When was the last time you climbed a creaky ladder and found peace amongst the treetops? If the answer is decades ago, then now could be the perfect time to round up the kids and start planning a tree house getaway. Retreating to a secret den up in the branches is a childhood rite of passage and a yearning that never leaves us. It offers an escape from everyday life and a connection to nature, softening the walls between the wilderness and ourselves.
If you’re tempted to live the high life for a night or two, here’s our pick of Europe’s most spectacular tree house stays, from a spaceship in the woods to a castle in the sky.