Once upon a time... 5 Houses full of Art, Culture & Film History
When walls have stories to tell
Festivals, Concerts, Film Locations
Our Schlosshotels are more than just places to stay – they are stages, libraries, museums. They tell stories of inspiring figures, artistic visions, and iconic cinematic moments. Behind their old walls, history comes alive – subtly, powerfully, and deeply rooted. What once drew thinkers, artists, and adventurers continues to fascinate to this day. And while history lives on inside, cultural life pulses all around – through festivals, concerts, and vibrant creative energy.
Be it the inspiration for the world-famous Chanel jacket at Schloss Mittersill, the cultural legacy of Max Reinhardt and the story of The Sound of Music at Schloss Leopoldskron, Tobias Moretti’s stage-themed room at Hotel Altstadt Vienna, Puccini’s poetic librettos from Villa Soleil, or the true story behind The English Patient at Burg Bernstein – these five houses tell of legendary names, living culture, and a brilliance that was never loud, yet resonates even today.
Schloss Mittersill: Home of the Coco Chanel Jacket
High above the Salzach river valley rises Schloss Mittersill – majestic, yet nestled amid the serene expanses of the Kitzbühel Alps and Hohe Tauern range. In the 1930s, Baron Hubert von Pantz breathed new life into its historic walls, transforming them into a retreat for aristocrats, Hollywood stars, and titans of industry.
One of the most remarkable guests was undoubtedly Coco Chanel. The French fashion icon returned to the castle time and again – not least due to her romantic connection with the host. Here, inspired by the simple traditional jacket of a lift boy, the idea for the legendary Chanel jacket is said to have been born. A piece of fashion history, worn by style icons and once celebrated by Karl Lagerfeld with the words: “Some things never go out of fashion – jeans, a white shirt, and a Chanel jacket.” A befitting tribute to that era is today’s Chanel Suite – elegant, charming, and inspired by its famous namesake.
“Sport & Shooting Club Mittersill” – Europe’s most exclusive Society Hotspot
During World War II, Schloss Mittersill was seized by the National Socialists, and Baron Hubert von Pantz was forced into exile in the United States. After returning in 1948, he founded the “Sport & Shooting Club Mittersill” and transformed the estate into one of Europe’s most exclusive clubs for high society – praised even by VOGUE as “Austria’s most talked-about address.”
Where History Lives On: Schloss Mittersill Today
Since 2009, the estate has been back in local hands. Lovingly restored, this 4-star-superior hotel now blends historic grandeur with modern comforts. Time and again, former guests return with nostalgia in their hearts – to see what has become of the castle, and to relive memories of unforgettable days spent in Mittersill.
Today, Schloss Mittersill is, more than ever, a stage for special occasions. Art and culture permeate its ancient walls and can be felt in every corner of the house. Above all, the Bösendorfer Hall keeps the brilliance of the past alive. Its centerpiece: a Bösendorfer grand piano – a true masterpiece of Austrian piano-making craftsmanship. Cultural life also pulses beyond the castle walls: every July, the Burgfest in Kaprun combines medieval spectacle together with the lightness of summer, reviving the past for one magical moment.
And whilst the story of the Chanel jacket began in Mittersill, it was celebrated decades later at another of our Schlosshotels in a quite extraordinary way: in December 2014, Karl Lagerfeld transformed Schloss Leopoldskron into a runway stage, allowing Coco Chanel’s legacy to shine once again.
Hotel Schloss Leopoldskron: Where "The Sound of Music" was born – and big ideas found a home
A film made history – and with it, so did Schloss Leopoldskron. As a backdrop for "The Sound of Music," this baroque jewel of Salzburg became world-famous and remains inseparably linked with the magic of that story. Based on the true tale of the von Trapp family, the film touched millions and found a splendid location amid the palace’s elegant rooms and gardens. The opulent Venetian Room served as inspiration for the ballroom and was faithfully reconstructed for the film. The white gazebo on the grounds also became a romantic setting for unforgettable scenes. The film’s global success drew visitors from around the world to Leopoldskron – so many, in fact, that the gazebo was eventually relocated to Schloss Hellbrunn, where it now serves as an immensely popular wedding backdrop. Yet its origins and its magic will forever be tied to this place.
The Max Reinhardt Library – A Space for Books, Encounters & Big Ideas
Even before the Schloss became a film set, it was already a stage for great minds. In the 1920s, Max Reinhardt – theater pioneer and co-founder of the Salzburg Festival – breathed new life into this palace by building a magnificent library. Inspired by the Abbey Library of St. Gallen, he created a space of exquisite woods, ornate stuccowork, secret doors, and an intangible harmony that extends far beyond what is visible. The library was much more than a place to store books. It became a vibrant gathering place, the intellectual heart of the palace. Ideas, characters, and entire plays came to life here – including Carl Zuckmayer’s "The Captain of Köpenick," which was actually born after a late-night conversation with Reinhardt. Especially on those days when Salzburg is wrapped in a gentle mist, this room unfolds its full magic – as a quiet refuge for thought, dialogue, and stories. A place that shows why Schloss Leopoldskron is worth a visit in any season.
“Marshall Plan for the Mind” – Salzburg as a Global Hub for Ideas
The spirit of intellectual openness that has always defined Schloss Leopoldskron lives on to this day. At the Salzburg Global Seminar, thought leaders from around the world – Nobel laureates, judges, CEOs, artists, and students – gather away from the public spotlight to discuss the pressing issues of our time. Founded in 1947 by three Harvard students, the initiative has become known as a "Marshall Plan for the mind": a place of dialogue, created to overcome past divisions and build a better future together. Over 37,000 participants from 170 countries have visited since – in a palace that not only preserves history, but actively shapes the future.
Hotel Altstadt Vienna: Art You Can Inhabit
In the heart of Vienna’s creative Seventh District lies Hotel Altstadt Vienna – a stylish refuge for anyone who doesn’t merely want to look at art, but also to live in it. Each suite is one of a kind, designed by renowned artists such as Lena Hoschek and Atelier Olschinsky. The entire house is at once gallery, studio, and meeting space. In its hallways, salons, and rooms, one encounters a remarkable collection of contemporary art – with works by Andy Warhol, Brigitte Kowanz, Markus Prachensky, Gottfried Helnwein, and many others. Together, they give the house its unmistakable character: personal, inspiring – and filled with genuine Viennese Gemütlichkeit.
From complaint to a hotel room of his own: The Moretti Room at Altstadt Vienna
Tucked away amongst the art, character, and Viennese charm, there is a room at the Altstadt Vienna with a special story – created by someone who doesn’t particularly enjoy traveling, but has continued to return here for over twenty years: actor Tobias Moretti. After staying in a room he felt was “too much inside the architect’s head,” the hotel owner responded with a wink: “Then let him make one himself.” And so, together with interior designer Eugenie Arlt and artist Degenhard Andrulat, the Moretti Room was born – a space that bridges his two worlds: the vastness of the Tyrolean mountains and the depth of the Viennese stage. A quiet, powerful room balancing nature and culture, retreat and expression – entirely consistent with the spirit of the house.
“What I value about Hotel Altstadt Vienna is its unmistakable atmosphere [...] For someone who dislikes leaving home but loves arriving, it’s both comfort and blessing.” – Tobias Moretti
Especially in summer, the creative energy of Altstadt Vienna merges with the rhythm of the city – when, during Kultursommer Wien from late June to mid-August, the parks and squares close to the hotel become open-air stages for music, theater, and literature.
Villa Soleil: Where Words Became Music
Nestled in the hills of Piedmont, Villa Soleil is an architectural jewel from the early 18th century. Lovingly restored by Portuguese-Italian architect Alfredo d’Andrade, it once served as the summer residence of surgeon and patron of the arts Piero Giacosa, and became the most prominent cultural stage of its time. In the midst of this, we encounter Giuseppe Giacosa, Piero’s brother and librettist of operas that, in collaboration with Puccini, would become landmarks of musical history. The words to La Bohème, Tosca, and Madama Butterfly? They were penned right here.
A Silent Echo of History
To this day, the rooms of Villa Soleil carry the gentle echo of that era – for instance, in the “Una Partita Scacchi” room (“A Game of Chess”) with its antique fireplace and Savoy coat of arms, beneath hand-painted coffered ceilings, or in the salon where the fireplace bears the signatures of illustrious guests like Arrigo Boito and Giosuè Carducci. Even the in-house restaurant reflects this spirit in its name: Il Ritrovo dei Poeti – “The Poets’ Gathering” – serving regional Piedmontese specialties in an atmosphere more reminiscent of a literary salon than a conventional restaurant. And for those wishing to fully immerse themselves in the operatic world, there is the romantic “Madame Butterfly” junior suite – with park views and a lingering hint of the aria that once began here: “Un bel dì vedremo.”
Burg Bernstein: The true story behind "The English Patient"
Anyone who has seen “The English Patient” knows of László Almásy – or at least the Hollywood version of his life. What many don’t realize: the real man behind the Oscar-winning drama was born in 1895 at Burg Bernstein. Countless stories, legends, half-truths, and outright inventions surround Almásy. What truly happened? Likely only he ever knew. In any case, his life provided the perfect canvas for the imagination and inspired author Michael Ondaatje to write his celebrated novel “The English Patient,” which was later adapted into a film starring Ralph Fiennes and won nine Academy Awards in 1996 – including for Best Picture.
Roof Trusses, a Twist of Fate – and the Start of a Remarkable Story
The fact that the Almásy family came to own this castle at all was due to an odd twist of fate: they responded to an advertisement offering the castle’s roof beams for sale. But rather than buying just the timber, they ended up acquiring the entire estate. To this day, that same roof spans the castle – the place where a boy grew up who would go on to become a spy, desert explorer, and legend. One of the aircraft models Almásy flew during the war, by the way – an Aviatik-Berg machine – is now displayed in the Vienna Museum of Technology. His name is still etched into the cockpit, clearly visible even today.
Dracula at Burg Bernstein
Aside from the epic stories, this castle also holds a few delightful little anecdotes in store – like the one about László and his brother János, who found a way to give an English guest a fright. They wrote the word “Dracula” in wax above the fireplace and painted over it in white. As the fire crackled that evening and the wax began to melt, the letters gradually became visible. The guest could hardly believe his eyes – and the brothers got a big chuckle out of their harmless prank.
Our Schlosshotels are places where culture doesn’t shout – it lives. They speak in subtle gestures, in quiet moments. Perhaps that is why they move us so greatly – because they don’t try to impress. Because they listen. And because they offer us a rare gift: the sense of being part of something enduring.
