Munich Excursions- Some day trips that seem ideal for a quick ED from Munich! I am trying to fit one of these in (castles) via bus before I pick up my car on a Monday. Not sure with the jet lag etc. but didn't want to waste a day since I will have 2 in Munich on the return trip!


Neuschwanstein

Neuschwanstein, Bavaria © www.neuschwanstein.de

The fairytale castle built by King Ludwig II (known as 'Mad King Ludwig' until his death in 1886) has become the trademark of the German state of Bavaria, with its Gothic wedding-cake tiers and towers. Day tours to the castle are available from Munich, or self drive via Garmisch. From the parking lot there is a steep half-mile (one km) climb to the castle, but one can ride in a horse-drawn carriage. The interior of the castle is as extravagant as its outer aspect, particularly the King’s apartments, which are decorated entirely with hand-embroidered silk, elaborate wall and ceiling paintings, and carvings.

Address: Neuschwanstein Castle is near the Forggensee in the Allgäu, very close to Schwangau. Ticket Centre: Alpseestrasse 12, Hohenschwangau; Telephone: 083 628 1035; E-mail: svneuschwanstein@bsv.bayern.de; Website: www.neuschwanstein.de/english; Transport: Train (Deutsch Bahn) to Füssen, then bus RVO/OVG 73 towards Steingarden/Garmisch-Partenkirchen or bus RVO/OVG 78 towards Schwangau to Hohenschwangau. The path to the castle starts in the village of Hohenschwangau. Walk (30 minutes), take a bus, or horse-drawn carriage; Opening time: Daily 9am to 6pm (April to September), 10am to 4pm (October to March); Admission: Entrance tickets can only be bought at the ticket centre in the village of Hohenschwangau below the castle. Adults €9, concessions €8

Berchtesgarten

The name Berchtesgarten is most closely associated with Adolf Hitler's country house, but it is in fact a delightful Bavarian alpine village with ancient winding streets and a medieval marketplace, popular as a side trip from Munich. Hitler's holiday house, the Berghof, is actually at Obersalzberg about half a mile (2 kms) up the Kehlstein mountain. Afternoon bus tours to the Fuhrer's playground can be undertaken from the tourist office in the village, but there is little to see besides some underground bunkers which are open to the public. Most tourists, however, do delight in visiting the Kehlsteinhaus or Eagle's Nest, a remarkable building perched precariously atop the mountain, which was originally commissioned by Martin Bormann as a 50th birthday present for Hitler. The notorious Nazi leader seldom visited it because of his fear of heights. Today it is the site of an excellent Bavarian restaurant and provides breathtaking views at the end of a stunning winding mountain road.

The town of Berchtesgarten itself has some interesting attractions, besides its 16th-century architecture and enticing inns. There is a small wood-carving museum at Schloss Aldelsheim which can be viewed on a guided tour offered on weekdays at 10am and 3pm. Wood sculptures, Renaissance furniture and some art works are worth seeing at the Konigliches Schloss, which was originally an Augustinian monastery. The most fun to be had, however, is in the salt mines to the east of the town, which offers guided tours. Visitors wear protective clothing and ride on wagons to the mine, then explore the mine on foot and ride miner's slides, finishing with a trip on the salt lake ferry. The tours run daily, all year round. The mine has been in operation since 1517. Berchtesgarten also boasts a world-class ice-skating rink, the Eisstadion, which is sought after by winter sports enthusiasts in the winter months, along with the skiing opportunities in the surrounding area.

Website: www.kehlsteinhaus.com

Dachau Memorial Site

About 10 miles (16km) to the northwest of Munich on the Stuttgart Autobahn is the town of Dachau, once a quiet artists' community that became the site of the first notorious Nazi 'death camp', where thousands of perceived enemies of the Third Reich were imprisoned, starved, and killed between 1933 and 1945. The camp has now been turned into a memorial museum to the prisoners (67,000 were liberated alive by the US Army on April 28, 1945). The museum contains three memorial chapels. The Lagerstrasse, the main camp road, still exists lined with poplar trees but only two of the original 32 barracks that lined it remain, having been rebuilt to illustrate the conditions endured by the prisoners. The original kitchen, laundry and shower block is now a museum containing exhibits, photographs and documents depicting the persecution of Jews and other prisoners.

Address: Alte Römerstraße 75, Dachau; Telephone: 8131 669970; E-mail: info@kz-gedenkstaette-dachau.de; Website: www.kz-gedenkstaette-dachau.de; Transport: From Dachau train station take Bus 724 to the Memorial Site car park, or bus 726 to the main entrance of the Memorial Site; Opening time: Tuesday to Sunday 9am to 5pm. An English version of a documentary film, 'KZ-Dachau' is screened at 11.30am and 3.30pm; Admission: Free

Garmisch-Partenkirchen

Germany's top winter sports destination, Garmisch-Partenkirchen is a busy centre that has retained the charm of the older town of the twins, Partenkirchen. About 20 trains a day arrive at the Garmisch-Partenkirchen Bahnhof from Munich, and many more visitors come by bus or self-drive via the A95 Autobahn to enjoy the delights of the Bavarian Alps. Pride of the city is the Olympic Ice Stadium and the larger Ski Stadium which were built for the 1936 Winter Olympics and are still put to good use by winter sports enthusiasts. The area is picturesque and scenic, both in winter and summer. In summertime it is a popular spot for hiking and mountain climbing expeditions. A tourist office assists visitors in making the most of their visit and seeing the local attractions. Contact Verkehrsamt der Kurverwaltung, on Dr. Richard-Strauss-Platz (tel: 08821 1806), open Monday to Saturday from 8am to 6pm and Sunday from 10am to noon.

Chiemsee

One of the most beautiful lakes in the Bavarian Alps, Chiemsee boasts two islands and is lined with resorts. It can be reached by train from Munich in an hour, or by road via the A8 Autobahn. Visitors can take a steamer cruise around the lake from Prien on the west shore to explore the islands in the lake. Frauenchiemsee is the smaller island, site of a quaint fishing village with some colourful traditional customs, and a Benedictine nunnery known for its liqueur. The larger island, Herrenchiemsee, bears one of King Ludwig’s famous fairytale castles. This one was never completed, but was intended to be a replica of the palace of Versailles. The centre of the palace still stands, complete with a splendid hall of mirrors and surrounded by gardens and woodland. It is an extremely popular tourist attraction with its gaudy splendour.

Opening time: The 'Neues Schloss' is open daily 9am to 5pm (April to September); 10am to 4pm (off-season)

Romantic Road


Rothenburg, Romantic Road © www.romantischestrasse.de

To experience the best of medieval Germany hundreds of visitors drive, bus or cycle their way along the Romantic Road, a 180-mile (290km) route between Munich and Frankfurt that links together a string of quaint, well-preserved walled towns dating back a thousand years or more. The towns en route have banded together to market their attractions and ensure Romantic Road travellers are well informed and accommodated. Bicycles can be rented at any train station along the road, and tourist offices along the route provide maps and information. Best known of the towns on the Romantic Road is Rothenburg in the Tauber River Valley. Other favourites among the cute towns are Dinkelsbuhl and Nordlingen.

Address: Tourist Information: Waaggässlein 1, Dinkelsbühl; Telephone: 09851 90271 (The Romantic Road Association); E-mail: info@romantischestrasse.de; Website: www.romantischestrasse.de