Munich and Neuschwanstein Castle

 

Following our visit to Saltzburg, we headed off through the Alps on our quest to reach Munich. Another city where you need multiple days to explore the sights and see the real beauty, we attacked the city in our usual ambitious manner and tried to see as much as we could in a little over half a day. I must say that after city hopping the way we have, that at times we take for granted what other tourists would be intrigued by.

In the end we found ourselves in the city square, missing the famous Carillion in action by minutes and would have had to wait for hour to see the 5 o’clock performance. Apparently it goes off at 11a.m., 12p.m. and 5 p.m. only. Regardless we visited as many of the sights as we could and enjoyed listening to some of the guides giving free tours in the square. In the middle of Germany you have an Englishman and an Irishman taking tours… go figure.

 The most interesting story for me being that of when the Swiss Army in ancient times invaded many German provinces, sacking and burning all in their wake. Apparently when they reached Munich, the wall that was under construction to stop the invaders was under a metre tall so the Swiss walked straight on in. The city impressed them so much that instead of burning it to the ground they set a demand of 120,000 gold pieces as ransom. Munich residents collected all the money and all the jewellery they could, but were still short. What did they use for currency to make up the shortfall?? BEER!!! It’s like a fairy tale isn’t it. Munich, and obviously the Swiss, lived happily ever after.

Talking of fairy tales, we then headed on to the Austrian border where we visited Neuschwanstein Castle on the edge of the Alps. For those who think the photos (some of mine and some I took of posters they were selling) look familiar, Walt Disney based his ideas for the Disney castle on Neuschwanstein.  The story of its creator, King Ludwig III of Austria is as bizzare as it seems he was. In short he was very much a loner and had grand ideas about building a number of beautiful castles starting with this one in this location in the hills overlooking mountains on one side and lakes and valleys on the other.  Truly breathtaking views all round. An artist drew plans for Neuschwanstein, (New swan stone- being the sacred animal of the area) and although he had an existing traditional castle a short distance away, he set the people to work. (see photos)

The exterior first stage was completed, but the politicians in Austria were worried about its drain on the economy and plotted to have him declared mentally unstable. They used the design itself to have him certified. The royal bed chamber and all royal rooms were made for a single occupant including the concert hall, where his chair sat on the second level so he could sit alone. No room was designated as a Queen’s chamber. A room between the bedroom and living quarters was created as a replica of a cave complete with stalactites and stalagmites. All of the rooms were decorated with intricate murals painted by the best artists of the time, and the most amazing mosaic covered the floor of the chapel. No expense was spared.

The politicians succeeded in having him declared unfit, and he was removed from the castle and all work ceased. Soon after his removal King Ludwig requested a private walk with his man servant, which was granted by his keepers. They found both of their bodies floating in the lake. A strange and sad tale, however the result of his vision has culminated in a magnificent structure. Enjoy the photos.

Salzburg- Home of Mozart

Hi Again,

We concluded our day country hopping in Austria from our coastal paradise in Croatia, via Lake Bled, Slovenia and some spectacular Bavarian country before arriving in Salzburg mid-evening and staying on the outskirts. We timed out arrival poorly following a storm into the city, so there was a lot of water and some branches down. The kids have enjoyed the extra space that bungalows allow, so we sought a camping ground with no success and stayed in an E-Tap, a low price hotel chain which is modern and simple, but we find a little depressing when we have to split the family up into 2 rooms.

In the morning we headed into the city centre with occasional drizzle drifting in, and after the Italian and Croatian warmth, the temperature was quite a shock. The city is built into the side of a mountain, with large rock formations soaring above the buildings built at their base. An underground car park has been built below one such cliff face with the opening manifesting at the end of a street right in the middle of the old town centre.

Salzburg is famous as the birthplace of Mozart, and where he called home when he was not touring around Europe.  This is obvious in the many commercial ways, from chocolates to pubs named after him, statues in Plazas, to the more obvious tourist objects available everywhere.  We browsed through the old part of town until we came to a number of very fit and tired looking people who had just completed the Salzburg Marathon.  Slack of Suzi not to strap on her runners and have a crack, but she reckons that 42km is still above her class, and she has not been training as frequently with the touring pace we have been setting.

As luck would have it , all the museums were free on Sundays so we had free reign to go where we wanted. The boys are a little sick of the sight of museums, so we had a brief look at the Panorama Museum that focused on the changing landforms of the area over time. It a very interesting painting around the circular room of the town as viewed from a central position.  When standing on the platform you could look through special ‘telescopes’ as if you were standing in the centre of 18^th century Saltzburg looking from a tower.  Another room has a painting taking up much of one wall of Saltzburg in the 1800’s with a movable computer screen which at a touch transfers the image to a modern day perspective.

Our next stop after admiring the towns’ sights was a visit to Mozarts’ birthplace. The building, now a museum complete with original squeaky floorboards and narrow staircases is an insight into life as a young musical genius, and life in general in this area of the world in that era. None of us realised that his older sister was also highly talented, but owing to gender roles in this era, had to leave the life of touring and performing music, to looking after her father after the death of their mother. She finished her career teaching music in Saltzburg.

Satisfied with our Saltzburg experience, we set sail for the Austrian Alps on our way to Munich.

Until the next time.

The Wockies

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