A night at the castle

The tide of tourists may have ebbed at Spain's beaches this year in the economic downturn but business is up at its paradors, State-run luxury hotels at affordable prices set up at converted castles, palaces and monasteries.

Prices at the national network of 93 paradors, set up in the 1920s to help promote Spain's image abroad, offer tourists the chance to spend a holiday steeped in Spanish history at lower prices than those at luxury hotels but with the same level of quality.