Saturday, October 20, 2012

Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial

From one of the most vile parts of human history is the Dachau Concentration Camp.  Here is where numerous people, mostly Jews, were tortured and murdered for many years under Hitler's regime.  Since then, a substantial effort has been made to turn this place of horrors into a proper memorial, which was headed up by both survivors as well as descendants of those who unfortunately spent time here.

They have done a magnificent job in allowing visitors to get a good glimpse into what life was like in the Concentration Camp.  It is a truly moving experience that people of all nationalities, religions and beliefs should experience.  It's extremely difficult to put into words what it is like to visit, but it is something that can be upsetting for many, so please be prepared for that before entering.

Friday, October 19, 2012

Schloss Neuchwanstein


Probably the top tourist attraction in Germany, and maybe even in all of Europe, is Schloss Neuchwanstein, which is the castle that Walt Disney based Sleeping Beauty's castle in Disneyland on.  In order to enter the castle, you'll need to purchase a timed ticket.  Be aware that the time stamped on the ticket is the time you'll enter and you don't want to be late.  Otherwise, you will not be allowed in under any circumstances.  Also, it can get VERY crowded here so we recommend pre-purchasing your reservation online or getting to the ticket center in Hohenschwangau first thing in the morning.

To get to the castle, you'll need to either take a long 30-40 minute steep uphill walk from the main part of town, take a bus, or take a horse-drawn carriage ride.  We recommend taking the bus for 3 Euros/person.  Where the bus drops you off, also make sure to take a walk to the nearby bridge for an amazing view of the castle.  From there, head to the castle for your tour.  Keep in mind only about 1/3 of the castle's insides were ever completed, so you can't go everywhere in the castle during your tour.  However, the tour is impressive and highly recommended.

In addition, afterwards, near the back of the castle, there is a path down to a waterfall that is gorgeous.  There are numerous stairs to go down (and come back up), so please keep in mind you should be physically fit to experience this portion.

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Schloss Hohenschwangau


The most famous castle in all of Germany may be Schloss Neuschwanstein, but in the same town is Schloss Hohenschwangau, which is quite magnificent in its own right.  You can even purchase a combination ticket to visit both castles at a reduced price.  Be aware, when purchasing a ticket, that you MUST show up to the castle entrance at your ticket's time or you will be denied entrance, with no exceptions.

From the main street of town, the castle looks quite impressive.  You can either take a 15-20 minute hike up to the castle or a horse-drawn carriage.  Because of the gorgeous view during the walk, that is what we suggest doing.

Once inside, you'll be shown around the castle by a tour guide.  In our case, our guide was very informative and spoke crystal clear English.  You'll get a great history of the castle and the family history of its former royal residents.  This tour was a highlight in Germany and we'd recommend it to everyone.

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Museum of the Bavarian Kings


In Hohenschwangau, the main attraction by far is Schloss Neuschwanstein.  People from all of the world come to visit it.  However, on the main drag in town is a very interesting museum, the Museum of the Bavarian Kings.  You're taken on a journey through the history of Bavaria's royalty up until present day.  You can see various artifacts from the history of the royal line, as well as learn the complete story of this proud lineage via a personal audio guide that is included in your admission.  

Right outside the museum, there are also beautiful walking trails leading to both castles, as well as a gorgeous lake to spend some time at.

Also, if you stay at a hotel in town, admission is included with your stay.

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Salzbergwerks Salt Mines



For a different, but very entertaining tour good for people of any age, the Salzberwerks Salt Mine in Berchtesgaden, Germany is an excellent choice.  You'll be provided with overalls to go over your clothing to keep you warm during this tour into the depths of the salt mines.  To get there, you take a type of train that you ride on like a horse into the depths.  Afterwards, you explore the mines on foot led by an expert tour guide explaining to you everything you're seeing.  You'll also get to ride on a "slide" to get further into the mines, although there is the option to walk down.  We'd recommend the slide though is it is actually pretty fun.  The tour will last about an hour and you'll be entertained the entire time.

Beware that it can get very crowded here and everything is very time controlled, so if you don't want to have a long wait, plan to get here when they first open.

Monday, October 15, 2012

Mozart Birthplace and Residence



We decided during our trip to Germany to take a quick side trip across the border to Salzburg, Austria.  This charming city is very nice to walk around for a few hours, but the two main tourist draws are the Mozart Birthplace and the Mozart Residence, which are only a few minutes walk from each other.  You can also get a combination ticket to visit both of them at their ticket counters.

You'll find that the birthplace focuses on the life of Mozart, while the Residence focuses more his music.  Both are very interesting and come with audio guides in multiple languages.  We found that the one at the Residence was particularly different than the ones you get at most museums since it plays various Mozart music.

Sunday, October 14, 2012

Zugspitze

The Zugspitze is known as the "Top of Germany", as it's the highest point of the country.  From the top you can see 4 countries (Germany, Italy, Austria & Switzerland).  This is a magnificent, gorgeous view.  Words cannot do it justice.

To get there, you'd want to catch the Zugspitzbahn train in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.  You would take this all the way to the end of the line at the lake Eibsee (you'll need to change trains at one point).  From there, you take a lift all the way to the top of the mountain.  Up here, in addition to the beautiful views, there are also a few restaurants, which do have pretty good food.

When visiting, definitely allow yourself a good amount of time for travelling (both up and down) as it can take close to an hour each way, and you may be waiting for the trains/trams for a little while.