One gaze from the mountain plateau was enough for British aristocrat Mary Isabel Portman to decide in 1913: “This is where I am going to build my castle.“ And what a castle it is!
Built in the style of the English arts and crafts movement that merged the two disciplines, the estate is an extraordinary example of the country house style. Today, a new British spirit reigns the house. Celebrated London designer Ilse Crawford furnished the wellness hotel – with humor and class. It reminds us of the “Soho House” with its over-dimensional floor lamps, Arne Jacobsen’s swan chairs combined with tables by Eero Saarinen and bubble lamps by George Nelson in front of colorfully painted walls.
You are spoilt for choice when it comes to deciding where to cozy up after a relaxing day in the impressive spa area: in the dining room, in front of one of the fireplaces or at the bar? Every one of these places offers spectacular views of the mountain ranges Wetterstein, Karwendel and Zugspitze, surrounded by woods and flowery meadows.
The Kranzbach is very private and blissfully secluded from the world, located in the middle of a nature reserve. If you are travelling alone, you can enjoy your three-course dinner at one of the large “communication tables”.
Some time ago, the castle has been expanded with modest, modern and light-flooded adjoining buildings. They blend into the landscape perfectly. The rooms at the “Mary Portman House” are a bit more extravagant with their high ceilings and tapestries covered in drawings of bumblebees, butterflies and beds of clouds.
Address: Kranzbach 1, 82493 Kranzbach bei Garmisch-Partenkirchen
Tel: 0049 (0)8823 928000
Internet: www.daskranzbach.de
Prices: 292€ for 2 incl. half board
Discover many more tips in our book ”Eine perfekte Woche im…Bayerischen Alpenvorland” (A perfect week in the Bavarian Alps), and where to find things that are so typical for the region. Without searching for a long time you can discover one favorite place after another. The right hotel, an unforgettable restaurant, a visit to a farmyard, a hidden location, a wonderful hike. The goal is not to see everything, merely the really authentic and special things. You will enjoy returning to these places, because they welcome you like old friends. 7 days Bavarian Alps in a nutshell, with photographs, addresses, interviews, recipes, portraits and activities.
