Spas Schloss Elmau Luxury Spa Retreat & Cultural Hideaway, Germany
Luxury for the soul European Spa heads for the Bavarian Alps to visit Schloss Elmau Luxury Spa Retreat & Cultural Hideaway – a beacon for creativity, wellbeing and ‘next-level’ luxury R EP OR T BY S A R A H C A M I L L E R I
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isruptive innovation is not typically found at the luxury end of hospitality, yet one unique resort, tucked away in the Bavarian Alps, is ripping up the rulebook, thanks to its forward-thinking owner’s devotion to creativity and self-expression. The award-winning Schloss Elmau Luxury Spa Retreat & Cultural Hideaway, located around 100km south of Munich, Germany, is an example of what happens when an entrepreneur with a passion for music, politics and debate starts to imagine how to wrap spa concepts around a truly cultural experience where luxury is all about choice. Dietmar Müller-Elmau, the IT visionary who created Fidelio hotel management software, now owned by Oracle, made a significant investment that has not only helped to position Schloss Elmau as one of Germany’s top resorts, but also secured recognition for its unique approach to high-end hospitality. Importantly, his vision was to create a concert hall and cultural experience surrounded by a luxury spa resort, rather than a spa resort with a concert hall added. As well as two hotels on-site there are five separate spas offering an impressive breadth of wellness facilities and relaxation spaces. Their unique spa programmes are complemented by a year-round cultural celebration of classical music, literature and poetry.
Levels of luxury Chosen to host world leaders for the G7 conference of nations in 2015, the retreat’s star-studded guest list has included Angela Merkel, Barack Obama and many other global influencers from politics, business and the arts. “We have 162 rooms, more than 300 employees and over 8,300sqm of spa space, including a hamman, two gyms, two fitness rooms and eight swimming pools, six of which are outside,” says Nikolai Bloyd, Schloss Elmau’s general manager, whose passion for the property stems from memorable family holidays spent there as a child. “What sets Schloss Elmau apart, first and foremost is Left: An aerial view captures the natural, bright and colourful essence of Schloss Elmau Luxury Spa Retreat & Cultural Hideaway in the Bavarian Alps
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the location; we’re in the middle of a pristine Alpine valley in a national forest, so completely surrounded by nature. Our guests and their kids arrive from the city – be it Berlin, Paris or London – they glow with the amount of nature around them,” says Bloyd. “I think our setting relaxes people and makes them realise that although we’re luxury, it’s not a self-conscious luxury. It is about being natural.” Schloss Elmau welcomes some of the world’s most promising classical musicians to share their talents through ‘play-to-stay’ performances in its purpose-built concert hall – an aspect of the retreat that Bloyd says is at the core of its intentions. “Luxury at the first level was almost spiritual – the nature and music,” he continues. “Luxury at the second level has been our attention to detail – the beautiful rooms, the comfort, the lighting, the food, the restaurants, the Michelin star and the entire spa offering. Over the last 10 years we have completed an entire reconstruction of the property after a major fire destroyed two thirds of the castle. This included building The Retreat, the spas and various restaurants to take our luxury to the next level.”
Family friendly Opened in 2015, the resort’s elegant The Retreat is luxuriously styled with Asian accents and a warm palette of reds, russet and gold, and offers 47 spacious suites and rooms as well as spectacular views of the Wetterstein mountains and forests beyond. Its 2,000sqm Shantigiri Spa is divided into two areas – an Adult and Lady Spa, and a family space – and also offers a 120sqm Yoga Pavilion. Elsewhere, the 3,000sqm Badehaus Spa offers three floors of thermal experiences, pools and yoga space, a treatment floor and dedicated consultation space for the retreat’s new Turtle
“I think our setting relaxes people and makes them realise that although we’re luxury, it’s not a self-conscious luxury. It is about being natural.” Nikolai Bloyd General manager
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