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Ralf Kutzner is the Maître de Maison of the Bülow Palais hotel My road to happiness… from Potsdam to Göttingen
In another life, Ralf Kutzner was a Michelin starred chef. Today he is an exceptional hotel manager at Bülow Palais, and was named "Hotelier of the Year" by Gault Millau in 2009.
I was born in 1958 in the suburbs of Cologne. When I was a kid, I wanted to work as an apprentice and then become a chef. My career has taken me to Switzerland, Hong Kong, Edinburgh and London. In 1993, when many people living in this part of the country were heading for the West, I arrived at Bülow Palais, in Dresden. It was an incredible experience, because living in Dresden in the early 1990s was like living in permanent springtime. In that new life, everything seemed possible. That was twenty years ago, and my family and I have never regretted the decision.
Relais & Châteaux proposes its Routes du Bonheur for your inspiration: they are suggestions of itineraries that you can adapt to your preferences and desired experiences. Our advisors are at your disposal to individualise your routes and help you make reservations at our properties. Example for a four-night stay from €978* * Minimum indicative rate per person, subject to availability, on the basis of a double room with double occupancy, including accommodation, breakfast and dinner (menu, without beverages) in the properties suggested for the itinerary. Activities on site and nearby must be reserved by you.
This imposing residence, built from wooden logs, calls to mind Bavaria. Located in the heart of the Potsdam game reserve, the Bayrisches house was built by the King of Prussia, Friedrich Wilhelm IV, out of love for his wife Elisabeth of Bavaria. Today, the simple exterior of the house hides the elegance within, which extends from the interior decoration to the excellent cuisine of Michelin starred chef Alexander Dressel.
Close to the property...
Sanssouci Palace
This is a fascinating place which transports you directly back into the past. The Sanssouci Palace is a splendid Rococo style building, built in the mid 18th century on the orders of Frederick II, King of Prussia. In summer, the entire court would move to Potsdam, and huge parties were held in the sumptuous terraced gardens. I really enjoy walking in the grounds of this building, which has been classed as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1990.
Babelsberg, the German Hollywood
This was the filming location for Fritz Lang’s monumental Metropolis, Murnau’s Nosferatu, Roman Polanski’s The Pianist and Quentin Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds. Founded in 1911 in Potsdam, the Babelsberg film studios are Germany’s answer to Hollywood.
Today, they play host to production companies and important film shoots. The old studios are open to visitors.
I was sixteen years old the first time that I went to Berlin, to "the East". That was a different time, and a different city. Since then, the capital has reinvented itself, and is now a vibrant and buzzing city that never sleeps. One of my favourite spots is Gendarmenmarkt square. I like to stroll between the two old cathedrals, Deutscher Dom and Französischer Dom. Nearby you will also find nice little cafés, shops and pretty museums.
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Bülow Palais is more than a hotel, it is a haven in the heart of the city. Owned by the Bülow family, this hotel, located in a district with beautiful Baroque architecture, is simultaneously discreet and elegant. When I first arrived in 1993, I worked as the chef and manager. Our restaurant won a Michelin star in 1997, and I decided to leave the cooking to others, in order to devote myself to welcoming and caring for our guests. Over all these years we have held on to the star, and our guests always come back home to Bülow Palais.
Close to the property...
Frauenkirche, Dresden
This splendid Lutheran church is the symbol of the city. After being completely destroyed during the Allied bombing of 13 February 1945, the church was rebuilt exactly as it was and reconsecrated on 30 October 2005. The cross on top was made by an English artist, Alan Smith. In addition to services, concerts are held here.
Military History Museum, Dresden
Located in a former arsenal, this museum reveals different aspects of the military world. I really like the modernity of the site, which re-opened in 2011 after being completely overhauled by the famous American architect Daniel Libeskind. The museum contains hundreds of thousands of objects, ranging from a simple soldier’s medal to the Soyuz 29 capsule, in which the first German cosmonaut, Sigmund Jähn, flew in 1978.
On the route...
Meißen porcelain
It was in Meißen, a few kilometres from Dresden, that Europe’s first porcelain factory was opened in 1710, benefiting from the nearby kaolin deposits. All across the continent, royal factories attempted to equal the quality of the objects produced in the Meißen workshops, known as "hard-paste" porcelain. But to no avail! Three hundred years later, each piece made on the premises can still be identified by the mark of the two crossed blue swords.
A romantic getaway near the birthplace of the great composer Johann Sebastian Bach
I have often visited the Hohenhaus hotel, a place that lends itself to peace and quiet. In the early morning, don’t be surprised if you spot black storks or wildcats, who also seem to enjoy the charming surroundings. Manager Hannes Horsch lives on the premises. With the music of Johann Sebastian Bach,who was born not far from here, in the air, Horsch makes every effort to share his good fortune with his guests …
Close to the property...
The house of Johann Sebastian Bach, Eisenach
The house which is said to be the birthplace of Johann Sebastian Bach was converted into a museum at the start of the last century (1907). Devoted to the life and works of the great composer, it houses period furnishings and a series of portraits, as well as books and manuscripts signed by the composer. A collection of about 400 instruments is also on display.
Cooked meats, leavened bread, apple syrups … Everyone who has ever set foot in the Teichhof inn or shop has left with their stomachs full and with shopping bags in their hands. Known throughout the country, this firm, founded in 1921, produces what is undoubtedly one of the best sausages in the region.
Three centuries of noble tradition culminate in complete enjoyment
Owned by Count Carl Graf von Hardenberg, this splendid hotel, situated not far from the ruins of a thousand-year-old castle, is run by manager Georg Rosentreter. Here, the true meaning of calm, refinement and simplicity becomes clear. You can choose to explore the Leine valley on horseback or enjoy the superb golf course nearby.
On the route...
Luisenhall saltworks
Opened in 1854, the Luisenhall saltworks are, a century and a half later, the last remaining working industrial saltworks in Europe. Scraping techniques that date back to the Middle Ages are still used today to extract and produce salt (from natural brine found 450 metres underground). The factory is open to visitors, and you will go away with a sachet of salt at the end of your visit.
This is a lovely story: Paulette Klages is a Frenchwoman who followed her husband to Germany. This former German teacher found that all that was missing from her life were certain cheeses, so she decided to open her own cheese shop in Göttingen. In 2005 she was named the best cheese seller in the world. That says it all. Today, people flock to her dairy shop, located on Kurze Straße 3.
