Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
BAVARIAN ALPS
Stretching west from Germany's remote southeastern corner to the Allgäu region near Lake
Constance, the Bavarian Alps (Bayerische Alpen) form a stunningly beautiful natural di-
vide along the Austrian border. Ranges further south may be higher, but these mountains
shoot up from the foothills so abruptly that the impact is all the more dramatic.
The region is pocked with quaint frescoed villages, spas and health retreats, and possibil-
ities for skiing, snowboarding, hiking, canoeing and paragliding - much of it year-round.
The ski season lasts from about late December until April, while summer activities stretch
from late May to November.
One of the largest resorts in the area is Garmisch-Partenkirchen, one of urban Bavaria's
favourite getaways. Berchtesgaden, Füssen and Oberstdorf are also sound bases.
Getting Around
There are few direct train routes between main centres, meaning buses are the most effi-
cient method of public transport in the Alpine area. If you're driving, sometimes a short cut
via Austria works out to be quicker (such as between Garmisch-Partenkirchen and Füssen
or Oberstdorf).
LUDWIG II, THE FAIRY-TALE KING
Every year on 13 June, a stirring ceremony takes place in Berg, on the eastern shore of Lake Starn-
berg. A small boat quietly glides towards a cross just offshore and a plain wreath is fastened to its
front. The sound of a single trumpet cuts the silence as the boat returns from this solemn ritual in
honour of the most beloved king ever to rule Bavaria: Ludwig II.
The cross marks the spot where Ludwig died under mysterious circumstances in 1886. His early
death capped the life of a man at odds with the harsh realities of a modern world no longer in need
of a romantic and idealistic monarch.
Prinz Otto Ludwig Friedrich Wilhelm was a sensitive soul, fascinated by romantic epics, archi-
tecture and music, but his parents, Maximilian II and Marie, took little interest in his musings and
he suffered a lonely and joyless childhood. In 1864, at 18 years old, the prince became king. He
was briefly engaged to the sister of Elisabeth (Sisi), the Austrian empress but, as a rule, he pre-
ferred the company of men. He also worshipped composer Richard Wagner, whose Bayreuth opera
house was built with Ludwig's funds.
