A Place to Stay…

Maritim Hotel, Ingolstadt

What does a 21st Century hotel look like, when the designers are given a completely blank sheet of paper? Trevor Claringbold travels to southern Germany to find out.

Why are you going to Ingolstadt? For Audi? It was a question I was asked several times on our journey to the pretty Bavarian town, some fifty miles north of Munich. The Audi Forum and Museum seem to be the main reason that the town is known within Germany, but I had a different target in mind.

The Maritim Hotel and Conference Centre is a gleaming new building overlooking the River Danube, a few minutes walk from the historic centre of Ingolstadt. And from the moment you enter the bright, cavernous reception, there was an unmistakeable air of quality.

The rooms themselves are comfortable and spacious, with a separate living area that boasts a drinks cabinet, desk and television, as well as a sofa and chair. The bedroom has a second television, adjustable lighting, and a sumptuous bed. As well as the Classic, Comfort, and Superior rooms, there also 32 suites for the ultimate luxury.

And that feeling is reinforced as soon as you open the door to one of the 223 rooms. The are all state-of-the-art in their design, and you can sense that the designers have really taken time to consider not just the modern world, but the future world too. Gone are the traditional welcome folders – all the information you need about the hotel, spa, restaurants and more is on a convenient tablet in the room. So, zero paper, and almost zero single use plastic (although that aspiration was slightly marred by the free bottle of water given by reception on arrival!).

The main Danubio Restaurant has a terrace overlooking the River Danube, and for some fine dining there is also the chic Ingold Bistro, which has an inspiring menu with a hint of Bavaria weaved in. There is a extensive complimentary wine card, and, when you have finished, a relaxing piano bar just next door.

Probably my favourite ‘gadget’ was the shower. How often have you cursed hotel showers, when you spend ages trying to get the temperature just right? Well here, you just set a digital control, and it maintains your perfect level without ever having to ‘tweak’ it.

Heading down to the pool and wellness area, there are saunas, a small, well equipped gym, and a lovely heated pool that may not be Olympic-sized, but which is perfectly big enough for a relaxing swim. It stays open late into the evening, which is ideal (and unusual for many hotels) if you are arriving late.

The hotel is well served with a huge underground car park, although we were a little surprised that this was at an extra cost for hotel guests. It is aimed at serving the adjoining conference centre, which is every bit as impressive as the hotel itself.

The main hall is capable of holding over 1220 guests, and is blessed with the latest technology, a large, extendable stage, galleries and more. There are also a number of smaller rooms, with adjustable areas, as well as a separate foyer, and a roof top terrace with a bar overlooking the nearby castle.

The Maritim Hotel Ingolstadt is everything you would want from this class of hotel, and more, but it’s complimented by the picturesque, historic town to its side, and the serene River Danube in front. Pick up a town map either from reception, or from the tourist office in the town, and follow the easy tourist route which will lead you past all of the most important sites in a circular route of a couple of hours.

Just across the road from the hotel is the magnificent medieval castle that is now home to the Bavarian Army Museum. The building itself dominates the riverfront, and leads you nicely into the main streets, but the collection will delight any military enthusiasts. During the First World War, future French president Charles de Gaulle was held as a prisoner here. Just as impressive is the cathedral, which legend has it was built using almost 4000 logs for its huge timber frame.

The lavishly restored merchants houses, with their overhanging gables, lead you through the atmospheric streets of the old town, until you reach the most outstanding of the city’s remaining gates – the splendid Kreuztor. The Old Anatomy Building, now a museum of medical history, will be well known to literary fans as the setting for Mary Shelley’s ‘Frankenstein’.

Outside of the main walls lay a number of parks along the western side of the town, and the banks of the river. There is a slightly surreal blend, with some of the city’s old defences, intertwined with an extensive modern outdoor swimming complex, but it all seems to work harmoniously, and provides an interesting walk.

Of course, I have to mention the arrival in 1945 of the Auto Union company, which has evolved into the manufacturer we know today as Audi, and on who, as the city’s biggest employer, Ingolstadt’s economy largely depends. You can visit the Audi Forum and Museum, which will satisfy the desires of every petrolhead.

Ingolstadt is not a big city - It’s home to around 140,000 people – but it’s long history and calm atmosphere make a it a delight to just wander around and explore. It can trace its origins back to the early 9th century, and was home to the first university in Bavaria. It’s a thoroughly charming place, and superbly complimented by the new Maritim Hotel, and certainly one that’s on my list to return to next time I’m passing.

Find more information and book at www.maritim.de/de/ hotels/deutschland/hotel-ingolstadt