I only spent two days in Munich, but it left a lasting impression on me. The grander of the Alps, the many shades of green, the opulent castles, the delicious food, and helpful people, all left me wishing I could stay longer. It may have only been a stop-over on my way to Austria, but the bier, brats and beauty of Munich Germany will bring me back.
The Alps
It took us about an hour until we were outside of the city and passing beautiful green farm fields, giant windmills and starting to see glimpses of spectacular mountains poking through the mist in the distance. The closer we got to the mountains, the more excited I got. My heart was racing as I took picture after picture of the grand mountain peaks towering above charming Bavarian villages.
The foothills of the Alps in Germany
Dreamy Castles
I signed up for a day tour to visit two fairy-tale looking castles. The first stop was Linderhof, the smallest of the three royal castles built in the 19th century by King Ludwig II, who was known for being quite eccentric. He was never married and died a suspicious death at the age of 41. The palace was built in the French Rococo style and is surrounded by perfectly groomed gardens and picturesque landscaping. A large white swan swam elegantly around the glassy pond and colorful flowers lined the shore. Outside the palace was a gorgeous fountain that shot high into the air every half hour. The inside of the castle was even more impressive. Every nook and cranny was gleaming with gold plate atop extraordinary designs. The walls and ceilings were covered in murals honoring various legends or religious figures. The color and detail was incredible! The king’s bed was especially lavish, covered in blue velvet and silk with real gold embroidery and accessories. I stared in awe and couldn’t help but wonder what it must have been like to live as royalty in such a beautiful palace.
Linderhof Castle
Bier and Brats in Oberammergau
After visiting Linderhof, we stopped in the town of Oberammergau. It is world famous for its wood carvings, the artistically painted houses and the original passion play which is featured only every 10 years. I enjoyed a spicy authentic German bratwurst and a dark beer (bier in German) at a darling little café where locals were visiting like they had nothing else to do for the day.
Enjoying a German Bier
Neuschwanstein
Next, we toured Neuschwanstein, one of the most famous castles in the world. It even served as a template for the design of Disney’s Sleeping Beauty It was absolutely stunning! The renaissance-style castle took my breath away as it came in to view, set high on a mountain in the majestic Alps.
Neuschwanstein Castle
A new friend
In Hohenschwangau, a charming town at the foot of the castle, I made a new friend. His name is Julian and he is sweet man with a great sense of humor from Wales. We were the only singles waiting in line for the café, so I invited him to join me. We spent the rest of the day together, laughing and enjoying the exquisite sites. Julian travels a lot and we talked about our favorite places and bucket lists. It’s always a pleasure to meet fellow wanderers.
I know Germany has a lot more to offer and it’s a shame I didn’t plan to stay longer, but it was still amazing! Perhaps someday I’ll return to Germany to enjoy the famous Oktoberfest. We drove past the park on the way back where they were setting it up. The structures being erected were about the size of 4 football fields and made me want to join in the fun and festivities. Such a big world and such little time!