Chatsworth House and Haddon Hall count as some of the finest buildings in the country and very popular attractions but there are many more in the region.

Some of the historic buildings have been converted into hotels and restaurants but many remain as private residencies, though often open for a few days in the year, if only to show off the gardens. You can even get married at many of them.

Known as one of the wonders of the Peak, Chatsworth House in Derbyshire is the home of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire. Chatsworth house and gardens have attracted visitors, from all over the world, for many generations. see Chatsworth House

Calke Abbey is the second largest house in Derbyshire, built in 1703 for Sir John Harpur to replace his Swarkestone home. One of the treasures of the Peak, it was aquired in the 1980`s by the National Trust and some of the rooms had remained untouched for nearly 100 years. They have been carefully restored, but left as close to what they were when the trust took over See Calke Abbey

Haddon Hall dates mostly from the 14th and 15th centuries. Originally owned by the descendants of William the Conqueror’s illegitimate son, Peverel, it was passed through marriage to the Manners family, later to become Dukes of Rutland, in whose possession it has remained. It contains a magnificent Banqueting Hall and an oak panelled Long Gallery, 110ft in length and 17ft wide. See Haddon Hall

Light and airy because of its many windows, Hardwick Hall was built by Bess of Hardwick in the 16th century. Bess had risen to become Elizabethan England's second most powerful woman through a succession of mostly happy marriages. See Hardwick Hall

Kedleston Hall in Derbyshire was erected in the 1760`s by the first Baron Scarsdale, on the site of large buildings that had been occupied by the Curzon family for hundreds of years. Kedleston Hall is the last built of Derbyshire`s great houses, to a design by Robert Adam and it remains one of the finest examples of his work. See Kedleston Hall

Bolsover Castle was originally built by the Peverel family in the 12th century but after years of neglect was purchased by Sir George Talbot in 1553. Talbot, later becoming the 6th Earl of Shrewsbury is noted for his marriage to 'Bess of Hardwick', probably the most astute business woman of the 16th century, who owned the vast Chatsworth estates See Bolsover Castle

Renishaw Hall has been the Derbyshire home of the Sitwell family for nearly 400 years. It is something of a literary shrine in view of it's associations with the entire Sitwell family. Renishaw Hall is filled with reminders of Sir George and Lady Ida Sitwell and their children. Only the gardens are open to the general public. See Renishaw Hall

Sudbury Hall is a most impressive building, built by George Vernon in the second half of the 17th century. Sudbury Hall is a redbrick building, now owned by the National Trust who first opened it to the public in 1972. One of the many features restored by the trust is the small dome, crowned with a golden ball on the roof of the hall, which acts as a beacon for travellers. See Sudbury Hall

Other historic houses

Alfreton Hall
Alsop Hall
Bradbourne Hall
Bradley Hall
Bretby Hall
Buxton Hall
Catton Hall
Coxbench Hall
Elvaston Castle
Eyam Hall
Fenny Bentley Old Hall
Flagg Hall
Great Longstone Hall
Hartington Hall
Hassop Hall
Hopton Hall
Ilam Hall
Lyme Hall
Kings Newton Hall
Locko Park
Longford Hall
Melbourne Hall
Norbury Hall
Parwich Hall
Staunton Harold Hall
Sutton Scarsdale Hall
Thornbridge Hall
Tissington Hall
Willersley Castle
Wingfield Manor
Yeldersley Hall