Before starting our journey to Montenegro Casino Royale take a few minutes to examine the facts.

Based on the 1953 novel Casino Royale by Ian Fleming, it is the first Bond film to take its title from an Ian Fleming novel. It is also the first movie to be directly based on any of Fleming’s writing since 1989’s Licence to Kill. This film marks the third screen adaptation of Casino Royale, which was previously a 1954 television episode and a 1967 film spoof. However, as an EON production, the 2006 release is considered the only “official” adaptation of Fleming’s novel. And last but not least the first movie for Daniel Craig as 007.

Casino Royal Plot

After receiving a license to kill, British Secret Service agent James Bond (Daniel Craig) heads to Madagascar, where he uncovers a link to Le Chiffre (Mads Mikkelsen), a man who finances terrorist organizations. Learning that Le Chiffre plans to raise money in a high-stakes poker game, MI6 sends Bond to play against him, gambling that their newest 00 operatives will topple the man’s organization.

The Casino Royale film locations

According to the plot James heads to Montenegro where he will face Le Chiffre and attempt to beat him in a poker tournament in Casino Royale. In Montenegro, the Hotel Splendid is actually Grandhotel Pupp, a 228-room luxury hotel located in Karlovy Vary (Carlsbad), Czech Republic.

The hotel is located very close to the building that doubled as the Casino Royale in the film. Many exterior shots were taken at this location, including Bond walking from the hotel to the casino. The parking lot of the hotel is where Bond finds his Aston Martin DBS and later starts the chase. The parking lot is also seen when the police find the bodies of Le Chiffre’s henchmen in the trunk of a car. The dining room in the hotel was used to film the late-night dinner of Bond and Vesper (where Bond comes up with the name of the drink Vesper Martini). The hotel desk is also seen in the film when Bond and Vesper check-in.

For a few years (2007 – 2012) the hotel offered a special package for Bond fans called In the footsteps of Agent 007.

Interesting facts

The village of Karlovy Vary

The village of Karlovy Vary is definitely worth a visit, not only for the hotel but also for the building that doubles as Casino Royale, the former Kaiserbad Spa. Also, the scene where Bond and Vesper arrive and take the black Daimler taxi to the hotel was filmed in the town at the Mill Collonade (which doubles as the Montenegro Train Station).

Of the most popular places to visit in the Czech Republic, the town of Karlovy Vary certainly stands out as being a little different. The largest of Bohemia’s spa towns, it is a place that exists purely to host visitors. Where once aristocrats would visit for their health, now tourists flock to see this exceptionally grandiose place. Visiting Karlovy Vary feels like nowhere else in the Czech Republic, which is why it’s such a good idea if you have the chance.

Despite the size of the town, Karlovy Vary is just a day trip from Prague for so many tourists. Given that attitude and the town’s history, the criticisms leveled against it aren’t surprising. Some write off this famous spa town as being overly touristy with not much to really do. As a first impression, I can certainly understand that, but I feel like there is more depth to Karlovy Vary than people give it credit. So allow me to share my thoughts on sightseeing in Karlovy Vary and the reasons why I think you should definitely visit.

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