Discover Elmau: Schloss Elmau, culture and Alpine landscapes

Schloss Elmau combines a history as a cultural retreat with a long-running concert and festival programme. It is located in a protected high valley at the foot of the Alps. The development of the property, its cultural profile and the surrounding landscape therefore offer three distinct perspectives to consider when planning your trip.

Schloss Elmau: History and cultural programme

Schloss Elmau was built between 1914 and 1916 as a cultural retreat. After the major fire in 2005, it was rebuilt in 2007; the Retreat opened in 2015. These milestones are separated in time and tell different chapters in the development of the property. Schloss Elmau also hosted the G7 summits in 2015 and 2022. Its cultural founding vision, reconstruction and later international meetings are thus distinct landmarks in its history.

Schloss Elmau’s long-running programme includes concerts and festivals featuring internationally renowned artists. Up to 150 concerts, several festivals and recording sessions take place there each year. The cultural programme is therefore a focus in its own right, alongside the property’s history and its events. If you would like to include concert or festival dates in your travel plans, check the specific dates for your intended travel period.

A protected high valley at the foot of the Alps

Schloss Elmau’s location in a protected high valley at the foot of the Alps offers a second perspective on the place: alongside its history and cultural programme, the landscape is also part of its character. When planning your trip, you can therefore consider whether you would like to focus mainly on the cultural side, the Alpine surroundings or both. This links your choice of travel focus to a clear idea of what interests you about Elmau.

In the wider destination of Krün: Water, trails and culture

Krün offers its own range of regional attractions. Barmsee is a bathing lake in Krün; on its north-western shore there is a sunbathing lawn with views of the mountains of the Alpenwelt Karwendel. Swimming is a summer activity here. You can include time by the water as a distinct focus in your travel plans, separate from the cultural history of Schloss Elmau.

St. Sebastian’s Church is another highlight of Krün. It is located in the centre of the village, and its interior features subtle Rococo ornamentation. Those interested in church interiors and design will find a cultural accent here that differs clearly from Schloss Elmau’s concert and festival programme.

Two routes of different lengths offer opportunities to get active. The easy Isar Nature Adventure Trail is a 7.4-kilometre loop starting and ending in the centre of Krün. Themed areas and interactive stations introduce visitors in a fun way to the habitats and nature in and around the Isar. Route information may not always be up to date, so check the details before setting out. The very easy, 3.2-kilometre hike leads from the village centre to Maria Rast Chapel and through the hummocky meadows near Krün. The shorter route can be distinguished from the loop exploring the Isar habitat by its length and destination.

The Krün farmers’ theatre is another cultural facet: its comic plays in the Bavarian dialect make young and old alike laugh. Krün’s attractions thus range from summer swimming and nature experiences to church art and dialect theatre. If you are planning for different interests, you can consider these attractions separately rather than treating them as a single offering.

Find accommodation to suit your travel focus

When looking for accommodation in Elmau, it helps to first decide what you would like to focus on: Schloss Elmau offers points of interest in its history, cultural programme and Alpine setting. The wider destination of Krün has its own nature and cultural attractions. Tailor your search to the interests that matter most for your trip. This makes your choice of travel focus easy to follow, without treating attractions in Krün as features of Elmau.

Discover more destinations: Klais.

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