Hotel Elephant, Weimar

Known for entertaining the likes of Goethe, Bach, Tolstoy, and Mann since 1696, today's Hotel Elephant, Weimar operates on Weimer's Marktplatz square under the banner of Starwood's Luxury Collection. Despite the atmosphere steeped in 315 years of history, the hotel offers all the twenty-first century's bells and whistles, including ISDN and WLAN connection in the 99 guest rooms.

Rooms for events start with the Richard Wagner Hall, holding up to 200 guests under high glass ceilings. Smaller gatherings meet in the Carl August and Beletage salons, where natural light, modern technology, and art deco and Bauhaus styles ensure a harmonious setting for any occasion. The hotel also features memorable Michelin-starred delicacies at the Italian restaurant Anna Amalia and local specialties—like duck and dumplings and beer from the barrel—in the restored Elephantenkeller.