Bavaria, Austria, Northern Italy

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 Upper Alpine Road (Hochalpens­traße) that begins in Heil­i­genblut at the foot of the Groß­glockner is one of the most magnif­i­cent mountain stretches in the world. The 22 km long highway leads through the Glockner Massif up to a height of over 2,500 m (8,200 ft.). Although the route around Austria's highest mountain was already used by the Romans, the road wasn't built until the 1930s. Today most traffic across the Austrian Alps uses other passes, leaving this route rela­tively quiet. Car parks are present at most view­points from which marked hiking paths lead off into the mountain terrain. In good weather a trip along a side road called “Glacier Road” (Gletsch­er­s­traße) is a must.

This striking massif in the Sexten Dolomites has become the most famous landmark in the Dolomites. At 2,999 meters, the “Big Peak” was first climbed in 1869. Even today, the peaks are still very popular among climbers. The easiest objec­tive to reach is the Auronzo hut, the Rifugio Auronzo (2,320 m), directly south of the massif on the Forcella di Longeres, which can be reached by cable car from the vaca­tion town of Misu­rina.

While gentle meadows, forests and sun-drenched plateaus char­ac­terize the lower Puster Valley, the Hoch­pustertal is partic­u­larly known for the rugged peaks of the Sesto Dolomites. Above all, of course, the Three Peaks. The landmark of the Dolomites is equally popular with photog­ra­phers and hikers. For those who find the hikes too stren­uous, many cable cars are avai­l­able, leading to look­outs and summits. Even Gustav Mahler appre­ciated the beauty of the Dolomites. He spent the summer months from 1908 to 1910 in his composing cottage in Toblach, where every summer the Gustav Mahler Music Weeks take place in his honor.

The world-renowned center for mountain-sports is located in the Valle de Boite in the Ampezzo Alps. Cortina is surrounded by the most beau­tiful peaks of the Dolomites: the Tofana di Mezzo (3,244 m), the Monte Cristallo (3,221 m) and the Sorapis (3,205 m). In most cases mountain railways lead to the summit. Until the middle of the 20th century, the spoken language was mainly Ladin. Since then Italian has taken over. Local cuisine and expres­sions are still greatly influ­enced by the old Austrian Empire. Gulasch and Krapfen (donuts), Gröstl and Chenedi (Tyrolean dumplings) reflect the long asso­cia­tion with Tirol. Polenta and bean soup on the other hand orig­inate from the Vene­tian plain.

The Bolzano Munic­ipal Museum is currently the home of the exhibit “The Man from Hauslabjoch”- better known as “Ötzi.” The mummy was discov­ered protruding through the ice in a glacier in the Ötztal Alps in 1992. A public pros­e­cutor was initially brought in because of the mummy's head injuries. The case was closed, however, when a forensic examiner deter­mined that the body was 5,300 years old! Of partic­ular interest is the life-like Ötzi recon­struc­tion based on 3D images of the mummy.

This loop trail starts at Korb castle and leads to the striking castle ruins of Hocheppan and Boymont. Along the way, there are a number of over­looks offering a view of the vast Bozen Valley. (1:45 hrs, 5 km, eleva­tion change: 210 m)

Those who wish to climb the Gantkofel not only need to be in good shape, but should also be unafraid of heights and steady on their feet. Yet the steep and narrow trail should pose to diffi­cul­ties to alpine hikers. At 1,866 meters, the peak offers an amazing view of Bozen and the Dolomites. The hike ends at the Moarhof, a historic mountain farm­house, where you can order goulash, dumplings, fried eggs and other South Tyrolean delica­cies. (5:15 hrs, 8.5 km, eleva­tion change: 930)  

This short walk will take you through the old town and along the Talfer toward St. Peter. From there, you will pass through vine­yards on your way to St. Magdalena. This is where the high-quality St. Magdalener Clas­sico wine is produced, which you can try for your­self in the Eberle restau­rant in St. Magdalena.

Innsbruck's local mountain stands only a few kilome­ters south of the city in the Tuxer Alps. The 2,246 meter high summit is barren and offers a beau­tiful view across the city and the Inn valley. From Iglis, a district of Innsbruck, a cable car leads up to the striking mountain. Not far from the mountain station is the highest botan­ical garden in Austria, the Patscherkofel Alpine Garden. More than 400 different plant species grow on two hectares of mountai­nous land, including very rare ones that are under strict conser­va­tion.

The castle, visible from afar, is enthroned on a hill on the south-eastern city border of Innsbruck. Once it was the castle of the counts of Dießen-Andechs, whose ancestors already resided here in the tenth century. In 1133 the castle was destroyed by attacks led by Henry the Proud, then Duke of Bavaria. Only 150 years later, the plant was rebuilt. Today the massive building houses a museum with art from the private collec­tion of Archduke Ferd­inand II.

The late Gothic bay window is located in the old town of Innsbruck and bears its name because of the 2,657 fire-gilded copper shin­gles on the roof. The magnif­i­cent house was built in 1420 as the resi­dence of the Tyrolean sovereigns. However, the magnif­i­cent dungeon was only added 80 years later on behalf of the then German King Maxi­m­ilian I.. In 1536 the leader of the Tyrolean Anabaptist move­ment, Jakob Hutter, was burned alive on the square in front of the Golden Roof. Many of his followers then emigrated to America and founded several commu­ni­ties in Penn­sylvania, where they are still called Hutterer today and live a tradi­tional, pre-indus­trial lifestyle. Today the Golden Roof houses a museum.

The circular hike around the Patscherkofel offers magnif­i­cent views of the Viggartal, the Viggar­spitze and the Glungezer. The first section leads from the mountain station of the Kofelbahn along the Zirbenweg past the Boschebenhütte to the Hochmahdalm. Here you can stop for refresh­ments on the sun terrace with a fantastic view of the Stubai Glacier. (return: 5.5 kilome­ters, 2 hours, 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)