Photos courtesy of Schlosshotel Kronberg
The history of Kronberg surrounds the Empress Victoria, mother of Kaiser Wilhelm II and daughter of England’s Queen Victoria.
Happily married to the German emperor Frederick III until his untimely death, Victoria, try as she might, was never really accepted by the German ruling class. After the death of her husband, she remained in Germany and built Kronberg as a blend of a 16th-century German Renaissance palace and an English country manor with Gothic elements. Gardens were laid out to an English design.
Victoria lived in the palace until her death in 1901. She had no shortage of relatives come to visit: Queen Victoria; her brother, King Edward VII; the last Russian tsar, Nicholas II.
Her daughter, Princess Margaret, took over responsibility for the house. During World War II, Margaret was forbidden to set foot on the property when the American army requisitioned it for a club. In 1953, the title was returned to the family. Empress Victoria’s grandsons arranged management for the palace’s new life as a hotel.
Pamela’s Perspective
Kronberg is something special among the castle and palace hotels of Germany. Although it’s a grand hotel now, the intimacy of its history permeates throughout. At times and in certain rooms, you feel that you’re in a museum. By all means, buy the small booklet in the gift shop that details the story of Victoria; her story is fascinating.
I like the fact that decent and direct transportation connects Frankfurt and Kronburg. Even though the walk from the station through the park is beautiful, if you have luggage, consider taking a taxi from the station. Although unstuffy, Kronberg isn’t exactly the kind of place where you want to huff and puff up to the door with bags.
Schlosshotel Kronberg
A 19th-century palace
Contact
Hainstrasse 25
D-61476 Kronberg
Tel: ++49 (0) 6173 701 01
Hotel website
Reserve with Booking.com
Fast facts
62 rooms including:
8 single rooms
42 double rooms
12 suites
Double rooms: from 225–305+ euros
Rates include tax and service;
breakfast additional
Packages available
Open: all year
Getting there
Kronberg is just 17 km to the northwest of Frankfurt. If driving, you’ll turn off on B-455. Kronberg is also the final stop on the S4 rail line from Frankfurt. The hotel is a 10-minute walk through the park.
What to do
On site: golf (must belong to
an international golf club and
have a handicap)
Nearby: swimming; tennis;
nearby spa
Weddings
The hotel can handle all arrangements. Civil marriages are performed on site; a carriage can transport you to a nearby church.
Grand, magnificent, and every inch a palace, Schloss Kronberg gives a fascinating glimpse into the world of 19th- and 20th-century monarchy.
Public rooms filled with books, paintings, tapestries, and porcelains are just as the Empress Victoria planned her home. Notice the priceless Gobelin tapestry at the top of the stairs, the wood-ceilinged hall, and the fine art of Turner and Reynolds on the walls. Private function rooms are exquisite.
Guest rooms are furnished with antiques and some reproductions, paintings, and Oriental carpets; some have fireplaces. For the ultimate splurge, the Royal Suite is where Empress Victoria slept herself.
Dinner is an elegant affair in a beautiful room reflective of the palace. In the afternoons, English tea is served.
Service throughout is first rate.
Something special
Palace concerts, readings, and cocktail classes
Property owned by descendants of England’s Queen Victoria