Fairy-tale castle: G7 venue Schloss Elmau | All media content | DW | 21.06.2022

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Travel

Fairy-tale castle: G7 venue Schloss Elmau

This week, the G7 summit was held for the second time in the Alpine castle of Schloss Elmau in southern Germany. What makes the five-star luxury hotel so special? We found out.

  • View of Elmau castle over a flowering meadow.

    Location, location, location!

    This aspect is so important, as any real estate agent will tell you, it's worth repeating. Schloss Elmau definitely fulfills these three criteria. The castle is located in Germany near the Austrian border — about 100 kilometers (62 miles) south of Munich in one of the most beautiful regions of the Alps. Its remote placement makes it perfect for those seeking peace and quiet — and heads of state.

  • View from a terrace of Elmau Castle on meadow and mountains in morning fog

    Sunlight? Not important!

    Even when the sun isn't shining, the landscape is radiant. Everywhere on the spacious grounds, guests can find sunbeds and umbrellas, where they can enjoy the landscape in peace. The main house is aptly named The Hideaway, for its retreat-like quality. But there are also plenty of hiding places on the grounds.

  • A lounge in the Hideaway building with armchairs, sofas and tables

    No fear of overcrowding

    The name The Hideaway also fits well because, according to the hotel, only about 35% of the space can be rented, which is rare for such a large hotel. The majority of the space is public space, which is why Schloss Elmau never seems overcrowded. This lounge (pictured) is one of the public areas, and there is also a library, bookstore, clothing store and more.

  • The concert hall of Schloss Elmau with chairs lined up as if ready for a concert.

    Play to stay

    Schloss Elmau also has a concert hall where musicians perform more than 200 concerts a year, which the hotel says makes it one of the largest concert organizers in Germany. One unique aspect is that the musicians who perform here do not receive payment, but can stay in the castle for free. This is what the hotel calls "play to stay." Guests, then, can also enjoy the concerts for free.

  • Barack Obama is sitting on a wooden bench. Angela Merkel stands in front of him and gestures

    A wooden bench with history

    This picture went viral during the last G7 summit at Schloss Elmau in 2015. It shows then-US President Barack Obama sitting on a bench while former German Chancellor Angela Merkel seems to be explaining the ways of the world to him — or perhaps showing him how big the bench is. These days, the bench in front of the hotel has become a popular photo spot.

  • A chair with elephant fabric and a pillow with elephant fabric on a sofa

    Elephants everywhere

    One thing that's not in short supply at Schloss Elmau is an elephant motif, which can be found on fabrics, coasters and more. Castle owner Dietmar Müller-Elmau discovered an Indian fabric with an elephant motif in the corner of a store and was enamored by it. Having lived in India, he knew the elephant was a symbol of good judgment and memory and set out to incorporate it into the hotel's design.

  • The wood-paneled interior of restaurant Luce d'Oro, including tables chairs and smaller tables for handbags

    What's with the small tables?

    With a total of nine restaurants, Schloss Elmau has something for every taste. The crown jewel is the Michelin-starred Luce d'Oro with chef Christoph Rainer. It features meals of up to 12 courses, and every attention to detail is paid. Each table even has a smaller table nearby, just for handbags.

  • The main room of the hamam with a stone platform in the middle

    Plenty of spa options

    Even if this domed room of the Oriental Hammam looks spartan, the entire spa area of the bathhouse is far from it. This is the main room of the 500-meter (5,400 sq ft) spa, with its four treatment rooms, three-domed rooms, two steam baths, an Oriental Tea Lounge and massage treatment options. After all, G7 conversations are sure to prompt a need for some world leaders to take a breather.

  • View of the Retreat building with a river in front and lounge chairs next to the river.

    A hotel in a hotel ideal for the G7

    In 2015, Schloss Elmau launched its G7 optimized hotel within a hotel, called The Retreat. Located 100 meters (about 300 feet) away from The Hideaway, it's approximately half its size with 47 suites, and offers the chance for world leaders to be among themselves. At the G7, each head of state and government gets a handful of rooms for themselves and their aides. The rest stay at The Hideaway.

  • A bedroom of the Summit Suite with a view of the bed and views out the windows on three sides of the room

    With views like this, there's no need for a TV

    With impressive views of the Wetterstein mountains and valley from windows on three sides of each bedroom in The Retreat, watching TV is hardly necessary — although the rooms still have one. Each of the Summit Suites also has a living room, a hallway with storage and a smaller room. Although the hotel has plenty of unique features, its location in nature is truly one of a kind.


  • View of Elmau castle over a flowering meadow.

    Location, location, location!

    This aspect is so important, as any real estate agent will tell you, it's worth repeating. Schloss Elmau definitely fulfills these three criteria. The castle is located in Germany near the Austrian border — about 100 kilometers (62 miles) south of Munich in one of the most beautiful regions of the Alps. Its remote placement makes it perfect for those seeking peace and quiet — and heads of state.

  • View from a terrace of Elmau Castle on meadow and mountains in morning fog

    Sunlight? Not important!

    Even when the sun isn't shining, the landscape is radiant. Everywhere on the spacious grounds, guests can find sunbeds and umbrellas, where they can enjoy the landscape in peace. The main house is aptly named The Hideaway, for its retreat-like quality. But there are also plenty of hiding places on the grounds.

  • A lounge in the Hideaway building with armchairs, sofas and tables

    No fear of overcrowding

    The name The Hideaway also fits well because, according to the hotel, only about 35% of the space can be rented, which is rare for such a large hotel. The majority of the space is public space, which is why Schloss Elmau never seems overcrowded. This lounge (pictured) is one of the public areas, and there is also a library, bookstore, clothing store and more.

  • The concert hall of Schloss Elmau with chairs lined up as if ready for a concert.

    Play to stay

    Schloss Elmau also has a concert hall where musicians perform more than 200 concerts a year, which the hotel says makes it one of the largest concert organizers in Germany. One unique aspect is that the musicians who perform here do not receive payment, but can stay in the castle for free. This is what the hotel calls "play to stay." Guests, then, can also enjoy the concerts for free.

  • Barack Obama is sitting on a wooden bench. Angela Merkel stands in front of him and gestures

    A wooden bench with history

    This picture went viral during the last G7 summit at Schloss Elmau in 2015. It shows then-US President Barack Obama sitting on a bench while former German Chancellor Angela Merkel seems to be explaining the ways of the world to him — or perhaps showing him how big the bench is. These days, the bench in front of the hotel has become a popular photo spot.

  • A chair with elephant fabric and a pillow with elephant fabric on a sofa

    Elephants everywhere

    One thing that's not in short supply at Schloss Elmau is an elephant motif, which can be found on fabrics, coasters and more. Castle owner Dietmar Müller-Elmau discovered an Indian fabric with an elephant motif in the corner of a store and was enamored by it. Having lived in India, he knew the elephant was a symbol of good judgment and memory and set out to incorporate it into the hotel's design.

  • The wood-paneled interior of restaurant Luce d'Oro, including tables chairs and smaller tables for handbags

    What's with the small tables?

    With a total of nine restaurants, Schloss Elmau has something for every taste. The crown jewel is the Michelin-starred Luce d'Oro with chef Christoph Rainer. It features meals of up to 12 courses, and every attention to detail is paid. Each table even has a smaller table nearby, just for handbags.

  • The main room of the hamam with a stone platform in the middle

    Plenty of spa options

    Even if this domed room of the Oriental Hammam looks spartan, the entire spa area of the bathhouse is far from it. This is the main room of the 500-meter (5,400 sq ft) spa, with its four treatment rooms, three-domed rooms, two steam baths, an Oriental Tea Lounge and massage treatment options. After all, G7 conversations are sure to prompt a need for some world leaders to take a breather.

  • View of the Retreat building with a river in front and lounge chairs next to the river.

    A hotel in a hotel ideal for the G7

    In 2015, Schloss Elmau launched its G7 optimized hotel within a hotel, called The Retreat. Located 100 meters (about 300 feet) away from The Hideaway, it's approximately half its size with 47 suites, and offers the chance for world leaders to be among themselves. At the G7, each head of state and government gets a handful of rooms for themselves and their aides. The rest stay at The Hideaway.

  • A bedroom of the Summit Suite with a view of the bed and views out the windows on three sides of the room

    With views like this, there's no need for a TV

    With impressive views of the Wetterstein mountains and valley from windows on three sides of each bedroom in The Retreat, watching TV is hardly necessary — although the rooms still have one. Each of the Summit Suites also has a living room, a hallway with storage and a smaller room. Although the hotel has plenty of unique features, its location in nature is truly one of a kind.


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U.S. President Joe Biden is officially welcomed by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Britta Ernst, Minister of Education, Youth of the Federal State of Brandenburg, to the G7 Summit at Bavaria's Schloss Elmau castle, near Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, June 26, 2022. Susan Walsh/Pool via REUTERS

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