the wandering chick
...Southern Bavaria

Bavaria is Germany's largest state and includes such major cities as Nuremberg, Wurzburg, Augsburg and Munich. But the area I'm referring to on this page is the most southern area of Bavaria, south of Munich and extending into the German Alps, by some called Lower Bavaria.

Once leaving Munich heading south, you start getting glimpses of the Alps, and within roughly 50 miles, you will think you have certainly driven right into the doors of Heaven. In my heart and soul, this region must be the most beautiful area of Germany if not all of Europe. It includes such towns as Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Berchtesgaden, Fussen and the breath-taking Lake Königssee.

It's no wonder King Ludwig built all three of his castles in this region.

st. bartholomew on the konigssee
St. Bartholomew, a pilgrimage church, rests peacefully on the Königssee.
Neuschwanstein
This is one of three of Bavaria's King Ludwig's castles. This one, called Neuschwanstein, is the one replicated by Disney.
Maria Gern, near Berchtesgaden
autumn in berchtesgaden
berchtesgaden
bringing the cows from the mountains
bringing in the cows from the mountains
Tradition runs high in Bavaria, and this yearly celebration is called Almabtrieb, which translated means 'drive from the mountain pasture.' It's an autumn tradition in which the cows are gathered and brought 'home' to warmth and safety from the mountains.
Southern Bavaria countryside
bavarian countryside
autumn trees on lake konigssee
Lake Königssee (The King's Lake) is beautiful no matter what the season.
Hitler's Eagle's Nest
Entrance to the Eagle's Nest, Hitler's hideaway.
The Watzmann towers over the charming town of Berchtesgaden, near the Austrian border.
buggy driver at the gorge entrance
eating hut on konigssee
At the entrance to the Garmisch-Partenkirchen Gorge, buggy drivers sit around in their traditional Bavarian garb waiting for customers.
An inviting if not fancy eating stop on the trail along the Königssee They surely offered only a couple of choices, but whatever the special was of the day, you can bet it would be delicious and hearty.
locals at the garmisch-partenkirchen gorge
Hiking the Wank
the Bavarian Alps
the Alps
1936 Olympic ski jumps
hangliders on the Wank
trumpeter on konigssee
To hear the awesome, eerie sound of the trumpet as it naturally echoes off the mountains that surround Lake Königssee is an unforgetable experience.
hiking the Wank
a paraglider's running board
near the peak of the Wank
A trip up to the peak of The Wank from Garmisch

Surrounding pictures: The Wank, towering over Garmisch.

You can take a cable car up (above)

You can walk it (right)

You can paraglide from it (below, right)

Linderhof castle

King Ludwig II of Bavaria, who reigned from 1864-1886, was called by the Bavarians their fairy tale king. Though loved and supported by them, it was well known that he lived an extremely eccentric life and was in his own world of fantasy and dreams. This caused problems as head of state resulting in deposition by reason of insanity, despite the fact that he was never medically examined by the team of surgeons who prepared the documents.

Evidence of Ludwig's fantasy world was his three castles, one of them Linderhof (above). He personally funded the castles from money he did not have, borrowing from family and other heads of state.

King Ludwig died a day after being deposed, at the age of 41, his body being found in the Lake Starnberg (Starnbergersee), southwest of Munich. To this day how he died remains a mystery.

Rococo-styled Linderhof is the smallest of the three castles, is known for its formal gardens and is located at the edge of the Alps near the well-known town of Oberammergau.

At left is a fountain that sits in front of the castle entrance.

the fountain at Linderhof
Hohenschwangau castle
This is castle Hohenschwangau (above and right), built by Ludwig's father and where King Ludwig spent much of his childhood.
Neuschwanstein castle
The pictures above and left are of Schloss Neuschwanstein, the most well-known, certainly by Americans, of Ludwig's castles. It is the model used as Disneyland's Sleeping Beauty castle.
castle Neuschwanstein
Herrenchiemsee castle(above and right), while not so elaborate on the outside, certainly has the most decorative interior. It sits prominently on an island in the middle of Lake Chiemsee. The Hall of Mirrors (above) was inspired by France's Versaille, as were other rooms in this castle.
Herrenchiemsee castle
Herrenchiemsee castle's hall of mirrors
Hohenschwangau castle

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Germany doesn't get more charming.
A running board is used by paragliders who soar over the Garmisch valley.
Neuschwanstein Castle grounds
Neuschwanstein Castle grounds
Maria Gern, with just a handful of residents, mostly farmers, is my favorite hideaway in Southern Bavaria. It's located north of Berchtesgaden. The pilgrimage church adds to the serene setting.