A picture speaks a thousand words they say, but in the case of Bavaria, South Germany, that may not necessarily hold true. The beauty of the place can hardly be contained in a single frame. To begin with, it boasts of larger-than-life mountains flanked by flat, lush green meadows that seem to run endlessly until they meet another one of these giant structures. As the eye takes in the scenic beauty, the sporadic man-made structures stand as lone rangers in the fields, breaking the monotony of it all. This is a haven for those looking for solace and peace.
A town Right out of a book
The drive from North Germany to Bavaria via the Autobahn is a trailer to the real picture that slowly unfolds itself as the destination comes into clearer view. The windmills lining the roads entice and seem to welcome the way towards the Alps, which appear as tiny hillocks from afar and glisten in the sun, as though their peaks weren’t covered in snow, but adorned with diamonds instead. King Ludwig’s Neuschwanstein Castle (New Swan castle), which was the inspiration for Sleeping Beauty’s palace stands majestically and in striking contrast with its green backdrop of the mountain.
A neighbour to the castle is the tiny village of Schwangau, which has an air of warmth to it. You could take a stroll through the market admiring the architecture or chat up the locals over beer and watch the horses grazing in the pastures.
The sweet sound of silence
Staying in one of the home stays in the village would be ideal for the view and tranquility they offer and for their proximity to Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau Castles and Fussen town. While there, do try some German sausage, beer and schnitzels.
For the adventurous traveller
Now back to the castle, the way up from the parking lot is a beautiful hike. This was the castle that the recluse king built as a place of retreat, while Hohenschwangau was where he grew up. Priced at nine euros, the tour inside is quite enchanting. Meanwhile, for those in the mood to trek and take pictures, there are plenty of options around the castle.
A 20 minute trek will bring you to Marienbrücke or Mary’s Bridge (named after Ludwig’s mother). Cradled between two hills and over the Pöllat Gorge, it overlooks the Hohenschwangau and the Alpsee Lake. Another option for pictures is to head to one of the mountain tops. The added bonus is that most of these mountain tops are launch pads for paragliders too. If you are keen, there are a few organisers who send their pilots along and the view is just phenomenal. To sum it up, a holiday in the Bavarian Alps is one drenched in sheer bliss.
