Germany & Italy: Munich to Rome

A visit to the castle that Elector Ferd­inand Maria once gave his wife on the occa­sion of the birth of the heir to the throne is a journey through time to the Bavarian monarchy. Two shady avenues lead to the castle, between them lies the Nymphenburg Canal. In summer it belongs to the swans, in winter to the ice skaters. At the end the half a kilometer wide castle rises. The 230-hectare English castle park with its streams, canals and bridges looks like a fairy tale forest. Today the castle houses four museums.

The semicircular Karlsplatz, better known as Stachus, is the gateway to Munich's trendy pede­s­trian zone. Here you can find several S-, U- and tram lines, cars, buses, cyclists and pede­s­trians. Some only want to cross the old town, others start their city stroll here in the pede­s­trian zone. Or go shopping in the Stachus Passagen. The large fountain with its water jets invites you to cool off on hot summer's days.

The Gothic cathedral and city parish church “Zu Unserer Lieben Frau” dating back to the 15th century is the landmark of the city. The nave is 109 meters long, 40 meters wide and 37 meters high and is said to accommo­date 20,000 people. The 100 meter high towers with the so called “Welschen Hauben” are based on the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem. From the south tower of the Frauenkirche one has a magnif­i­cent view over the city. The footprint in the entrance hall is called the Devil's Step. The devil himself is said to have stood here because he had bet with master builder Jörg von Halspach for his soul. The church regu­larly gives organ concerts, has several choirs and its own cathedral singing school.

Tegernsee is one of a group of pre-Alpine lakes south of Munich in Bavaria that includes Ammersee, Starnberg­ersee, Schliersee, Simssee and Chiemsee. Lying farther south than the others and shel­tered by mountains on three sides, Tegernsee enjoys more sunshine than the neighbouring lakes – in fact, more sunshine than any other place in Germany. The lakeshores are, in contrast to many other Bavarian lakes, almost entirely acces­sible to the public, although partly covered with reeds. In the south there are two larger bays and a small island, the Ringseeinsel. In several surrounding villages one can rent sailing, rowing or electric boats. The pleasant climate makes Tegernsee a popular getaway for resi­dents of Munich. Thanks to the sunshine, clean air and remark­ably clean water fed by mountain streams, numerous spas have settled in the towns that dot the lakeshore. The Austrian border, marked by snow-capped peaks south of the lake, is a mere 20 km away.

The 1,838 metre high mountain belongs to the Mangfallgebirge, the eastern part of the Bavarian foothills of the Alps. It is the highest peak of the Wendelstein massif. Because of its exposed loca­tion it offers a very good view of the foothills of the Alps and at the same time can be seen from many loca­tions. The Wendelstein cable car and the Wendelstein rack and pinion railway open up the mountain, which consists of light grey Wetter­stein lime­stone. Around 100 metres below the summit stands the Wendelstein Church of 1889, Germany's highest church. There is also a mountain obser­vatory. The mountain top is also easily acces­sible on foot. From the valley station of the Wendelsteinbahn in Bayris­chzell-Oster­hofen it takes about three hours to reach the summit.

In 1873 the largest of the three islands in the Chiemsee Lake was acquired by King Ludwig II. to build his Herrenchiemsee Palace. However, the reduced copy of the Palace of Versailles remained unfin­ished. In fine weather the serrated mountains of the magnif­i­cent Chiemgau Alps are mirrored in the lake. A passenger ferry runs to the island regu­larly. There one can visit the castle or stroll through the park.

The park is located in the mountai­nous area south of the town of Bercht­esgaden. The eastern, southern, and western bound­aries of the park coincide with the state border between Germany and Austria. The area of the park is econom­ically unde­vel­oped, and there are no settle­ments. In the center of the park is a large lake, the Königssee. West of the lake is the massif of Watzmann (2,713 metres (8,901 ft)), the third highest mountain in Germany.

The village with almost 8,000 inhab­i­tants lies picturesquely in a basin surrounded by high mountains. The settle­ment emerged in the 11th century from a monastery foun­da­tion. The monastery had forestry sovereignty and the mining rights to salt and metal, which led to an early boom. The first holiday guests arrived in the middle of the 19th century. During National Socialism Bercht­esgaden was declared a “Führ­ersperrge­biet” (restricted area for the Führer). The market square is surrounded by medieval houses with frescoes. The nearby Wittelsbach Castle now houses a museum.

At the end of an eventful polit­ical life in 976, when Saint Wolfgang built a monastery with his own hands and worked several miracles, he had no idea that his hermitage would become one of the most famous tourist resorts in Austria. St. Wolfgang owes this above all to the pilgrimage church, which is dedicated to him and enthroned in perfect grace over the Wolfgangsee. Inside, the late Gothic church impresses with a richly deco­rated altar, which Michael Pacher completed in 1481. He shows Our Lady kneeling in front of her child and framed by two monks, Saint Bene­dict and of course Saint Wolfgang.

The 1,783 meter high rock is only for those who are free from vertigo. It towers above the foothills of the Alps and offers a fantastic view across the Salzkammergut. However, the ascent to the summit can even be done by sheep. It belongs to the most beau­tiful hikes near and far. For those who find just under 1,200 metres of alti­tude too much, you can take the rack-railway, which was opened in 1893. The valley station is in St. Wolfgang, where the hiking trail begins. At the top you can stop at a hotel. (one way: 7.3 kilome­ters, 4 hours, up: 1170 meters)

The varied hike leads along the Schatt­seitweg from the Gasthof Oberwirt in Ramsau to Hintersee. After a few minutes you reach the glacier springs, which are fed by the melt­water of the Blaueis glacier at Hochkalter, 1,500 metres above sea level. After you have crossed the Marxen­klamm gorge, through which a torren­tial white water rushes, you go on a nature trail through the magical forest. Over bridges and footbridges you reach the Hintersee and go back halfway up. (round trip: 15.7 kilome­ters, 5:15 hours, up and down: 734 meters)

The great hike begins at the large parking lot at Königssee. The first high­light is the Grünstein (1304 m) with a beau­tiful view over the Bercht­esgaden basin. From there it is possible to cross over to the Kphrointhütte. After a snack you can descend to the church of St. Bartholomä and return by boat to the starting point. The world-famous pilgrimage church, the first parts of which date back to the 12th century, is picturesquely situ­ated on a peninsula. Adja­cent to it is the former hunting lodge, which now serves as an inn. (Hin: 5:30 hours, 11 kilome­ters, up and down: 680 meters, only for expe­r­i­enced and sure-footed hikers, contains secured passages)

The fjord-like lake at the foot of the Watzmann stretches between steeply rising mountain slopes. It is 200 metres deep and is consid­ered one of the cleanest lakes in Germany. On its eastern shore, a footpath leads to the Malerwinkel, which has attracted count­less painters for centuries. There you have a magnif­i­cent view on the lake, the peninsula St. Bartholomä and the Schönfeldspitze. From the boat dock on the shore, boats go to the south end of the lake. From there you can cont­inue on foot to Obersee. The chapel on St. Bartholomä is the landmark of the lake. It dates back to the 12th century.

This town with its 15,000 inhab­i­tants in Upper Carinthia dates back to an “alms­house” (“Spittel”) from the 12th century, i.e. an inn for pilgrims and other trav­elers. After the town was burnt down in the 15th century by the Turks, it was re-built by the Counts of Porcia. Until today the Castle of Porcia is consid­ered the most important construc­tions of the city. It is regarded as one of the most signif­icant Renais­sance monu­ments outside Italy and now houses a museum of local history.

This citiy, known in Roman days as the Forum lulii, did not expe­r­i­ence its heyday until after the decline of the Western Roman Empire. The Lombards, a Germanic tribe orig­inally from the region of the Elbe, came over the Alps during the migra­tion of the peoples. Soon there­after, the entire eastern Po river valley was under their control, which explains the name of the province Lombardei. Cividale del Fruili was the capital of the Lombards from 569 until 774 AD. The city's key landmark, the Devil's Bridge, spans the Natisone river. The small 8th century church of Santa Maria in Valle stands on the river in the old Lombard district and was possibly a Lombard palace chapel, which is why it is called the Tempi­etto Longo­b­ardo.

The splendour of this 1000 year old church is stunning and enchanting. With five domes and deco­rated arches and windows, it is the result of numerous exten­sions and conver­sions. Its core is still the building erected in the 11th century above the floor plan of a Greek cross. Here also lie the bones of the Evan­gelist Mark, the city's relic that gives it its identity. The books about the shrine fill entire libraries. The cathedral treasury contains the richest Byzan­tine gold and silver treasure in the world. Most of it comes from Constantinople, which was plun­dered by the Vene­tians in 1204. The Museo Marciano has found its place in the gallery above the vestibule.

It's the Palace of Palaces. The Doge's Palace was the power centre of politics, the highest symbol of Vene­tian civi­l­iza­tion and an eye-catcher on all repre­senta­tions of Venice. 120 Doge's have guided the fate of the mari­time republic from here for almost 1000 years. In its present Gothic form, it was created in the 14th and early 15th centuries. Its lower façade is colossal: covered in marble and struc­tured by count­less columns and arches. In between there are sculp­tures of Adam and Eve or the drunken Noah. The tour through the inte­rior of the Doge's Palace is overwhelming. It begins oppo­site the Loggetta and the Campanile at its high Gothic main portal, the Porta della Carta. On the now following path through the palace one encounters “miracle upon miracle”, as the French statesman François de Chateaubriand, blinded by so much splendour, raved.

A lift takes you up to the belfry of San Marco and on to the viewing platform with a pano­ramic view of a sea of gables and shin­gles interspersed with dozens of towers. The visit of the tower is recom­mended at the very beginning; because the pano­rama provides a first, helpful overall orienta­tion and a feeling for the unique loca­tion and struc­ture of the lagoon city. Orig­inally built in the 10th century and consid­er­ably raised in the 12th, the almost 100-metre-high Campanile collapsed in 1902, but was imme­di­ately rebuilt from the orig­inal mate­rial.

According to Homer, the town 30 kilome­ters west of Venice was founded by sailors after the destruc­tion of Troy. Thus it would be one of the oldest in Italy and during the times of the Roman Empire it was certainly one of the richest cities in the world. Devasta­tion during the barbarian inva­sions, however, had left very little of it. In the late Middle Ages the city, which is connected by a channel system with the main rivers of the Po Valley, managed to rise once again. In part thanks to the glorious univer­sity, where Albertus Magnus and Galileo Galilei have taught. Worth seeing is the old market square, which is surrounded by water, and the Scrovegni Chapel, with frescoes of Mary and Jesus. The father of the builder, the noto­rious extor­tioner Reginaldo Scrovegni, is said to have met Dante in hell.

In the Middle Ages the city on the north banks of the Po was just as important as Florence, Milan and Venice. The old town has been preserved in its entirety and is enclosed by a nine-kilometer long city wall. The car-free Citta Vecchia surrounding the mighty moated castle is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Over the centuries, Bologna has acquired many nicknames: “Bologna the learned” (“Bologna la dotta”) is a refer­ence to its famous univer­sity; “Bologna the fat” (“Bologna la grassa”) refers to its cuisine; and Bologna the red (“Bologna la rossa”) alludes to the supposed polit­ical bias of its citi­zenry. Bologna is renowned for its culinary tradi­tion and is regarded by some as the food capital of Italy. With nearly 40 kilome­ters of Portici, the semicircular archways, Bologna has a unique cityscape.

The magnif­i­cent renais­sance park at Palazzo Pitti was the most famous garden in all of Italy during the 16th century. The landscape archi­tects have created it in such a way that Florence is always a focal point. Today visitors can explore grottos, fountains, an amphithe­ater and even an Egyp­tian obelisk on the nearly five-hectare site. The Boboli Gardens are open daily.

The palace from 1458, which belonged to the wealthy merchant family Pitti, is still one of the largest build­ings of Florence. However, it only took on its current appear­ance a hundred years later when an even richer family, the Medici, moved in. The Pittis had been disowned after they had allegedly taken part in a conspiracy. After the Medici had lost their power, the dukes of Tuscany and later the kings of Italy resided there. In 1565 a kilometer-long corridor between the Pitti Palace and Palazzo Vecchio was built to shield the noblemen and wealthy from the plebs when they left their resi­dence to walk to the town hall. Today dukes and kings have disap­peared, so the palace only houses a few museums and exhi­bi­tions.

The basilica on the highest point of the city is consid­ered one of the most beau­tiful churches in Italy. Although built around 1000 the Church is neither spectac­ular nor partic­u­larly large from the outside. But the inte­rior is most convincing. The altar is in fact not on a level with the nave, but is elevated and one cannot look onto the the top of it. The unusual symbols on the portico are to this day a mystery to art histo­rians. The ceiling has a very different style and really does not match the rest of the church. However, all elements work harmo­niously with each other. There is a beau­tiful view over Florence when leaving the Basilica.

This medieval abbey in the vine­yards south­east of Florence is today a renowned winery. It is also the starting point for a pleasant walk through a delightful cultural landscape that will lead you down to the Pesa River. (2 hrs, 30 min, 9.5 km, total vertical distance: 290 m)

This is our suggested route if you want to get to know Florence on your own. From the train station, it will take you to the cathedral, the historic center of town and then across the Arno over the Ponte Vecchio. The Boboli Gardens on the other side of the river offer the most beau­tiful view of the city. (3 hrs, 6 km, eleva­tion change: 90 m)

With its patri­cian houses and reli­gious build­ings, the Tuscan city is a jewel of medieval archi­tec­ture and culture. Heart of the old town is the Piazza Grande with the Palazzo delle Logge from 1573 and its tall, narrow resi­den­tial build­ings. To the west of the square stands S. Maria della Pieve, one of the most beau­tiful Roma­nesque churches in all of Tuscany.

This city was is one of the earliest exam­ples of Renais­sance urban planning. Its founder and name­sake was Pope Pius II, who wanted to construct an “ideal city.” The central Piazza Comunale is framed by the cathedral, the court­house and two Palazzi. From here, the streets fan out in all direc­tions. Photog­ra­phers from all over the world like to use the Terrapille in the southwestern part of town as a postcard motif for classic Tuscany. Part of the movie “Gladi­ator” was shot here in 1999. The 1969 movie “Romeo and Juliet,” which won two Oscars for best picture and best costume design, was filmed at the cathedral square and at the Palazzo Piccolo­mini.  

The town owes its fame to the wine of the area, the Vino Nobile, which is one of the most inter­esting wines of Tuscany. High on a hill, Montepul­ciano is also archi­tectu­rally worth seeing. Gothic and Renais­sance build­ings form a unified and closed townscape, which is also special for central Italy. Piazza Grande with its 16th century cathedral is one of the most beau­tiful squares in Italy.

Villa Borghese is not a building, but a green area in the middle of Rome. It was built at the end of the 16th century on the vine­yard of the Borghese noble family. In 1901 the state bought the estate and opened it to the public. Today there are numerous museums on the site, including the Galleria Borghese and the Museum of Etruscan Art. On the north side lies Bioparco, the Roman zoo with over 200 animal species. Villa Borghese is also a popular place for joggers and walkers; on a small lake you can rent rowing boats and watch the ducks. A beau­tiful place to rest after stren­uous sightseeing.

The impres­sive rotunda with its columned façade was erected 25 B.C. as a temple for all gods and converted into a church over 600 years later. The dome is partic­u­larly impres­sive: it symbol­izes the sky, the opening in the middle stands for the sun and the contact with the stars. With a diam­eter of 43 metres, the dome of the Pantheon was the largest in the world for 1700 years until St Peter's Basilica was built. Visitors to the Pantheon enjoy the medi­ta­tive atmo­sphere inside and the delightful play of sunlight that falls through the open­ings in the roof and “wanders” along the floor. The Pantheon became the archi­tectural model for domed build­ings worldwide, such as the Capitol in Wash­ington DC, the Berlin Cathedral or the Invalid Cathedral in Paris.

A closer look at the huge square in the heart of the city reveals much about its origin: the long, almost oval surface resem­bles a track in the stadium. In fact, Piazza Navona was orig­inally an arena. Emperor Domi­tian had it built. More than 30,000 people found a place here. In the Middle Ages the spectator stands were grad­u­ally converted into houses. In the 15th century, the stadium first became a park and then a square by paving. The most important monu­ments are the church of Sant Agnese, built in honour of the martyr Agnes, and the 17th-century four-stream fountain: On it four male sculp­tures symbolize the four conti­nents known at that time in the form of the rivers Danube, Nile, Ganges and Río de la Plata.

If you would like to explore Rome on your own, our recom­mended route starts at the Roma Termini train station and takes you to the key sights in the Eternal City. On your way past the opera house, you will come to the Palazzo Berberini, the Fontana di Trevi, the Spanish Steps, the Pantheon and finally the Colos­seum and the Forum Romanum. (4 hrs, 8 km, eleva­tion change: 70m)

The “Theatre of Unity” of Monte Castello di Vibio is consid­ered the smallest theatre in the world with 99 seats and a stage area of 50 square metres. It was built at the beginning of the 19th century for nine wealthy fami­lies. Deco­ra­tions and scenery were executed by a painter from La Spezia. The frescoes were painted by his son, who was 15 years old at the time. In the 20th century the theatre fell into disre­pair until it was restored in the 1980s. Since then there have been regular performances again.

In the early 1990's Piero and Rosalba Giadrossi discov­ered this seven-hectare oak forest near Pievas­ciata. It offered the ideal condi­tions for their project – to present modern art in a natural context. The park opened its doors after five years of hard work. More than 20 artists from all over the world exhibit their work here. The peaceful surround­ings lend their art a unique charm.

According to legend, Siena was founded by Senio, the son of Romo, who was one of Rome's foun­ders. Siena is the most important city of art in Tuscany after Florence. The city's main period of devel­op­ment was the Middle Ages, when the town expanded in various direc­tions. Siena reached its full splendor in 1300, when most of the civil monu­ments were constructed, and an attempt was made to build the new Duomo. Siena was pre-eminently a Ghibel­line town, and its rulers often “crossed swords” with the Floren­tine Guelphs in epic and bloody battles that shaped the history of the Italian Middle Ages. One of the most famous battles took place in Monta­perti on 4 September 1260, when the Sienese defeated the Floren­tine army. A tragic plague epidemic in 1348 marked a very diffi­cult period for Siena that led to its annexa­tion into the Grand Duchy of Tuscany and the loss of its inde­pen­dence.

This wine center with a viva­cious downtown is nestled among forests and gently rolling hills where Roma­nesque churches, medieval hamlets and a castle are tucked away. This magnif­i­cent hike will lead you around the Monte Marcoli. On the way, you can stop for a bite to eat at the Risto­rante L'Alto Chianti or afterwards in Gaiola. (3:50 hrs, 12.8 km, eleva­tion change: 350 m)

On a mountain path just a few kilome­ters from the cultural center of Sienna, you can enjoy some relaxa­tion and a view. The cathedral of Sienna is visible for the entire walk. The goal of this leisurely stroll is a 14th century Carthu­sian monastery, the Certosa die Pontignano. Afterwards, you can stop for a bite to eat at the Osteria La Piccarda. (2 hours, 8.5 km, total vertical distance: 140 m)  

This wine-growing village is among the most beau­tiful towns in Chianti. This goes for the surrounding area as well. Here, roads lined with cypress trees lead to vine­yards, scrub­land and olive groves. The crowning feature of the landscape is Castelvecchi, a former castle town with a lovely park. After a short yet richly varied walk, you can relax in one of the local restau­rants. (2 hrs, 6.5 km, eleva­tion change: 220 m)

Parmesan cheese and Parma ham have made this city in the Po Valley famous. In fact, Parma has many culinary delights to offer, of which the many trat­to­rias in the old town bear witness. In the center of the city is the 2,000 year old Piazza Garibaldi with the palace for the governor, the octag­onal Baptis­tery of pink sand­stone and the Roma­nesque cathedral. For art histo­rians the fresco in the dome's inte­rior is espe­cially inter­esting, where Mary’s rising to heaven is depicted with perspec­tival tricks so that it seems almost three-dimen­sional from a partic­ular viewing angle.

In Roman times the city on the Po River was located on the inter­sec­tion of two major through roads and has been an important center for trade and crafts. The small but attrac­tive old town is surrounded by a fortress wall. Palazzi dating back to the 16th to 18th centuries line the streets that converge on the Piazza del Cavalli. From this central square, which is dominated by two eques­trian statues, a car-free shopping street leads to the Roma­nesque cathedral.

The monastery, orig­inally built for the Carthu­sian order, is one of the most important historic sights of northern Italy. The Carthu­sians earned their liveli­hood with the prayer for salva­tion of others. This was of great interest to the despotic Counts of Visconti as they feared eternal damna­tion. With the money of the noble family, a splendid Renais­sance building was created, their mortal remains still kept in the south aisle until today. A garden was estab­lished between the Certosa and Pavia Castle situ­ated nearly ten kilome­ters away.

The hike from Santa Lucia to Montauto is one of the most beau­tiful in southern Tuscany. Starting point is the pleas­antly quiet Piazza of Santa Lucia. From there it goes through a typical Tuscan cultural landscape with vine­yards, olive groves and cypresses to Molino di Foci, where you can stop in a German-speaking garden restau­rant. The high­light awaits you in Montauto: a great view of the towers of San Gimignano. (round trip: 11.6 kilome­ters, 3:30 hours, up and down: 370 meters)

The circular walk is partic­u­larly recom­mended for the view of San Gimignano and its surround­ings. Less appealing is the fact that it travels across wide, unpaved slopes, which are little used, but some­times dusty. (there and back: 9 kilome­ters, 2:30 hours, up and down: 210 meters)

The picturesque town­ship on the western shores of Lake Maggiore has a beau­tiful waterfront, where a market is held every Sunday. It has a beach, a church from 1571 and a historic center. Located just west of the city, the Cannobino, a rushing mountain stream, has dug a deep gorge.

The heyday of this town on the shores of Lake Maggiore began when the Simplon railway line connected it with the north. The prom­enades along the shore­line, with their magnif­i­cent views, still attest to that era. A number of boats will ferry you from Stresa to the Borromean Islands and to other sights on Lake Maggiore. The Villa Pallavi­cino and its botanic gardens are only a short distance to the south.

The Ticino valley stretches from Intragna on Lake Maggiore to Camedo in the west at the Swiss-Italian border. It owes its name to the numerous side valleys. There are not 100 but more than 150! Hiking trails along former mule tracks lead through the chestnut forests and on to ancient old villages, which are mostly deserted or inhabited by artists. The romantic valley is made acces­sible by the Centovalli Railway, which travels over 83 bridges and through 34 tunnels.

North of Lake Maggiore rises the Cimetta. Via the Cardada, the local mountain of Locarno, the 1,671 meter high peak is easily acces­sible by cablecar and hiking trails. From the top you have a sensa­tional view over the lake and the Maggia Delta. On a good day you can see Ascona, the lowest point in Switz­er­land, and the Monte Rosa, the highest point of Switz­er­land. Those who still have energy, can cont­inue to Cima della Torosa and descend over the lake of Verzasca.

A thou­sand steps lead to the pilgrimage chapel in Hergiswald, which was conse­crated in 1662. It is simple on the outside, but unique on the inside. The picture of the Black Madonna and a vaulted wooden ceiling with 324 sections amaze and enthuse art histo­rians. Kaspar Megglinger, the crea­tive artist, was partic­u­larly known in the Baroque period for his Marian symbolism. After all, the more than 300 images of the Virgin Mary are regarded as the only cycle in the world to have been designed in this form.

High above the right bank of the Rhine lies the medieval town, framed by a city wall with two magnif­i­cent gates. On the cobble­stone streets between the town houses, the 800-year-old past still seems alive: the foun­da­tion by the Habsburgs as a “forest town” in the 13th century, the plague and the Jewish pogroms of the 14th century, the marauding mercenaries and guilds, the turmoil of the Reforma­tion and the 30-year war. The facade paint­ings in Kais­er­s­traße are partic­u­larly beau­tiful and seem to outdo each other. The 15th century Greiff­enegg-Schlössle is also worth a visit.

This easy hike between Wutach and the Rhine leads through the foothills of the Black Forest to the Küss­aburg, the striking fortress high above the Rhine Valley. The starting point is in picturesque Tiengen. The way back leads through romantic river valleys.

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This town on the northern shore of Lake Constance named after the first King of Württem­berg was only estab­lished in 1811. Because of free trade priv­i­leges with Switz­er­land the city grew rapidly and attracted indus­trial­ists and tourists, including the Russian Tsar Alexander II. In the early 20th century the Graf von Zeppelin from Konstanz set up his airship factory in Friedrichshafen. This was converted into arms facto­ries in the Third Reich, but today they belong to Airbus.

Due to its magnif­i­cent gardens and park­land the 45-hectare island at Konstanz is also known as “Island of Flowers”. The favor­able climate contributes to the thriving of palm trees and other trop­ical plants. In March the flower season opens with an orchid exhi­bi­tion. There­after blos­soming tulips, narcissi and hyacinths have a turn to show off their beauty before being replaced by rhodo­dendrons and azaleas. Summer is the time for roses and in autumn the dahlias develop their splendor. In the all-year-open butterfly house one can stroll around at 26 degrees and 90 percent humidity, marveling at the exotic vegeta­tion and cascading waterfalls.

At the tran­si­tion between Obersee and Überlinger See lies the small town between forests and vine­yards. The former fishing settle­ment expe­r­i­enced its heyday as the resi­dence of the bishops of Constance between the 16th and 18th century, in which today's townscape was shaped. The New Palace east of the Schlossplatz was also built for the bishops. Today, Balthasar Neumann's impres­sive building houses the Dornier Museum. The Meer­sburg castle rises above the city. It is consid­ered to be the oldest castle in Germany, which was inhabited throughout. The writer Annette von Droste-Hülshoff spent her last years here.

The picturesque old town of Lindau is located on an island in Lake Constance. It is connected with the main­land by a sea-bridge. Maxi­m­ilian Street leads past patri­cian houses from the Gothic and Renais­sance era, finally ending at the harbor, which is dominated by a light­house and a six meter tall Bavarian lion. A beau­tiful river­side walk with views of the Alps skirts around the old town.

The capital of Vorarlberg lies on the south-eastern shore of Lake Constance at the foot of its local mountain, the Pfänder. More than 2,000 years ago there was already a Celtic settle­ment in the area of the historic old town, which was forti­fied with a wall and is now called the “Ober­stadt” (upper town). The much younger Unter­stadt (lower town) lies on the lake shore, along which a wide prom­enade runs with beaches at its ends. In front of the prom­enade floats a stage, which is used at the Bregenz Festival. The grand­stand is on land and holds more than 4,000 visitors. The centre of the lower town is the Kornmarkt with the Kunsthaus (house of arts) and Vorarlberger Museum.

The 1,064 metre high mountain above Bregenz is the most famous vantage point in the region with its unique view of Lake Constance and 240 Alpine peaks. When the weather is clear, the view reaches from the Allgäu and Lechtal Alps in the east over the Bregen­z­erwald, the steep peaks of the Arlberg region and the Silvretta, further over the Rätikon to the Swiss mountains and the foothills of the Black Forest in the west. Lake Constance lies at our feet, framed by the Rhine valley and the Upper Swabian hills. From Bregenz, a cable car takes you close to the summit, where some restau­rants await. Several marked hiking trails start at the top station.

North­east of Sonthofen, the Starzlach has dug a wild and romantic ravine for many thou­sands of years. The torrent rises at an alti­tude of 1070 metres and then rushes through the picturesque gorge. It plunges over several waterfalls, which provide cool­ness in summer and freeze to bizarre ice curtains in winter. Wooden footbridges, rock stairs and even shorter tunnels have made the wild gorge acces­sible. (return 2:30 hours, 3,6 kilome­ters, up and down 250 meters)

The health resort on the northern edge of the Allgäu Alps is crossed by the River Vils and consists of 13 indi­vidual villages. The landmark is the late baroque church of St. Nicholas in Pfronten-Berg. From Pfronten-Steinach a cable car takes you to the Hochalpe (1502 m) and from there a chairlift goes on to the Breit­enberg (1838 m). From there you have a beau­tiful view in all direc­tions.

Hohenschwangau Castle, then also known as Schwanstein Castle, was first mentioned in docu­ments in the 12th century. It was owned by the Knights of Schwangau until the 16th century, after which it changed hands several times and was severely damaged in various wars. In 1832 the later King Maxi­m­ilian II, father of King Ludwig II, acquired it and had it rebuilt in the neo-Gothic style according to orig­inal plans. The Bavarian royal family used Hohenschwangau as a summer and hunting resi­dence. King Ludwig II spent his child­hood here and used it as his summer resi­dence until his death in 1886.

Three miles south of Füssen at the foot of the Alps lies the fairy tale castle Neuschwanstein built by King Ludwig II. One of the most popular tourist destina­tions in Germany, its design was inspired by stage deco­ra­tions used for two Wagner operas, Tannhäuser and Parzival. The King, also known as “Ludwig the Mad”, was offi­cially declared insane before the castle's comple­tion in 1896 and he drowned under myste­r­ious circum­stances in Lake Starnberg in southern Bavaria shortly after being removed from power. Consequently, no one has ever lived in the castle. Tours can be taken through several rooms, including the Throne Room and the Singers' Hall. The best views of the castle can be had from the Marienbrücke (Mary's Bridge).

On the border between Germany and Austria lies the 1,986 meter high Aggenstein. From the Breit­enbergbahn base station you can hike along a scenic trail to the Bad Kissinger hut. The last part to the summit is a secured climb. You can take a break at the Bad Kissinger hut. The ascent to the summit requires sure-foot­ed­ness and concen­tra­tion. At the top you have a pano­ramic view over the Tannheimer mountains. On your way down you pass the Hochalphütte, where you can stop again. (return: 10.7 kilome­ters, 5 hours, up and down: 1172 meters)

The waterfall near Füssen is a unique natural monu­ment of the Bavarian Alps. The water masses of the River Lech, fed from the Alps, plunge over five steps twelve metres into the depth. Below the Lech Falls, the river narrows and enters the Lech Gorge. It is the only one in the entire Bavarian Alpine region through which a larger Alpine river can still flow freely and unim­peded by man. From the Lechfall car park you can take a tour of the royal castles, which leads to Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau through magnif­i­cent landscape. (return: 13 kilome­ters, 6 hours, up and down 522 meters)

On June 14, 1738, the farmer's wife Maria Lory saw tears in the eyes of a wooden figure depicting the suffering Jesus at the scourge column. This miracle soon attracted thou­sands of pilgrims. For the"Pilgrimage to the Scourged Saviour on the Meadow" a new church became neces­sary: the Wieskirche. From 1745 to 1754 Dominikus Zimmer­mann created the oval church, which nowa­days is regarded as Rococo of the highest perfec­tion. Today the Wieskirche is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and attracts one million visitors from all over the world every year, espe­cially on the Festival of the Tears of Christ on the Sunday following 14 June. Concerts take place during summer.

From the Wieskirche the Brettlesweg runs through the Wiesfilz. The board­walk leads through a moist bog with many ponds. After a few minutes you reach the Schönegger Käsealm, where you can buy several dozen kinds of cheese, sausage, fresh hay milk and farm­house bread. Every­thing is from their own produc­tion. Or you can enjoy a Schönegger Brotzeit (snack) at one of the sunny tables. (There and back: 3.4 kilome­ters, 1:30 hour, up and down 52 meters)