Once again, my husband Bill was kind enough to take me with him on a recent business trip to Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. This little town, popularly known as simply Garmisch, hosts the Edelweiss Lodge and Resort, a place where members of the U.S. military and certain government officials can go for rest and relaxation. The Edelweiss Lodge and Resort also hosts a lot of conferences for military personnel. Since my husband was going to a conference, I decided to take a couple of tours and learn something about the German state of Bavaria. After two days of touring, I came away with a new appreciation for several interesting places in Bavaria and some sore muscles.
Munich
Obviously, if you’re headed to Bavaria, you shouldn’t miss Munich, which is its capital and the third largest city in Germany. The German tour guide who led our group last week told us that many Germans consider Munich to be the best town to live in, followed by Nuremburg. I don’t know how true that claim is, but I do know that I had a great time traipsing around the city’s cobbled streets. Naturally, the city is well known for Oktoberfest, which takes place every year at the end of September and attracts millions of beer swilling people to its massive tents for good food, live music, and a touch of drunken debauchery. But there’s more to Munich than beer.
There are so many things to do and see in Munich, but unfortunately, I had only a few hours to spend in this great city. The first place I visited was The Rathaus Glockenspiel, which is in the Marienplatz area of the city. Every day at 11:00am, 12:00pm, and 5:00pm, it chimes and visitors flock to see two old stories from the 16th century re-enacted. Since this was my first time to Munich, I had to watch the show and listen to the jangly music played on the glockenspiel and watch the very impressive old figurines dance. This is a free and very popular attraction, so don’t miss it… but keep an eye on your wallet or purse. Supposedly, a lot of pickpockets troll the area looking for easy targets distracted by the spectacle.
Next, I went to The Residenz, which is the former home of a number of Bavarian royal family members and is now a museum. The Residenz, also near Marienplatz, consists of two museums. There’s the palace, which is the actual area where royals lived, and the treasury, which is where visitors can see the crown jewels and other treasures. It costs 6 euros to tour each part of the museum or 9 euros for a combination ticket. Don’t worry if you don’t speak German. You can pick up an audio set that will explain each of the exhibits in English.
Like gourmet food? In the mood to shop? The Farmer’s Market and Dallmayr are two places you shouldn’t miss. The Farmer’s Market is located just a few steps away from Marienplatz and consists of many wonderful food stands selling everything from fresh produce to horse sausage. That’s right, you can actually buy sausage made of horse in Munich’s Farmer’s Market. I wouldn’t touch it myself, but it might be fun for more adventurous folks. The area is very festive and it’s fun to look at and purchase the fresh wares. Once you’re finished at the market, take a walk down Dienerstrasse to the Dallmayr’s gourmet delicatessen. This family owned business dates back to the 17th century and sells exquisite gourmet foods and gift baskets. You can also find excellent coffees, teas, wines, and liquors in this store. If you need help, don’t hesitate to ask an employee. I found that many of them spoke excellent English. If you’re in the mood for a meal, you can enjoy one in Dallmayr’s own upscale restaurant or cafe.
Of course, Munich has a lot more to offer than just these spots. Again, I had only a few hours to spend there and I have to admit, I was pretty distracted by Dallmayr’s because I like gourmet stores. I didn’t get a chance to hit the Hofbrauhaus, which is Munich’s very famous state owned brewery. Our guide told us that live oompah music is available in the brewery’s restaurants. Next time I visit Munich, I’ll be sure to stop by there.
Neuschwanstein
You’ve probably already seen Mad King Ludwig II’s beautiful castle in pictures. If you’ve ever been to Disneyland, you might have also seen replicas of this amazing castle. But nothing beats actually going inside this amazing place and seeing his creation up close and personal. King Ludwig II was a very religious man who was friends with the composer, Richard Wagner. He proposed to build a castle in the style of old German knight’s castles, with paintings of scenes from Wagner’s operas as well as religious pictures. The castle, which was never finished, featured all of the conveniences of the late 19th century, including a telephone and a very modern kitchen.
Tours cost 9 euros per person and are available in English, but this is not a good place to visit if you’re not up to doing a lot of walking. In order to get to the castle, you must walk or take a horse and buggy ride. Even if you take the buggy, you will still have a bit of a walk before you will reach the entrance. Once inside the castle, you will climb about 300 steps. Then, there’s the walk back down to the picturesque little village where tour buses congregate. If you have time, be sure to see the Hohenschwangau Castle, which is also located closeby. The Hohenschwangau Castle was King Ludwig II’s childhood home.
Wies Church (Wieskirche)
This lovely church is located in the the Steingaden municipality of the Weilheim-Schongau district in Bavaria, not too far from Neuschwanstein. Set in a beautiful meadow, the inside of this church is an architectural and artistic wonder. Inside, it looks like a celestial place, with beautiful murals and stuccowork. It’s free to enter this church and, as long as there are no services going on, you can take all the pictures you want. Donations are encouraged.
Almdorf Ammertal
Okay, this entry is really more to satisfy those who want to do a little shopping while wandering around in Bavaria. Our tour stopped at this charming wood carving shop in Bad Bayersoien, Germany. We went inside and found exquisite wood carvings, cuckoo clocks, beer steins, and art. The shop is located about 30 kilometers from Neuschwanstein, near the town of Oberammergau. I had a great time in this place, picking out decorations for my house. It’s a great stop for gifts to take back home. In fact, the shop owners will even ship items back to the States if you find something that is too big to carry home with you! For those who can’t visit, an online shop is also available.
In conclusion
I know I’ve missed tons and tons of great places to see in Bavaria. I wanted to focus on the places I did actually get to visit on my most recent trip to Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Since my husband’s Germany tour is just getting started, I’m sure there will be many more articles in the future, pointing out more of Bavaria’s great attractions. For now, I hope this little guide can help other people who are planning to visit Bavaria!
