Day Trip Idea Outside of Munich
NEAR MUNICH, GERMANY. Running out immediately of things to do may be impossible to happen when you are in Munich but if ever that happens, here is a day-trip idea that may catch your fancy.
1. Take a tour of the Linderhof Palace in Ettal
The Linderhof Palace is the smallest of the three palaces built by King Ludwig II of Bavaria and the only one he ever saw completed. Built in reference to 18th century Rococo style, each room in the palace is something to look forward to as they all evoke a feeling of grandiose and infiniteness. From the hall of mirrors that evoke the illusion of a never-ending avenue to an ivory candelabra and a carpet made of ostrich plumes, the tour would have you ahh-ing and oohh-ing in every turn. The palace is also surrounded by a few beautiful gardens which you can fully experience during spring and summer.
2. Roam around and Have Lunch in Oberammergau
Oberammergau is a town like no other. As you enter and walk around the town, you may notice that the facade of the houses is painted in lively and dainty colors as if depicting a story. These are called Luftl (Luftmalerei) fresco paintings which are the characteristic decorations on houses in Alpine regions and a status quo symbol during the 18th century. Often incorporating existing structures of the house, the paintings usually depict scenes from the Bible, fairy tales or folk festivals which will have the children feel as if they are walking not in a town but in a fairy tale land.
But more than that, Oberammergau is most known because of the Passion Play which brings to life the story of Jesus. First performed in 1634, it is a result of a vow made by the inhabitants of the village to God that if He spare them from the plague, which was then taking many lives, they would perform a passion play every 10 years. After the vow was made, not one of them had been hit by the plague which concretized the pact the villagers made with God. To pay off their vow, the play has then been playing every 10 years. The play is now being performed in years ending with zero Involving over 2000 actors, singers, instrumentalists, and technicians, who are all residents of Oberammergau. Reservations are now being accepted for the 2020 Passion Play.
3. Hike up to the Neuschwanstein Castle in Schwangau
The inspiration for Disneyland's Sleeping Beauty castle, the Neuschwanstein Castle is a nineteenth-century Romanesque Revival palace perched on a rugged hill above the village of Hohenschwangau. Again commissioned and built by King Ludwig II, the unfinished palace was opened to the paying public right after his death in 1886. The 2-kilometer walk up the hill is nothing compared from the amazing view and the magnificent castle waiting for you atop. If hiking is not your cup of tea, you may also ride in a horse-driven carriage or take the bus if the weather permits it, both for a fee.
