My first glimpse of Schloss Elmau came after driving through the storybook towns of Mittenwald and Klais with their quaint Bavarian architecture, frescoed exteriors, and country feel. Then I turned a corner on the back road to Schloss Elmau and saw it for the first time. Ah, I thought, this is where the king and queen would live. All those cute little towns…those are for everybody else.
The sprawling property of Schloss Elmau is located an easy 15 minute drive from Mittenwald, Germany, one of the premier Bavarian towns for travelers to visit due to the painted frescoes on the exterior of its buildings and the pleasant downtown area with a stream running through it.
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Be close to the charm of Mittenwald while staying in mass luxury in the country at Schloss Elmau.
Schloss Elmau has a modern castle feel to it. Built in 1916, it was massively remodeled after a fire destroyed part of it in 2005.
Today, it’s part of the Leading Hotels of the World collection and it’s no surprise why. The exterior gives off a glamorous and historic vibe against the mountains jutting up behind it. The drive to reception passes manicured lawns and a long pool of water with an infinity edge.
Indoors, its easy to see why the independently owned and operated resort (the owner is the grandson of the founder) appeals to both families and couples due to its dichotomy of adult-only and kid-friendly spaces.
There is an adults-only spa area with two outdoor pools, one on the ground level and one elevated above with a great view of the grounds. The second-story pool stays heated in the winter for use year-round.
The spa is nearby and offers a variety of treatments. The spa director is a medical doctor, making the treatments both soothing and effective, plus Schloss Elmau has its own beauty line, which uses natural ingredients.
Schloss Elmau also has the biggest hamman in Europe outside of Istanbul.
Kids also have use to an indoor pool, which is ideal for families with children of all ages. To make children feel welcome and like they have their own special space at Schloss Elmau, there is even a kid sauna for their use, which is kept several degrees cooler than a typical sauna.
Children also can partake in the kid program which puts a focus on music, literature, and art-based activities. Or they can browse the children’s section at the Schloss Elmau’s onsite bookstore.
Schloss Elmau encourages its guests to stay active. Pilates – including reformer machines – and yoga are offered, along with a fitness center. Guests can also partake in weekly guided hikes. In the winter, guests can rent skis, snowboards, jackets, and anything else they need to hit one of the nearby slopes.
In addition, there is an onsite trampoline, volleyball nets, and a playground.
Schloss Elmau is expanding over the next couple years to include an outdoor pool for kids. Kids can also pass the time with their parents by picking out new books to read in the onsite bookstore.
When guests aren’t exploring the resort and the nearby village towns of Bavaria, they can relax in one of Schloss Elmau’s sumptuous rooms.
Many dining options are also available, with six onsite restaurants and guests get a daily credit to use in the restaurants for breakfast or dinner. The onsite dining includes al fresco grill nights on sunny evenings or the opportunity to dine in Luce d’Oro, a Michelin-star restaurant. A free daily cake is also offered for a snack in the tea room.
After dinner, guests can head over to Schloss Elmau’s concert hall, which has an average of 220 concerts every year. They are big on culture at Schloss Elmau and the concerts often focus on local culture and music.
Ultimately, if you want to stay in absolute country bliss while visiting the southern area of Germany’s Bavaria region, look no further than the Schloss Elmau Resort and Spa.
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Yes, they definitely do a good job of catering both to families and to couples.
I love staying in castles and playing queen for a few days! This looks like a beautiful one and I especially love that there is an adult only pool.