Rudi, the Living History of the Marbella Miracle

Carmen Duran - Sep 13, 2024 - Marbella History

Conde Rudi

Pure Life Magazine revisits the life of one of the most significant figures from the golden era of the city in this in-depth interview. “Rudi, you’re the perfect person to help me create the hotel of my dreams in Marbella.” These were the words that first introduced Rudolf Schönburg-Glauchau, better known as Conde Rudi, to Marbella in the early 1950s. At the time, he was living in his homeland of Saxony, Germany, after having worked at several prestigious hotels such as the Palace and the Four Seasons, following his training at the Lausanne School of Hospitality in Switzerland. The words that shaped his life—and the history of Marbella’s golden years—were spoken by Alfonso de Hohenlohe, who had just begun building the Marbella Club. This visionary’s dream, inspired by his love for the city, has since become one of the finest hotels in the world. Count Rudi has dedicated his life to the Marbella Club, where he witnessed the arrival of aristocracy and high society to a truly unique destination.

In this fascinating conversation with Javier Nieto, CEO of Pure Living Properties, Conde Rudi shares anecdotes and memories of Marbella’s most glorious days.

1. Conde Rudi’s First Arrival in Marbella

Do you remember the first time you visited Marbella?
Of course, I do. It’s impossible to forget. I fell deeply in love with the city the first time I saw it. Just seeing La Concha is magical—this majestic mountain by the sea is an extraordinary setting that captivated me from the start.

What was Marbella like back then when you first arrived?
It was nothing like it is today. It was a small Andalusian village surrounded by nature. Marbella Club already existed; it was like a cortijo that naturally grew into what it is today—one of the best hotels in the world.

When Prince Alfonso de Hohenlohe called you and invited you to Marbella, did you think he was crazy or a visionary? What made this place so special?
Alfonso de Hohenlohe was a man madly in love with Marbella. Perhaps for those who live here, it doesn’t have the same impact, but I saw the magic immediately. When I arrived at Málaga Airport, the prince picked me up in his car and showed me the Andalusian countryside along the way, and I fell in love right then and there. The Marbella Club had been running for about a year and a half, and he brought me in specifically to manage it. Back then, there was just the front patio, a few rooms, and the Romeo and Juliet bungalows.

What was Count Rudi’s day-to-day life like at the time?
I would wake up very early every morning, go into my office, and spend the whole day working. I was very attentive to the guests, whom we treated with warmth and care. Every day from five to six, I would take an hour-long nap so I could continue working until one or two in the morning. We hadn’t yet developed the hotel’s nightlife, which later became a very special time.

 2. The Glorious Era of Marbella Begins

When did the nightlife start to pick up, and when did the legendary parties begin?
Soon after. We never stopped bringing life to the Marbella Club, and the guests were fascinated. Both the owner and I were two young bachelors with a lot of enthusiasm, and we created a grand project that has managed to maintain its style to this day. The Marbella Club is very intimate, and the key lies in the fact that the management has always lived alongside the guests.

Do you think the essence of that time is still alive?
Absolutely. Although everything has changed, and the hotel has grown a lot, the essence remains the same as when we began. I arrived in the summer of 1954, there were barely 20 rooms, and it was nothing like what it is today, but the way we treated the guests and the magic surrounding everything is still the same.

What did the opening of the Marbella Club Beach Club mean for the city?
That opening was one of the most fun moments in Marbella Club’s history. It was the first Beach Club in the city and one of the first in Spain. That place has witnessed some of the best parties of Marbella’s golden years.

What were the parties like back then, and how do you see today’s parties?
The style and the way we treat guests is still very similar to those years. The success of the Marbella Club has always been based on treating guests in a close and special manner. When Marbella wasn’t as well-known, it was hard to attract guests, but Prince Alfonso, with his personality, brought in many people. Marbella’s appeal wasn’t just about jewels or diamonds—it was much more than that. For us, Marbella was and remains a true miracle.

Conde Rudi Javier Nieto and Count Rudi at his home in Marbella.

 3. Conde Rudi and Marbella’s Aristocratic Luxury

It’s said that you helped bring aristocratic luxury to Marbella. Is that true?
Prince Alfonso had met many people during his travels, and he was so in love with Marbella that he convinced everyone to come here on holiday. Most of them came, stayed, and returned. They form the foundation of our current clientele. Prince Alfonso’s friends would tell each other, “If you go to Andalusia, you must stay at the Marbella Club,” and that’s how the aristocracy started coming. We’ve never worked with agencies or anything like that. Those who came kept returning, and they brought more friends.

Did you ever think the Marbella Club would become one of the best hotels in the world?
Honestly, from the very beginning, our great ambition was to create an extraordinary hotel, different from anything that existed at the time. Although it’s true that we didn’t imagine it would become one of the best hotels in the world. Each bungalow had its own style. I remember that, in the beginning, there weren’t even beds but just bed frames. We decorated each room, and the headboards were painted by Prince Alfonso himself. They were all different. Guests knew the rooms by their distinctive headboards—one rustic, another German, another French… It was very entertaining, and guests always wanted to stay in the same room when they returned to Marbella.

Is there any other city in the world comparable to Marbella?
I’ve travelled extensively and visited many special cities, but there is no place in the world quite like Marbella. Its privileged location, between the sea and the mountains, and its unique climate that makes it feel like summer almost all year round, make it an incomparable place.

How was your relationship with Prince Alfonso?
We had a very good relationship. He was my distant cousin, but he became a key figure in my life. When the Hohenlohe family still had their properties in Czechoslovakia, next to Saxony, where I was born and lived, they were our closest neighbours, a connection that later played an important role. When Prince Alfonso started coming to Marbella to build Santa Margarita, the first family residence, he would tell us, “I can’t explain what Marbella is like, but believe me, if I like it, you’ll like it too.”

So, was Prince Alfonso the first person who spoke to you about Marbella?
Yes, the first time I ever heard of Marbella was thanks to Prince Alfonso de Hohenlohe.

And how did you imagine it?
I imagined a place by the sea, surrounded by Andalusian countryside with olive groves… Knowing Alfonso, I knew it would be a paradise. He always said, “Rudi, you have all the talents to make the place I love famous.” He convinced me to come here because I had studied hospitality at the Lausanne School in Switzerland, which remains one of the best in the world.

We’ve seen you morning, afternoon, and night surrounded by guests at Marbella Club. How have you always maintained such vitality?
It’s in my blood, and Marbella’s sun greatly helped my temperament. In some ways, Marbella reminded me a lot of southern Germany. You’d never imagine that Andalusia and Saxony could be compared because they are so different. You can be happy in both places, but the truth is, I’m much happier in Marbella. That’s why I’ve spent over 60 years of my life here.

Conde Rudi

 4. Conde Rudi’s Eventful Life in Marbella

What’s the happiest moment you remember in Marbella?
I have been and continue to be very happy in Marbella. My current life is one of the happiest moments. Sitting here in my home, reminiscing about my life, my career, and my ideas makes me immensely happy.

The book Conde Rudi A Fortunate Man* reflects on your entire life. What’s your favourite part?
It’s hard to choose. I would say from the first to the last page because it beautifully describes everything we’ve experienced in Marbella. It captures some of the most special moments, the happiest of my life, like my wedding to Princess Maria Luisa of Prussia, my wife.

When you look back through this book, would you change anything about your life?
Would I change anything about my life? Absolutely not. If I could, I’d ask for the chance to live just as long again. It’s an interesting question because I’ve lived a very intense life, and I wouldn’t want to have missed a second of it.

Does Conde Rudi still have any unfulfilled dreams?
I’ve fulfilled many dreams throughout my life, and I continue to fulfil them because being able to keep enjoying everything Marbella offers is a dream in itself.

After such an intense and full life, in what is perhaps a quieter phase, what makes you happiest in your day-to-day life?
My life isn’t really quieter now—perhaps that’s what I’ve been missing. But I’ve always been passionate about Marbella—it’s been my life. I’ve never felt like I’ve missed out on life by dedicating so much to the Marbella Club. Remembering my life at the Marbella Club is what still makes me happy. That, and of course, my wife—we’ve been together for 53 years, and she brings out the best in me. She is my life.

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