Pupp Journal Sommer 2013 - Grandhotel Pupp

Echoes of Famous Visits
KAISER Franz JOSEF I
The alpha and omega of the history of the Pupp are its numerous
renowned guests who have promoted the dazzling reputation of the
hotel for 300 years. Since the late 19th century, the hotel accommodated
numerous members of the Habsburg family and an impressive
list of dignitaries, celebrities and royalty. King Edward VII of Great
Britain, King Fuad of Egypt, Shah Musaffer eddin of Persia, Turkish
Abbas Hilmi Pasha and Khedive of Egypt, King Alphons XIII of
Spain, Serbian kings Milan and Alexander, Queen Maria Pia of
Portugal, and many other personages of politics, business, art, entertainment
and science have all called the Grandhotel Pupp home at
one time or another. The Emperor Franz Josef I, too.
Inhabitants of Karlovy Vary respected their emperor a lot. On the
evening of 17 August 1871, the Austrian imperial eagle was illuminated
for the first time in the woods behind the Pupp Hall at the
Lookout of King Friedrich Wilhelm on the occasion of the birthday
of Emperor Franz Josef I. From that day, the lookout platform has
been called the Illumination Heights. At various occasions, lights
were lit using sophisticated structures.
On 17 August 1904, Emperor Franz Josef I of Austria came to
Carlsbad on an official visit. He arrived aboard his court train from
Marienbad where he was the guest of the Metternich family. The
people of Carlsbad prepared an imposing welcome for the monarch.
The streets were lined with crowds of people dressed in their finest
clothes and the whole town was decorated with festival gateways.
The Emperor inspected some of the buildings, including the
Military Spa Institution, the Municipal Theater, and Emperor's
Bath. The owners of Grandhotel Pupp – Heinrich Pupp Jr., Karl and
Julius Pupp Jr. – welcomed Emperor Franz Josef I in person at the
fountain in front of the hotel and gave him a large flower bouquet.
A gala lunch for 200 guests was prepared in honor of His Imperial
and Royal Majesty at the large dining hall of Grandhotel Pupp. The
finely decorated hall was dominated by the Emperor's bust with the
Austrian coat-of-arms in the background. After lunch, Emperor
Franz Josef I rested for a while in the most luxurious hotel suite
before departing in the late afternoon by train.
A memory of the emperor´s stay in the Grandhotel Pupp is a special
bathroom which is a part of the suite where he had a rest after a long
journey to be able to continue it. If you want to go back in time or
even feel yourself like an emperor, you have to plan your stay so that
you can spend it just in our Imperial Suite No. 159.
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