Wes Anderson’s The Grand Budapest Hotel was quickly lauded as a must-see movie for anyone who appreciates the director’s quirky and fun-loving style. That buzz re-emerged over this past Oscars weekend, which saw the film sweep four awards for technical brilliance, as well as earning a runner-up spot for Best Picture.
What’s confusing about the movie's eponymous hotel is its location. Set in the fictional Republic of Zubrowka, depicted as a Central European state ravaged by war, the movie was largely shot in Görlitz, Germany – so why the name?
While director Wes Anderson maintains his masterpiece was an entirely fictional creation, with no connection to the Hungarian capital, aspects of the Corinthia Hotel Budapest bear an uncanny resemblance.
Perhaps that’s because Anderson visited the hotel in 2012. The director enjoyed a full tour of the formerly-named Grand Hotel Royal, which has a remarkably similar façade to the Hollywood hotel – but its connection to movie magic doesn’t end there.
The Grand Hotel Royal opened 1896 as Europe’s first grand hotel and royal spa. Cinematic pioneers, the Lumière brothers, held their first cinematographic screening outside of Paris in Continental Europe, at the hotel that May.
Later, in 1915, the hotel’s Royal Ballroom was transformed into the Royal Apollo Cinema seating over 1,000 viewers. In 2002, the luxury Corinthia Hotel Group, painstakingly and elegantly, restored the original Grand Hotel Royal to its former glory. The hotel is also one of the first European properties to feature en-suite bathrooms and electric lifts – a huge hit when introduced over a century ago.
A cinematic experience
Given the Oscar-winning connection to Anderson’s movie, and such rich cinematic history, the hotel has decided to launch “The Grand Budapest Hotel” package to offer guests the unique chance to live the life of the 1930’s elite in a hotel originally opened in 1896 as the Grand Hotel Royal.
Guests will also receive a tailor-made guided historical tour of this ‘Grande Dame’ hotel, receiving special room amenities – and of course the opportunity to watch this Wes Anderson’s award-winning movie within the walls of the hotel which (has allegedly) inspired it.
The hotel website puts it like this: "Experience the life of the 1930s elite, as depicted in this fabulous movie, with our amazing package – which includes airport transfers with a limousine, guided historical hotel tour, a special treate in your room and of course, the opportunity to watch this world famous movie between the walls of our dazzling Hotel."
The “Grand Budapest Hotel” Package includes:
The package is priced at EUR 409 (US $465) for two nights for two people