Courtesy: SCHLOSS ELMAU It's not every day that you get to visit one of the world's top spa hotels, hosting for the second time the world's most important leaders for a global summit.
Recently, we were invited to observe up close at 'Schloss Elmau', the host hotel of the G-7 (Group of Seven) summit, where 7 of the world's key leaders gather for several days of pivotal discussions and meetings in the 'paradise' near the Alps. As you may have guessed, we couldn't refuse the prestigious invitation, because if global leaders have become regular guests at the luxurious spa hotel, now it's time for us to closely examine the intriguing German wonder.
Just last week, before Schloss Elmau closed and all its guests vacated for Biden, Macron, and other world leaders, with around 22,000 security personnel to safeguard the fortified venue, we arrived: a delegation of tourism professionals and journalists from Israel, to taste, feel, and experience the magic of Schloss Elmau. After landing at Munich Airport, the capital of Bavaria, we drove about an hour and a half directly to 'Schloss Elmau'.
Courtesy: SCHLOSS ELMAUTruthfully, it's not fair to call Schloss Elmau just a hotel; perhaps a spa site, resort, or complex that has everything might better describe this amazing place, nestled in the German Alps and a magnet for a sparkling and long guest list, not just world leaders. We arrived at Schloss Elmau at night, and it was hard to be impressed by the stunning view at the entrance they told us about before our arrival, but it didn't really affect the overall feeling that engulfs you from the entrance to the hotel—something different, magnetic, and mesmerizing. Schloss Elmau is simply a real paradise.
A grand and luxurious spa area, breathtaking green views, 9 heated infinity pools, luxury restaurants including two Michelin-starred ones, particularly indulgent rooms with views of the Wetterstein Mountain Range in the German Alps, diverse sports activities, pampering bars, and halls for musical performances, Schloss Elmau, my friends, is almost a perfect product, and not just if you are a fan of spa and Wellness. Observing the stunning views in winter and summer from almost anywhere in the hotel, these are sights seen only in pictures, real tranquility for the body and soul, or a kind of 'escape' to wherever you want in the complex.
Schloss Elmau. Photo: Two Flying BoysWhat probably makes Schloss Elmau such a quality and highly regarded place worldwide is that it has everything, but with modesty and elegance. It's not a luxury hotel with new structures or innovative technology that will leave you speechless. It's the simplicity, atmosphere, and vast spaces in the complex, along with the connection to nature at its finest, that likely tell the big story of Schloss Elmau, situated in a breathtaking valley near the border of Germany with Austria, as we mentioned earlier, the Alps serve as a stunning backdrop. In the complex divided into two buildings where guest rooms are located, there are stylish lounges in both wings, serving as an impressive focus for rest, reading, working, or just wanting to be with a laptop, listening to delightful music or simply enjoying the impressive wine and alcohol menu at Schloss Elmau—not to mention the quality cakes and pastries available for order throughout the day.
Schloss (castle in German) was first built in 1916 by Dr. Johannes Muller and was defined as 'a space for personal freedom and communal living without any ideology'. 'Visitors to Schloss Elmau were asked to rise above the self and be aware of the quiet as the essence of being by listening to classical music or admiring the beauty of the surroundings,' writes Dietmar Muller-Elmau, in a special book narrating the history of Schloss Elmau. Muller-Elmau, who currently leads the Schloss Elmau complex, welcomed us, a delegation of journalists from Israel with great affection and admiration for the State of Israel and the Jewish people.
Dietmar Muller-Elmau, who has visited Israel many times, spoke of the bond with Israeli artists, music, and not surprisingly, mentions that Schloss Elmau does not have a CEO making decisions. 'Everything is done together.' We hold meetings with employees and managers, and new ideas that come up, we let the people who think of them lead them. Muller constantly emphasizes in almost every conversation with him that Schloss Elmau is primarily a place for relaxing the body and soul, far, far from the daily routine.
'You can do everything here,' simply states the motto of Schloss Elmau. If you wondered why there are so many pools in the complex (nine), Muller has a simple explanation: so that every guest has a place to escape, where you surely won't meet someone you know. Yes, this is another key motto for guests at Schloss Elmau—no matter where you are in the hotel, you will always have somewhere to escape; it makes no difference if you are a child, adult, or senior. Visitors to the place can see the friendly owner, who also centers music as the core of the guest experience as a hotel policy. Musicians arriving at Schloss Elmau do not receive any payment but enjoy their stay at Schloss Elmau in exchange for their performance for hotel guests.
At Schloss Elmau, hundreds of concerts are held each year, jazz festivals, films, special workshops, and courses for learning yoga, tai chi, and more.
During our visit to the hotel, we met Chef Uri Jeremias, owner of the acclaimed Acre-based fish restaurant 'Uri Buri', who came to the hotel not by chance. Jeremias was invited by Schloss Elmau management for a weekend of a jazz and Israeli culinary festival, and he closely supervised a special Israeli menu crafted by him. Jeremias walked around during dinner, patiently explaining the amazing dishes and menu he personally selected. Incidentally, in the bookstore at Schloss Elmau, you can find a German cookbook by Jeremias, which turns out to be in high demand in Germany.
Another Israeli point at Schloss Elmau was the performances by Israeli singers and creators specializing in quality jazz music, who performed in Schloss Elmau halls and wine bars, accompanied by enthusiastic applause from the many guests from around the world. In general, Israeli music lovers will be treated to a notable musical delight when Idan Raichel's songs, who, according to locals, has already visited himself, are heard in the background almost everywhere in the hotel. More musicians we met during the stay at Schloss Elmau were Eden Giat, Avi Avital, Omer Klein, Hagai Cohen Milo, Yaron Herman, trumpeter Avishai Cohen, and pianist Yonathan Avishai. As mentioned, this is just a partial list of many Israeli artists who come to Schloss Elmau. And with all due respect to culture, spa and wellness at Schloss Elmau is a strong and unique motif in itself and an integral part of the impressive overall experience.
At Schloss Elmau, there are no fewer than 6 quality spa complexes with divisions into sections for adults, families, and children. The spa complexes feature swimming pools, each heated to a different temperature, both indoor and outdoor. No matter which section you are in, at the Schloss Elmau complex, if you wish to dip in a pool, you'll find it easily, as we already mentioned, Dietmar Muller-Elmau, the owner of the place wants you to have somewhere to escape at any given moment, and with 9 pools throughout the Schloss Elmau, you can do that easily. The prestigious spa complexes at Schloss Elmau also boast an impressive Turkish hammam equipped with the best devices and treatments. So after the food, music, jazz festivals, performances, and alcohol, it's also time to exercise, and not surprisingly, you can do it in many ways at Schloss Elmau.
Schloss Elmau, located in the stunning valley, is also renowned for its wide variety of hiking trails, whether you want just to admire nature and the breathtaking views or if you are a sports enthusiast wanting to pedal on bikes (regular or electric) or go on nature trails. Guided tours from Schloss Elmau through lakes and picturesque views are available. You can choose long or short routes, and no matter what you choose—the pastoral scenery, mountain air, and connection to nature and spaces are an unforgettable experience in themselves.
You can head out from Schloss Elmau towards the village of Mittenwald, located at an altitude of 900 meters at the foot of the Alps, passing by the towns of Lautersee and Ferchensee on the way. The old center of Mittenwald, Altstadt, is a recommended stop, and it's even advisable to stop there for a typical local meal with a Bavarian beer. An electric vehicle is available for guests at Schloss Elmau free of charge. Photo: Passportnews. From Schloss Elmau, you can also travel to the famous Austrian ski town of Innsbruck, only a half-hour drive away. You can do this in one of the BMW electric vehicles at Schloss Elmau, Model IX, at no charge, just remember to schedule beforehand, and in general, you can travel to any destination in the area with these vehicles. Note that it's an electric vehicle with a limited range of approximately 350 km without charging.
So before we vacated Schloss Elmau for those world leaders, we'll sum up the dream once again: nine pools, 6 spa complexes, exotic tours, music, jazz performances, fine culinary, Uri Buri in the German version, green driving in an electric BMW in the Alps at no charge, cycling in one of the most beautiful valleys in Europe, and lots and lots of relaxation for the body and soul. There's much more, but we'll let you discover some of it yourself, because you really must visit here.
Like a Dream. Schloss Elmau. Photo: PassportnewsThe writer was a guest of Schloss Elmau and Terranova Tourism and Marketing