PRESS RELEASE

Majestic weddings in Aristocratic

MUNICH (by.TM, 2018 May 9th) The royal wedding of the year is just round the corner: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will be tying the knot at Windsor Castle in May 2018. Those hoping for a similarly magnificent setting for the happiest day of their lives will find that the initiative “Aristocratic Bavaria” from BAVARIA TOURISM offers a number of suitable locations for a fairy-tale wedding as well as many romantic honeymoon destinations.

Schloss Leitheim – a castle on the Romantic Road The name “Romantic Road” epitomises the feelings of many visitors when they first see Bavaria’s medieval towns and dream castles: enchantment, inspiration and a journey back in time. This 400 km holiday route in Bavaria runs from the Main River to the Alps through picturesque towns and cities such as Rothenburg ob der Tauber and Augsburg before ending up in Füssen in the Allgäu. Near the Romantic Road, in the 17th century, Cistercian monks built what was originally a prestigious summer residence for their abbots. The result, Leitheim, is a truly picture-book castle about 1 hour from Ingolstadt. In 2015 the facilities were opened to the public, and also to couples looking for a historical setting for their big day. They can exchange their vows in the castle’s own registry office or in the castle chapel of St. Blasius, known for its impressive Wessobrunn stucco. The ensuing celebrations are held in the Rococo Hall with its magnificent frescoes and stucco work. The fireplace lounge on the ground floor makes a great dance venue. Sited on the banks of the “Young Danube”, the terrace offers a unique view over the Danube wetlands and, on clear days, even as far as the Alps. In addition to the Rococo complex, the four-star Superior Hotel of Schloss Leitheim has 49 elegant double rooms and suites available for guests, and is prized above all for its fine cuisine and excellent spa, which looks out across the Danube Valley. More information can be found at https://www.bavaria.by/visit/aristocratic-schloss- leitheim/ and on the Young Danube at http://www.die-junge-donau.de/en/aganinst-the-current

Bavarian state spa of Bad Kissingen in romantic Franconia Famous as a healing spa since the 16th century, Bad Kissingen on Franconia’s Saale River evolved into a world-class spa resort for European nobility as a result of its healing waters and natural moor baths. Nowadays it is equally popular as a wedding venue: The magnificent historical architecture of arcades, covered promenades and the Regentenbau concert hall creates a fairy-tale atmosphere both inside and out. The White Hall is elegantly decorated with a stucco ceiling and chandeliers while mirrored doors offer direct access to the romantic courtyard. Royal celebrations can also be held in the Tattersall Hall, a former riding arena, or in the Rossini Hall with its fantastic coffered ceiling. Numerous hotels in the immediate vicinity, none more than a ten-minute walk away, offer overnight accommodation for wedding guests. The surrounding area – a romantic river landscape ringed by castles and the vine-covered hillsides of famous Franconian wineries – has its own distinctive charm and many special places for newlyweds to explore on their honeymoon. More information can be found at https://www.bavaria.by/experiences/aristocratic- bavaria/celebrate-aristocratic-style/bad-kissingen/

Following in the footsteps of King Ludwig II on Herrenchiemsee Island Just 1.5 hours from , and set against a picturesque mountain backdrop, Lake is also known as the “Bavarian Sea”. The Fairy Tale King bought the island of Herrenchiemsee in 1873. Today, the Library Hall in the Augustinian Monastery makes a particularly romantic location for a civil wedding. The Library Hall, which was built in 1739, is considered an important work from the early Rococo period. The four wings of today’s cloisters encircle a large, rectangular courtyard with an idyllic rose garden, which is perfect for standing receptions in fine weather. There are various options for the wedding reception, including the recently renovated guest rooms of the Schlosswirtschaft Herrenchiemsee restaurant with its modern Bavarian atmosphere and distant views across the lake. The stylish bare-brick rooms in the Herrenchiemsee New Palace are also available. The wedding can be followed by a relaxed honeymoon on the mainland in the four-star Superior Hotel Gut Ising. With its nostalgic, romantic building complex consisting of eight manor houses plus a unique range of leisure opportunities, this family-owned estate meets the very highest standards. The rooms are romantically designed with antique, Biedermeier or painted rustic furniture to create a nostalgic ambience. The multi-award-winning cuisine and the hotel’s own exclusive spa also create the perfect conditions to relax and recover after the wedding and to enjoy romantic hours as a newly married couple.

- 2 - More information can be found at https://www.bavaria.by/experiences/aristocratic- bavaria/celebrate-aristocratic-style/chiemsee-alpine-region/ You can find more detailed insights into the initiative “Aristocratic Bavaria” here: https://www.bavaria.by/experiences/aristocratic-bavaria/celebrate-aristocratic-style/

Information about getting to Bavaria and additional travel services are available here: https://www.bavaria.by/service/getting-there/

About BAVARIA TOURISM

BAVARIA TOURISM (by.TM) is the official marketing company for the Bavarian tourism and leisure industry. Under the umbrella brand Bayern®, the company offers the entire range of tourism services in the State of Bavaria. All marketing activities run under the umbrella brand claim “Bavaria – traditionally different”. The main focus here is the communication of authentic stories about Bavarian personalities and their way of life. They show Bavaria in a traditional yet modern light, and embody the distinctiveness of Bavaria as a travel destination. All stories can be found on the main website www.bayern.by/traditionally-different in the style of a travel magazine, and are communicated through all other channels of by.TM. The sub-brands WellVital® in Bavaria, Kinderland® Bavaria and the hotel brand Sightsleeping® also guarantee target-group-specific offers for connoisseurs, families and culture lovers. Through its own initiatives such as “Time for Tranquility”, “Filmkulisse Bayern” (film set Bavaria) and “Aristocratic Bavaria”, it brings tourism together with other industries to create productive partnerships. In this way, the marketing company can work with all the Bavarian tourism partners, offering guests from all over the world a range of attractive and varied travel ideas. With 37.3 million guests and 94.4 million overnight stays in the year 2017, Bavaria was able to reinforce its leading position as the number one travel destination in . More information about the variety of destinations in Bavaria and about BAVARIA TOURISM can be found at: www.bavaria.by.

For more press information:

Stephanie Scheuermann Nicole Berberich Head of Public Relations Manager Public Relations BAVARIA TOURISM BAVARIA TOURISM Tel.: (+49) (0)89/21 23 97 43 Tel.: (+49) (0)89/21 23 97 27 Fax: (+49) (0)89/21 23 97 99 Fax: (+49) (0)89/21 23 97 99 E-mail: [email protected] Email: [email protected]

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