer for a truly indulgent getaway.

German luxury sportscar maker Porsche is putting up for sale a Bavarian castle snapped up for six million euros ($8 million) in 2006.

“We are parting company with this estate,” a spokesman told the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung, after the paper said Porsche was selling Schloss Bullachberg, near the famous Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria.

Porsche had purchased the castle five years ago, hoping to transform the 180,000-square-metre, building into a luxury hotel.

Versailles represents the exquisite perfection that artists and master craftsmen can achieve, and the Palace plays a leading role in promoting French culture and art around the world.

Versailles and Martell, the French Cognac house founded in 1715, share the same vision of luxury, the French “art of living”, and the finest gastronomy.

It is in this spirit that Martell decided to support the restoration to its former splendour of the famous Queen’s Antechamber at Versailles.

Castello de Castagneto Po, the childhood home of French first lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy is up on the market again, and with 40 rooms and 175 acres of lavish landscape, this is one fairy tale home.

David and Victoria Beckham were planning to buy the famous Castle Sforzesco in Milan according to reports, but they have been told they can’t.

Victoria’s plans were to invest in the castle and make it the family home, but still keep the museum open in order to make a financial return.

However, it seems that they have failed to win this bid on the gorgeous 15th century castle that now houses artworks by Michelangelo and Da Vinci.

A Japanese Castle, which was operated as a “love hotel,” in Matsuyama city, Ehime prefecture, Japan, has been placed up for sale on Yahoo Japan’s auction site.

Opening bid is 145 million yen (around $1.5 million), although it is expected to sell for considerably more.

Included in the auction are the 30-room castle, several other buildings and 15,000 square meters of land: beautiful green forest all around you and a hot spring nearby.