A touch of Hollywood in the Taunus highlands: In spring 2021, the majority of the interior scenes for the motion picture “Spencer” were filmed at the Schlosshotel Kronberg.
The film depicts Lady Di as a tragic protagonist as she spends the 1991 Christmas holidays with the royal family of Great Britain. With its British structural design and magnificent interiors, it closely resembles the original setting of Sandringham Castle in terms of architecture. The tradition-steeped luxury hotel is now one of five finalists on the shortlist for the European Location Award 2022, which will be presented at the Berlin International Film Festival Berlinale in February 2023.
Votes can be cast internationally at www.eufcn.com/location-award-2022 until January 31st, 2023.
Nominated as the best filming location in Europe
The EUFCN Location Award is the annual award for European film locations presented by the European Film Commission Network. A jury of five distinguished professionals have selected five locations for the now announced shortlist. In addition to the Schlosshotel Kronberg, locations in Switzerland, Greece, Scotland, and Croatia have been nominated for the European Location Award. The international public will have the chance to vote on the winner until the end of January – all participants have the chance to win a two-day stay at the winning location.
A film location to discover
The English Tudor-style jewel – today’s Schlosshotel Kronberg – was built at the end of the 19th century by Victoria Empress Frederick, the eldest daughter of Queen Victoria, who in turn was the great-great-great-grandmother of today’s King Charles III. Even today, the British heritage is still evident, so it comes as no surprise that the Schlosshotel Kronberg was chosen as the site for the shoot. Various areas of the hotel served as backdrops, including the reception hall, the library, and the red and green salons. General Manager Dominik Ritz recalls: “The filming was an extremely exciting experience for our entire team. A few details had to be adapted for filming in the hotel, for example the obviously German electrical sockets, but in most of the rooms hardly anything was changed. The paintings made especially for the film that were installed along the grand staircase can still be seen today.”
The various settings are open to hotel guests and there are countless reasons to visit the Schlosshotel Kronberg, even without “Lady Di”. Many elements such as the furniture, the carpets and the impressive collection of antiques and paintings, originated from the empress’s private estate.
British designer Nina Campbell has succeeded in staging this heritage in a contemporary manner. The first floor houses the empress’s former living quarters, which are now offered as overnight accommodations. Two restaurants, the cosy fireside lounge and bar, and the first-class 18-hole golf course are just some of the amenities guests can enjoy today.
A well-filled calendar of culinary and cultural events invites non-overnight guests to enjoy the hotel as well throughout the year. From salon concerts to literary evenings and gourmet events, the hotel offers something for every preference. In January and February, traditional fondue evenings will be held again in the Wintercottage in the castle park.