Rick Steves’ Europe: Europe's crazy rich royals and their lavish retreats

Rick Steves’ Europe explores the opulent lifestyles of European royal families and their preference for lavish countryside retreats. These expansive estates served as essential escapes from urban environments and intense summer heat. Beyond providing comfort, these properties offered vast lands dedicated to traditional diversions, specifically hunting and horseback riding. The historical trend of seeking rural seclusion for leisure and recreation mirrors modern preferences, highlighting the enduring appeal of private estates for the wealthy elite across Europe.