For cinematography lovers, today we have something special prepared.
Wes Anderson films have recently been adored by many. No wonder, as it’s the aesthetic masterpiece glorifying the most charming corners of the world.
If you have not seen Anderson’s films already – consider yourself lucky, for there’s no need to erase your memory to watch it like the first time again. Nevertheless, these routes won’t leave anyone indifferent.
We are going to look mainly at Grand Hotel Budapest, Moonlight Kingdom, and his recent one – The French Dispatch.
Though the Grand Budapest Hotel was just a cute little miniature and does not exist in real life, there are inspirational references from different parts of the globe.
Table of Contents
Germany
Görlitz
We’ll start with a German city near the Polish border. Here are almost 4k historical sites to see.
Inglourious Basterds and The Book Thief were almost all filmed here, and the city still attracts filmmakers, Wes’ fans, and historical baroque architecture lovers.
Tender pastel colours make everything look dollhouse-like.
Kaufhaus Görlitz
That’s the place you are probably looking for. Here Wes Anderson created unique decorations for the Grand Budapest Hotel and rebuilt some of the old shop galleries to make hotel rooms.
Hainewalde
When visiting Germany, consider coming across the little village Hainewalde and its main manor – Hainewalde castle.
Pfunds Molkerei, Dresden
It’s a Mendl’s confectionary shop where she used to bake the cakes the prison guard did not dare to cut during the goods inspection.
The XIX century elegant hand-painted tiles are going to have you speechless.
The Zwinger Museum
– the rococo palace, the events of the Grand Budapest Hotel take place in. Both from the inside and outside, it’s a must-see when in Dresden.
Karlovy Vary, Czechia
Located in the west of Bohemia in the Czech Republic, the city has been a well-known spa centre since 19 century. As here are the hot springs and geysers, so the spa business is prospering here.
Hydrotherapy session and spring mineral water for you to try while waiting for the international film festival that is being held in the city.
Berner Oberland, Switzerland
This place has countless mountain peaks, hundreds of lakes, and Alpine nature. It welcomes you every time of the year, as in summer there are folk festivals and hitchhiking, and in winter it’s just a place for skiing.
Sphinx Observatory, Jungfraujoch
If travelling to Switzerland, do not miss the opportunity to take a look at the Observatory that became an inspiration for the film. In a similar place, the Budapest Grand Hotel characters were trying to escape from a spy – a truly astonishing scene in terms of editing and shooting.
Lauterbrunnen Valley
Another place worth paying attention to.
Staubbach waterfall is simply impossible to take your eyes off. Besides, mountains lie under the snow carpet. Cows wander through emerald meadows, ringing their little cowbells in tune with waterfall sounds.
Angoulême as Ennui-sur-Blasé (The French Dispatch), France
Here is the Charente River valley, a breathtaking place, really, yet, the city is famous for its graffiti-painted walls: comic characters, futuristic paintings, cartoons, abstract portraits, and social caricatures.
Prague is a true Wes Anderson inspiration
Hotel Opera
Along with the Grandhotel Pupp in Karlovy Vary, there is a Hotel Opera. The prices are decent, and the location is in the centre of Prague. It’s pink, built in the neo-renaissance style, and has the exact Grand Budapest vibe.
The rest of the inspirational hotels are:
- Hotel Adlon in Berlin,
- Grand hotel Pupp in Karlovy Vary
- Savoy Hotel in London
