‘A place of healing for healthy people who feel burdened’ was how Johannes Muller, philosopher and founder of Schloss Elmau, described the castle in 1914 when it first opened. It instantly became a magnet for artists, bohemians, and aesthetes of all kinds looking for a cultural hideaway to rejuvenate their tired minds and bodies. It is still run along the same lines, and visitors come as much for it cultural leanings. There are around one hundred events throughout the year, featuring a literature week, jazz festival, dance and poetry workshops and political debates.

A fire in 2005 destroyed much of the building but a complete restoration has returned it to its former glory, and more besides. Set in a valley all on its own and framed by the Wetterstein, a near-vertical rock face, the scenery is truly breathtaking. There are soaring mountains, wildflower-strewn hillsides, crystal-clear lakes, the thinking of cowbells, and more than 112 km of hiking and mountain-bike trails to explore.

Each of the elegant 140 rooms and suites in the Elmau comes with a Bose sound system, silk-covered walls and gleaming floors made of polished oak or teak. Elmau offers two luxury spas, concert halls, there libraries, a bookstore, an upmarket shopping arcade, and six wonderful gourmet restaurants. Once a year, usually in November, chefs from around the world come to take part in the hotel’s international gourmet festivals.

Location: Bavaria, Germany