Overview
Bavaria was its own kingdom, before becoming part of Germany in 1918. If you ask anyone there where they're from, they won't say Germany. They'll say Bavaria. It is Germany's top tourist destination. People go there to experience the region's storybook towns, rich cultural heritage and immense natural beauty.
For nearly 200 years, the town of Mittenwald was the center of trading for all of Europe. Starting in the late 1400s, merchants from all over world went there to exchange gold, silver, spices and silk. Evidence of that time still exists today. Some of the town's homes, for example, have extra-wide doorways, which were built to leave room for the carriages to pass through so the riders could unload their goods and feed their horses.
Oberammergau is another storybook town, under the watchful eye of the Alps. It is smaller than Mittenwald, but it is a bit more abuzz with tourist action.
Sights/Landmarks/To Do
Craftsmanship/Violin-makers, Mittenwald: Bavaria is well-renowned for its craftsmanship. The violin-making tradition in Mittenwald goes back over 300 years. The craft is very time-intensive; it takes around two months to finish just one violin.
Karwendel Mountain Range: The mountain range is 6,500 feet high, and the climb is steep, so if you're not up for it, you can catch a 10-minute cable-car ride to the top in Mittenwald. Two countries share the top of the mountain: Germany on one side, and Austria on the other. The mountain air is clean and fresh, and there are lots of great outdoor activities like hiking, rock climbing, skiing and snowboarding. Hiking is particularly popular, with more than 80 miles of hiking trails.
Oberammergau Frescos: When people say that Oberammergau is picturesque, they mean it literally. Frescos are painted on buildings all across the town. The technique became popular back in the eighth century. At first, the frescos were used to add architectural detail to home columns, balconies and grand entranceways, but the themes gradually became more religious. Take a tour and pick out which ones are your favorites!
Oberammergau Passion Play: Every 10 years, the citizens of Oberammergau stage a passion play that is unmatched by any other in the world. In 1634, the town vowed that if God spared them from the effects of the Bubonic plague ravaging the region, they would perform a play every 10 years depicting the life and death of Jesus. The tradition has continued ever since. The next takes place in 2010, and tickets go on sale in 2008.
Web: www.oberammergau.de
Neuschwanstein Castle: This storybook-like castle was built by King Ludwig II in 1868. He wrote that he wanted it built on a rocky precipice, as if heavenly and he wanted it to appear unapproachable. Unapproachable is right. From the parking lot, it is a steep, 1/2-mile climb, but definitely worth the effort. The castle is one of the grandest and most visited in all of Europe. Incidentally, it was also the inspiration for Walt Disney's quintessential fairy-tale castle. Sadly, King Ludwig II never saw his castle completed. In fact, the building of Neuschwanstein Castle and of a few others raised some eyebrows as to the king's state of mind. On June 8, 1886, he was certified insane and deposed. Five days later, he was found dead floating in a lake. Was it murder, suicide or an accident? No one knows for sure. What is known is that Bavarians to this day still love Ludwig II, the dreamer king who built a castle in the sky.
Web site: www.neuschwanstein.com
Hours: Daily April-Sept., 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Oct -March, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Hotels
Hotel Alpenrose, Mittenwald: This small hotel is typical of those you'll find in Mittenwald. The rates are reasonable, and the accommodations sufficient. Admittedly, the bathrooms are a bit "hospital-esque" in their ambiance, but they are cleaned spotless every day. Be sure to request a room with a balcony and a view of the Alps. It's incredible. You can even rent apartments there, but ask two questions: One, does it have a private or shared bathroom? And two, does it include breakfast?
Web site: hotel-alpenrose-mittenwald.de
Hotel Alte Post, Oberammergau: The reasonably priced Alte Post is in the social center of Mittenwald. It offers standard hotel rooms, as well as two-story studio apartments to let.
Web site: www.ogau.de
Food/Restaurants/Bars
Platzl, Mittenwald: Platzl serves Bavarian dishes such as sauerbraten, a traditional meat dish, and wurst salad, a salad of sliced bologna.
Where: Fritz-PrÖlß-Platz 21
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