Some examples online:

Balmoral offers artists' retreat fit for a King
the Queen's Highland home has served as a holiday retreat for generations of the
royal family. "We have had quite a bit of interest," commented enterprise ...
www.hellomagazine.com/ royalty/2005/06/30/balmoralcastle

County Durham Attractions - Tourist Net UK Guide to Places to ...
13th century Benedictine Priory which served as a holiday retreat for monks from
Durham. There are considerable remains of the church and monastery ...
www.touristnetuk.com/ne/durham/attractions

Gloucestershire County Council - Disabled access
35 acre Country Park surrounding unusual 18th Century Folly Tower which served
as a holiday retreat to William Morris. Exhibitions, animals, picnic / BBQ ...
www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=1250 - 70k - Sep 11, 2005

Zagame's Royal Hotel
... Nestled at the foothills of Melbourne's Dandenong Ranges, the Royal Hotel has been
a local icon since 1888 where it served as a holiday retreat for weary ...
zagamesroyalhotel.dining.com.au/ - 12k

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 26 mins (2005-09-13 15:15:41 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

In tourism, "holiday retreat" is a common expression when speaking in a historical context, as shown in the above examples.

Hope this points you in the right direction, and good luck!