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Sometimes a hotel is just a place where we want to sleep and recharge our batteries for further sightseeing or work! However, there are hotels that can be a good destination. Grandhotel Pupp in Karlovy Vary definitely belongs to the second group!
Localisation
Grandhotel Pupp is located in Karlovy Vary – one of the most popular Czech spas. It is located a bit off the beaten track – on the Tepla River (Warm). Very close to the hotel is the funicular to the hill and the Diana lookout tower.
History of Grandhotel Pupp
The history of the hotel dates back to 1701 when the Saxon Hall was built in Karlovy Vary. 7 years later, the Czech Hall was built, which, together with the first one, formed the basis for the later Grandhotel Pupp building. In 1759, Karlovy Vary was hit by a fire. The Pupp family appeared in Karlovy Vary in 1767. Jan Jiří Pop, due to the fact that the lands belonged to Germany, took the name of Johann Georg Pupp. In 1778 the Pupp family bought the Bohemian Hall from the Becher family (those from Becherovka). In 1821 a flood come to Karlovy Vary and destroyed the Bohemian and Saxon Halls. A year later they were rebuilt. After legal problems, Czech Hall returned to the Pupp family in 1868.
Twenty-two years later, the family purchased Saxon Hall, and in the meantime, plans to rebuild the place were being prepared. In 1892, the cornerstone was laid for the new building, which was opened two years later. Later years brought a few more reconstructions. In 1923 all rooms were equipped with bathrooms. In 1945, the hotel was nationalized and taken away from the Pupp family. A few years later it changed its name to Grandhotel Moscow. The hotel was returned to private hands in 1992.
James Bond
Grandhotel Pupp is linked with movies. He not only hosts participants of the Karlovy Vary Film Festival but also starred in several films. One of the most famous movies you’ve probably seen is the adventures of Agent 007 – Casino Royale. This place played the role of the Hotel Splendide in Montenegro.
In addition to the adventures of James Bond, the hotel also features the action of the movie Last Holidays, in which they play, among others Queen Latifah, Timothy Hutton and Giancarlo Esposito.
Rooms
Grandhotel Pupp has 228 rooms of different standards (the hotel has 5 *). You have my room in the first picture! However, I also had the opportunity to see other rooms and they make quite an impression. From some of the rooms we have a beautiful view of the river and the spa center.
The largest and most expensive room is the presidential suite which was occupied during my stay and unfortunately it was not possible to see it. It is 130 square meters and is designed for 3 people. This room is chosen by the celebrities who stay at this hotel.
What else?
The hotel offers a lot of attractions in its interior. Looking from the outside, it gives the impression of being large, and walking inside this impression only deepens. Guests have at their disposal a swimming pool with SPA and saunas as well as restaurants. An interesting place is also the pub (Becher’s Bar), where you can enjoy a beer or something stronger. The hotel also has a cafe (Café Pupp) where, as you can guess, you can drink coffee and eat something sweet.
Famous guests!
Many distinguished guests have stayed at the hotel. Among them, it is worth mentioning:
- Johann S. Bach
- Ludwig van Beethoven
- Giacomo Casanova
- Niccoló Paganini
- Richard Wagner
- Otto von Bismarck
- Napoleon Bonaparte
- Louis Bonaparte
- Franz Josef I
- Peter the Great
- Maria Teresa
- Adam Mickiewicz
- Fryderyk Chopin
- Antonín Dvořák
- Sigmund Freud
- Alfons Mucha
- Franz Kafka
- Eduard VII
- Juan Carlos I
- Harald V
- Yuri Gagarin
- Václav Havel
- T. G. Masaryk
- Karel Gott
Food
The meals at the hotel are excellent. The breakfast buffet was very extensive, and the dinner buffet, which I used, was very impressive. If you dream of a glass of Prosecco with breakfast, you will get it at Grandhotel Pupp without any problems! ?
Surroundings?
Karlovy Vary is a beautiful city with lots to see. A simple walk along the river bank with a spa waffle is a pleasant experience. If you don’t know what to do in the area, I recommend the text: Karlovy Vary for the weekend.