Schloss Elmau

Schloss Elmau Grand Hotel frontal view
Schloss Elmau in 2005

Schloss Elmau is a luxury hotel at the foot of the Wetterstein mountains, in a nature reserve near the village of Klais lying between Garmisch and Mittenwald in Bavaria, Germany.

The building was completed in 1916 as a place for artists, rather than as a schloss (palace), as the name implies. The five-star hotel today offers 123 rooms and suites, as well as a concert hall and several restaurants. It is a forum for renowned international conferences and meetings.[1] It is among The Leading Hotels of the World.

Schloss Elmau will be the site of the 41st G7 summit June 7-8 2015, the German government announced on January 23, 2014.[2]

History

Schloss Elmau was built in 1916 by Johannes Müller with the assistance of Elsa Gräfin Waldersee and the architect Carlo Sattler. It was originally intended to be an artistic community where 'Helpers' (not employees) cared for visiting guests and artists. The 'Helper' scheme enabled thousands of young people from around the world to gain independence and work experience in a fabulous natural environment, while being inspired by interaction with world-famous artists of all genres. Gradually, however, it seems that this side of the Schloss has declined and its working practices are now not far removed from any other exclusive hotel. Nonetheless, the tradition of inviting world-renowned artists, particularly musicians, to perform at Elmau has continued. Cellist Sol Gabette, clarinettist Sabine Meyer, and conductor Gidon Kremer appear regularly, and over the years such legendary musicians as violinist Yehudi Menuhin, soprano Barbara Hendricks, and pianist Mitsuko Uchida have headlined evening concerts. The jazz piano player Vladislav Sendecki recorded there his 'Solo piano at Schloss Elmau' in January 2010.

In the early hours of 7 August 2005 a fire broke out in the Schloss, caused by a faulty electric blanket belonging to the former manager, Ducci Mesirca. The fire destroyed nearly the entire top floor of the main building, although there were no serious casualties. The hotel has now been rebuilt.

References

  1. ↑ Global Post
  2. ↑ German G8 presidency in 2015

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Schloss Elmau.

Coordinates: 47°27′43″N 11°11′10″E / 47.46194°N 11.18611°E