In many ways the fortunes of Budapest’s grand hotel run parallel to the recent history of one of Eastern Europe’s most charming cities. I couldn’t help thinking about the 2014 feature film The Grand Budapest Hotel that elicited 9 Academy award nominations and 4 wins as I checked into the Corinthia, Budapest.
The sweeping views from the atrium reminded me of some of the scenes from the film that won the Best Production Design Oscar.
In 1896, when the Grand Royal hotel (with its distinctive French renaissance design language) debuted to coincide with Budapest’s Millennium Exhibition, it was Europe’s most imposing hotel, with 350 guest rooms and a grand ball room where the Lumiere brothers would screen a motion picture for the first time ever in Budapest.
The hotel’s fortunes faded after the First World War and suffered heavy damages during the Second World War. It managed to reopen in 1953 but was eventually shut down in 1991 after a fire, a reconstruction and one more relaunch in the 1960s.
WHERE TO STAY
CORINTHIA
THE ORIGINAL 19th Century Grand Budapest hotel was recently revamped into a contemporary luxury address in the heart of the city. The hotel has one of Budapest’s most beautiful baths
WALLET: ₹25,000 onwards
WEB: www.corinthia.com
THE RITZ CARLTON BUDAPEST
A SHORT walk from St. Stephen's Basilica, Erzsébet Square and the River Danube, this hotel is set within a 20th century heritage building that balances modern luxury with a tint of tradition. Five-star amenities include Ipanema Brazilian Grill with creative Latin American cuisine and a spa
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