Director Wes Anderson takes inspiration from real life in making fiction as expression of personal opinions or outlook in life. His film "The Grand Budapest Hotel" focuses on the Republic of Zubrowka, which is clearly reflective of countries in Eastern Europe.
Anderson himself said Prague was a major influence for the Republic of Zubrowka in his film -- but Gorlitz in Germany, which served as the backdrop of his silver screen historic epic, was the physical influence for "The Grand Budapest Hotel."
Gorlitz is a town that exudes almost everything that one perceives about Eastern Europe. According to The Guardian UK, the "powder-pink facade" of the film's main location is only a scale model but a 1913-built warehouse served as the interiors of the film -- the Gorlitzer Warenhaus. Being the primary set piece of the film, Wes Anderson and his crew spent time to have the production design team transform the warehouse with multiple facades. One is its 1920s-30s look and the other is its 60s/present-day in the film look.
Anderson said the interior and exterior of movie's eponymous edifice is through viewing "photochrome prints" of old grand hotels in Eastern Europe including the Grandhotel Pupp in Carlsbad and London's iconic Savoy Hotel. Other influences include the Palace Bristol Hotel in Karlovy Vary.
Checkpoint 19 was actually a castle that was turned into a prison. Castle Osterstein was used as a prison for political prisoners after WWII. According to Locations Hub -- citing The Grand Budapest Hotel's Adam Stockhausen -- the prison was officially decommissioned and "is currently awaiting museum status" despite being used as a nursing home.
Eastern Europe is known for its rich culture but not its cuisine. The Grand Budapest Hotel showcased its Austrian-influenced pastries through Agatha in the Mendl's Bakery. The storefront is only one of the many stores in the Trinity Church of Gorlitz and it used a 19th century ice cream shop named Pfunds Molkerei in Dresden.
The movie is memorable ffor its locations because it takes more than one set to ensure the Republic of Zubrowka does come to life in an organic manner. The organic quality comes greatly from the history of its shooting locations, which relay the same message and feel as the film. If any traveler feels to pay a visit, Locations Hub has listed all the locations on Google Maps.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
