BAVARIA: CASTLES, MOUNTAINS AND MUCH MORE

Destination
Bavaria: Castles, Mountains and Much More
Beautiful castles, gardens,
parks, mountains – Bavaria in
Germany has it all. Discover the
Renaissance heritage of Augsburg, Regensburg’s Italian heart
and Dachau’s royal history.
Destination
Bava r i a : C a s t l e s , Mo u n t a i n s a n d M u c h Mo r e
Experience Bavaria and Its World
Famous Landmarks
Cities, culture, sports and leisure, holidays
with the whole family and much more – there
are many reasons to spend your holiday in
Bavaria!
Hi-Tech and Traditions
Laptop and lederhosen – this expression has
become very popular and refers to the successful coexistence of the high-tech industry
alongside old Bavarian traditions and customs.
Munich is the capital city of publishing houses
and other industries, like biotechnology, automobile industry, air and space travel (Oberpfaffenhofen) and is also home to renowned
universities – Bavaria holds a leading position
in many areas of business and education.
For tourists from all over the world Bavaria is
the most popular destination in Germany. This
is due to its many attractions: world-famous
buildings like Neuschwanstein Castle, the
famous beer festival, the Oktoberfest, and the
Hofbräuhaus in Munich, to mention but a few.
And also amongst German travelers Bavaria is
the most popular destination!
Castles and Palaces
In Bavaria you will find the most impressive
castles, palaces and gardens of Germany. The
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Destination
Bava r i a : C a s t l e s , Mo u n t a i n s a n d M u c h Mo r e
History
most famous include the three royal castles
of King Ludwig II, Neuschwanstein Castle, the
palaces of Linderhof and Herrenchiemsee
(New Palace), the Kaiserburg (Imperial Castle) Nuremberg and the Royal Residences in
Munich and Wurzburg.
The Prince Electors and Kings of Bavaria have
built more than 45 castles, palaces and royal
residences. The historic heritage also includes
lavish royal gardens, palace gardens, parks and
lakes. These unique examples of European
architecture combined with decorative works
of art attract five million visitors per year from
all over the world.
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When the Electorate Bavaria was appointed
Kingdom of Bavaria in 1806, Bavaria started its
long journey into modern times. The success
of this journey is – among other reasons – the
result of the systematic support of science and
arts by King Ludwig I (1825-1848) and King
Maximilian II. (1848-1864). They invited artists and scientists from all over Germany to
Bavaria, thus turning it into a center of culture
and science.
Up to the second half of the 20th century,
Bavaria was an agricultural county. But even
in the 19th century the kings of Bavaria supported trade, craft and industry. Franconia was
the driving force of the industrialization and
the first train in Germany went from Nuremberg to Fürth in 1835. The first German hydropower plant, built at the Walchensee in 1924,
and the first research reactor, built in Garching (near Munich) in 1957, mark milestones on
Bavaria’s way to a modern high-tech country
with a massive export rate.
Modern State
Today, the Free State of Bavaria is a prime
location for economy, science and technology,
and takes a leading position amongst European and global competitors. Several Nobel
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Prizes, which have been awarded to Bavarian
scientists, also proof this point.
Bavaria is also a country of culture. This is
stated in the Bavarian constitution and the Government takes this task very seriously. Opera
houses, theatres and museums are strongly
supported and are internationally renowned.
The Bavarian people can be proud of the
development of their country, which has seen
high achievements, ideas and commitment.
They can be proud of one of the most beautiful holiday destinations in the world.
http://www.guide-to-bavaria.com
Destination
Bava r i a : C a s t l e s , Mo u n t a i n s a n d M u c h Mo r e
Fairy Tale Castles and Palaces for
Kings and Queens
Neuschwanstein Castle
The Free State of Bavaria is not only the largest federal state of Germany (70,548 km2, 12.5
million inhabitants) and one of the oldest states
in Europe (history from a 6th century duchy to
19th/20th century kingdom), but it is also the
most prosperous and attractive German terriMarch, 2011
tory. This has doubled since 1806, when the
Holy Roman Empire ended and the regions of
Franconia and Swabia were integrated. Since
then Bavaria extends from the Alps to the
river Main as a link between northwestern and
southeastern Europe.
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Known for its world renowned manufacturing (MAN, BMW, Audi, Siemens etc), Bavaria is
also Germany’s leading tourism magnet, pulled
off by great sceneries and historic monuments.
Amongst them are 45 major castles, palaces,
fortresses and residences standing against
an Alpine background or being embedded by
marvelous gardens, lakes and woodlands.
At the southern terminus of the Romantic
Road towers up Neuschwanstein castle. Germany’s leading landmark, standing next to
Alpine lakes and Hohenschwangau castle, is
the romantic interpretation of a fairy-tale like
middle-age knight’s castle that was copied
for Disneyland’s Sleeping Beauty Castle. Built
by unfortunate King Ludwig II (1845-1886) at
the foothill of southern Bavaria’s border with
Austria in mid 19th century, the castle turned
out just as a tourism hotspot immediately after
the king’s mysterious death. Today, an annual
stream of 1.3 million visitors pours in to get
a glimpse of some few exotically decorated
rooms (Throne Room, Royal Suite, Singers'
Hall, Grotto) and paintings paying homage to
Richard Wagner.
Another royal castle is the secluded rococo
villa Linderhof (1870-1874). Cloistered within
prealpine mountains and wooded hunting
grounds, a peaceful garden delights with trick
fountains, grottoes and Moorish pavilions.
Destination
Further east, on a Chiemsee island contrasts
the impressive Herrenchiemsee castle. Ludwig II named his royal palace built in 1878 the
“Temple of Fame”, whose broad state staircase
leads up to the Great Hall of Mirrors and large
staterooms. Outside, the castle opens to a
grandiose court garden that demonstrates the
absolute power of the monarch – a true “New
Versailles” after the example of the French
King Louis XIV.
A lot more modest, but not less flamboyant,
appears the Royal Villa Königshaus am Schachen south of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, the
king’s hunting castle and mountain refuge. The
Swiss-style chalet 1866 m high, enchanted by
the Alpine backdrop, saw the eccentric king
attracted by the illusion of a far-away orient, as
he would dress up in Turkish costumes and lay
down on carpets and pillows, while smoking
water pipe and sipping on Mocha coffee with
his servants disguised as Muslims.
Bavarian rulers have lived and reigned in the
centrally located city castle of Munich. Today
the Münchner Residenz (“residence”) at the
end of the old town’s pedestrian zone is a
complex of six courtyards and museum with
130 rooms. Once in 14th century just a small
moated castle, it became in 1506 home of the
Wittelsbach dynasty until the end of their reign
in 1918.
In walking distance next to the famous Hofbräuhaus (state-court brewery) one arrives at
the 750 years old former Imperial castle (alte
Hofburg). It is one of Munich’s oldest architectural monuments, where the house of Wittelsbach resided before their removal to the new
residence on the nearby more open ground.
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Bava r i a : C a s t l e s , Mo u n t a i n s a n d M u c h Mo r e
Nymphenburg Castle
At the outskirts of old Munich flashes the
amazing Nymphenburg castle, a royal summer
and later subsidiary residence. Built between
17th and 19th century in Italian baroque style
(Agostino Barelli) it has been surrounded by
a captivating French style park with artificial
canals and spring fountains. Highlights are
therefore not only the massive Rococo-decorated Great Hall ("Steinerner Saal"), but also
the small park castles hidden in wild forests.
Outside pre-Napeolonian Bavaria, Emperor
Frederic Barbarossa (122-1190) built an
impressive castle on an isolated sandstone
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rock in Franconia. The striking landmark towers above Nürnberg, the modern center of
Middle-Franconia and medieval melting pot of
craftsmen, traders and inventors. The Imperial
Castle has been entirely preserved, including
the residential and state rooms in the Palas,
the Sinwell (“round”) Tower, and the 14th century 47 m Deep Well, which in times of siege
was the most important source of water for
the castle.
Two other outstanding castles mark the center of Lower-Franconia, the former bishopric town of Würzburg and northern terminus
Destination
Herrenchiemsee Castle
of the Romantic Road. On the site of a former Celtic refuge (ca 1000 BC), FranconianThuringian dukes had built a fortress (Festung)
above the Main River in 8th century. 500 years
later it was turned into a fortified refuge castle
and in 17th century encircled with massive
bastions.
The habitual historic residence of the princebishop across the river (Residenz) is one of the
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Bava r i a : C a s t l e s , Mo u n t a i n s a n d M u c h Mo r e
most important baroque palaces in Europe
(UNESCO World Heritage). It was equipped with
an astounding staircase in the main entrance
hall that shows gigantic frescoes (1752/53)
by famous Venetian painter G. B. Tiepolo (the
“four continents”). Other outstanding features
are the Court Chapel, the State Gallery with
Venetian art, and the Court Garden, one of the
finest for nature lovers.
At the Austrian border of southeastern
Bavaria there towers above the old town of
Burghausen (historic landing site of salt boats
arriving downstream the River Salzach from the
Austrian Alps) one of the largest castle complexes in the world: the 1000 m long Burghausen Castle, built in 1025 by the Wittelsbach rulers on a rocky promontory. Modernized during
the 16th century threat of Turkish Ottoman
Empire, the mighty gothic fortress with a defiant Palas (ducal private rooms, chapel, knight’s
hall) and six courtyards (stables, brewery, bakery, arsenal, Gunsmith Tower, Grain Tower,
St. Hedwig Chapel, buildings for officials and
craftsmen) was badly damaged during Napoleon wars. With them had come the end of a
unique fortress that once served as Bavaria’s
second capital and bursary (1504-1802) living
from 12 market towns, 17 monasteries, 107
parishes, 252 castles, 1920 villages, 4509 solitude farms … and thousands of craftsmen, who
deserve the great honor of builders of all castle
monuments we admire so much.
By Dr. Engelbert Altenburger
I-Shou University, ass. prof. at the Faculty of International Business, Kaohsiung, Taiwan,
[email protected]
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Destination
Bava r i a : C a s t l e s , Mo u n t a i n s a n d M u c h Mo r e
Dachau: The City of Bavarian Kings
Dachau is known around the world as a learning and memorial site, the city aims to counteract its past falling into oblivion. At the same
time, the more than 1200 years old town is
famous for its amazingly diverse arts and cultural scene, even beyond the region.
On 15 August 805 the noble lady Erchana
from the comital family of the Aribones
donated her estate in (then so-called)
“Dahauua” to the diocese Freising. With the
deed of donation Dachau was mentioned
for the first time. It emerged at the crossway
between a wide swampland and wooded hill
country and was named “market” already in
1270. The advantageous location at the connecting from Munich to Augsburg brought
Dachau not only liberties and gains but also
war and misery. One of the worst periods for
the people of Dachau came during the Thirty
Year’s War, when the market was sieged and
plundered by the Swedes.
Towards the 19th century Dachau was discovered by painters. They found many attractive natural motives in the marsh and swamplands and by the beginning of the 20th century
Dachau was among the most famous artists’
colonies besides Worpswede. The names of
many famous artists are connected with the
town to this day, among them Carl Spitzweg,
Max Liebermann, and Lovis Corinth.
Particularly women increasingly discovered
the art of painting and participated in private
painting classes offered by the artist’s coloMarch, 2011
Dachau traditional country-fair every August
nies, since they were not admitted at the State
Academy in Munich before 1926. Their works
are still on display today at Dachau’s Art Gallery and the town of Dachau is an actively participating member of the association of European artist colonies, EuroArt.
During World War I Dachau impoverished
and with the institution of the concentra-
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tion camp in 1933 the reputable artist’s town
became the epitome of the inhuman NS terror.
Today it is the town’s highest maxim to keep
the memory of the events alive. The concentration camp memorial site with museum and
archive contribute to this considerably, as do
the dialogues with contemporary witnesses,
the international youth meetings, an annual
Destination
Bava r i a : C a s t l e s , Mo u n t a i n s a n d M u c h Mo r e
Dachau castle
View of Dachau’s Old Town and Town Hall situated on
the so called Karlsberg
symposium on contemporary history and
much more.
After World War II expellees from the eastern
provinces of Germany found a new home in
Dachau. Nowadays the greater district town of
Dachau counts more than 42 000 inhabitants.
It is not only a central European place of learning and commemorating but also an important
art – and cultural center in the metropolitan
Munich area.
Today Dachau, the former city of the Bavarian
Kings, beckons visitors to get to know the town
with all its diversity: the summer residence of
the House of Wittelsbach as well as the important European artists’ colony at the turn of
the 19th to the 20th century. Worth seeing
are the picturesque Old Town with Art Gallery,
St. Jakob parish church and District Museum,
among others. During the summertime, the
typical Bavarian atmosphere can be experi-
enced at the so called “Dachauer Volksfest”,
a traditional folk festival in August, renowned
not only for its low beer price.
In recent years Dachau has been focusing increasingly on top range open-air events
during the annual “Dachauer Musiksommer“
(June/July)."Jazz in allen Gassen"(jazz in all
alleys) or the famous “Baroque picnic” held
in the courtyard of Dachau castle are fix highlights in Dachau's annual events calendar.
Famous far beyond the city limits are also the
series of classical Dachau palace concerts each
year, with 6 concerts scheduled throughout
the year featuring world renowned orchestras
and solo artists.
Dachau is conveniently reached by train or by
car from Munich within just 20 minutes. That
makes it an attractive day excursion as well.
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http://www.dachau.de
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Destination
Bava r i a : C a s t l e s , Mo u n t a i n s a n d M u c h Mo r e
Regensburg: Young, Italian, and
Right in the Heart of Europe
It does lie a bit off the beaten track, it’s true.
Yet, the city that was still “at the back of
beyond” until the 1980s is now right in the
heart of Europe. And a visit to the city that calls
itself Regensburg is certainly well worthwhile,
in particular because it lies in the centre of a
triangle that has Frankfurt, Munich and Prague
at its corners.
Some people call Regensburg “Italy’s northernmost city”, for others it is “Germany’s mediaeval miracle”. Both groups are right. It’s not
only the style of building that makes visitors
feel that they are in an almost Italian atmosphere: the style of life enjoyed by the people
of Regensburg in the summer is also reminiscent of life in southern Europe.
People here take every opportunity to organize a street festival, whether it features jazz or
the arts, a jubilee or local traditions. And the
fact that Regensburg has more pubs per square
meter than any other town is easy to verify at
every turn – in the pavement cafés, pubs, restaurants and the many shady beer-gardens.
Regensburg – which survived the Second
World War almost unharmed – presents itself
to visitors today as the only almost intact
mediaeval city in Germany, a place that once
counted among the greatest and richest urban
centers in Europe. Yet, despite its great past,
2000-year-old Regensburg is by no means just
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a sleepy historical backwater today. In fact, it
has 150,000 inhabitants and is now the fifth
largest city in Bavaria. It not only has a young
university with roughly 25,000 students but
is also an expanding economic centre providing work for about 100,000 people each day,
largely in very modern high-tech enterprises.
And which other city can offer a 330-meterlong “icon”: the Romanesque stone bridge
over the Danube?
The locals, admittedly, would probably maintain that the Historische Wurstkuchl, the little
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old restaurant that stands beside the bridge, is
the real symbol of Regensburg. The “Sausage
Kitchen’s” characteristic little sausages are
reputed to have been served here with homemade sauerkraut and sweet mustard for more
than 850 years.
Regensburg’s Domspatzen, the world’s oldest boys’ choir, are also frequently regarded as
being synonymous with the city. Georg Ratzinger, the brother of the present Pope, Benedict XVI, was the director of the “Cathedral
Sparrows” for many years. The Pope himself
Destination
has close connections with Regensburg. After
all, he was a professor at the university here
in the early days of his career and he still has
his private residence in a village on the edge of
Regensburg.
The best way of discovering the heart and soul
of Regensburg is to take part in a guided tour.
In the course of an entertaining, roughly twohour walk, visitors can become acquainted with
old buildings and historic events, dramatic incidents and amusing anecdotes, hidden courtyards, narrow alleyways. This is the best way
to begin to get to know the young and dynamic
city behind the ancient walls before taking the
initiative and – independently and brimming
with ideas – experiencing Regensburg more
intensively. A guided tour is, however, also the
ideal way to begin to find out what makes the
ancient place so youthful, and how the old and
new citizens of Regensburg enjoy their city and
the way of life here.
Yet Regensburg offers more than urban life,
since its attractions do not end at the city’s
boundaries. Being situated near the confluence of the rivers Regen, Naab and Laaber
with the river Danube, the cathedral city offers
not only the cultural amenities and hospitality
to be found in a large urban centre, but also
opportunities for recreation and relaxation in
the varied countryside of these river valleys.
Whether you enjoy hiking or cycling, inlineskating, mountain-biking, rock-climbing, rowing or canoeing, you can practice all these
sporting activities in the area immediately
around Regensburg.
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Bava r i a : C a s t l e s , Mo u n t a i n s a n d M u c h Mo r e
For the cyclist, particularly, there is lots to
choose from: apart from the famous Danube
Cycle Path leading from the river’s source to
far beyond Vienna, Regensburg is also the
starting point for the Regen Valley Path leading
to the border of the Czech Republic. Alternatively, it’s possible to cycle along the Naab or
the Laaber on a voyage of discovery through a
peaceful and picturesque landscape or, if pre-
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ferred, through countryside that will challenge
even the fit sportsman. And only a relatively
short distance from Regensburg, you can visit
the Bavarian Forest Nature Reserve and the
Danube Gorge near Kelheim.
Photo credit: Regensburg Tourismus GmbH
By Regensburg Tourismus GmbH
http://www.regensburg.de
Destination
Bava r i a : C a s t l e s , Mo u n t a i n s a n d M u c h Mo r e
Augsburg: The Center of
Renaissance in Bavaria
Two thousand years of glorious history have
sculpted the face of Augsburg, where past eras
come alive. Follow the trail of the Romans,
whose Emperor Augustus had the city founded
to immortalize his fame. Immerse yourself in
the world of the powerful Fugger and Welser
families, who made medieval Augsburg a
nexus of the Holy Roman Empire and a home
to famous artists.
The Oldest City
Founded by the Romans in 15 BC it is the oldest city in Bavaria and second oldest German
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town. Augsburg's cityscape developed over
two millennia and was shaped by all the great
stylistic epochs. The Renaissance in particular
flourished here – and Rococo became known
as "the Augsburg style." Great buildings, monumental fountains, lavishly laid-out streets and
ultramodern architecture attest to the city's
cosmopolitan bounty.
Feel the overwhelming beauty of the Renaissance, which is still very much alive here in
the majestic architecture of the monumental
Rathaus (City Hall), an imposing Renaissance
masterpiece built 1615-20 by Elias Holl as an
expression of the Free Imperial City's civic
pride.
Adjacent is the Perlachturm, the tower from
which one enjoys an impressive panoramic
view of the city's architectural gems.
The magnificent Augustusbrunnen fountain
was erected in honor of the Roman Emperor
from whom the city derives its name. It is only
one of many Renaissance fountains which survived intact. Maximilian Street, framed by the
historic façades of stately patrician homes,
attests to the city's affluence in the days of the
famous Fugger and Welser merchant dynasties.
The Fuggerei, built by Jacob Fugger the Rich,
banker to kings and emperors, is the world's
oldest social settlement for the poor. Even
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today its residents pay an annual rent of less
than a dollar. Of Augsburg's numerous glorious
religious edifices, the Dom (Cathedral) with
five windows of the oldest figured stained glass
in Germany, St. Ulrich-Münster and Protestant
Ulrichskirche constitute a splendid architectural ensemble.
Concerts in splendid halls, opera and operetta in open air theaters, art exhibitions, magnificent churches, the Fuggerei and the Schaezler Palace draw tourists from the entire world.
Museums and Landmarks
Maximilian Museum – cultural gems of the
old trading town date from classical antiquity through the 20th century. The Römische
Museum exhibits archaeological finds from the
founding of the city at the time of Christ's birth,
and from later centuries when the Roman
ruled the land.The Deutsche Barock-Galerie
in the Schaezler Palais, contains works of German Old Masters, among them Hans Holbein
Tourist Numbers Growing Fast
Even though the tourist numbers for city tours
in Germany recorded two-digit growth in 2010,
Augsburg even tops by far the other major cities like Berlin and Munich. The official statistics
shows an 18.8 % growth in arrivals and even
23.10 % in overnight stays for Augsburg. In
comparison Berlin recorded growth of 11.7%
respectively 14.2 % and Munich registered
11.9% respectively 12.6 %. This massive gain in
overnight stays is due to two new hotels offering in total 400 beds.
Augsburg-Tourismus.de
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the Elder, Hans Burgkmair, Lucas Cranach
and Albrecht Dürer. The Maximilian Museum
helps visitors trace the history of Augsburg.
Also featured are numerous exhibits from
the era of the city's great silver- and goldsmith masters.
The Leopold Mozart Family Memorial
reminds us that the great Wolfgang Amadeus
had forefathers from the region. Representing literature is Bertolt Brecht. The memorial
in his name houses a documentation of the
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Bava r i a : C a s t l e s , Mo u n t a i n s a n d M u c h Mo r e
writer's Augsburg years. The Naturmuseum
exhibits flora and fauna of the Alpine foothills
dating back 8-12 million years, while insights
into the expanses of the universe are gained in
the Planetarium. The Stadttheater is a mecca
for music and theater lovers. Widely acclaimed
are performances of opera and operetta in the
Freilichtbühne (open air theater).
http://www.historicgermany.com
http://www.augsburg-tourismus.de
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