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million visitors. If you wish to visit this fascinating monument and its idyllic surroundings, you must first purchase a ti- cket at the Hohenschwangau ticket center which is located below the castle. The castle can only be visited when taking part of a guided tour. The excursion allows you to enter into the ext- ravagant world of the king while enjoying the wonderful Bavarian idyll. Additionally, you can explore the area surrounding Neu- schwanstein Castle, to include Hohenschwangau Castle, Mary’s bridge and the Polläts gorge.
Munich Tips – Culinary delicacies However, Munich does not only have a lot to offer for those who are interested in culture and history. It also provides for connois- seurs who appreciate a delicious meal and a cold beer. Several restaurants attract visitors with their typically Bavarian dishes. Generally, it can be said that Bavarian cuisine is known for its hearty dishes. Pork roast with dumplings, Weißwurst, knuckle of pork and Obatzter cheese are among Bavaria’s most famous dishes. However, yeast dumplings with vanilla sauce or potato pancakes known as Reiberdatschi or Reibekuchen are also po- pular dishes. All are favorably served with a fresh beer from the tap. You have to decide for yourself whether you like Weißbier, regular beer or Pils. Restaurant tip: Make sure you visit the Wirts- haus in der Au, if you want to enjoy a typical Bavarian meal. The rustic ambiance perfectly rounds off a perfect sightseeing day. ter of the city year-round! Regardless of the season, the English Make sure to order the famous “Dessertbrettl” and let yourself Garden and the Eisbach river are always worth your while and for be surprised. years, have embodied Munich’s attitude towards life. Continued on page 44
Hofgarten park with Munich’s residence, the Bavarian State Chancellery and the Diana Temple, sights you can easily include in your walk, is located close to the English Garden. Another highlight I can recommend, if you have enough time, is the Olympia Park with some of Munich’s most important buil- dings such as the Olympic Stadium and the Olympic Tower. Here, variety is guaranteed: Concerts, various festivals and numerous sports activities are just a few of the many entertainment oppor- tunities that await you here.
If you are interested in the Bavarian monarchy, you should defi- nitely not pass up a visit to Nymphenburg Palace. Walking along Nymphenburg Canal, you will eventually reach one of the most impressive buildings which attracts about 300,000 visitors annu- ally. Once inside, you can admire its impressive interior, to inclu- de King Ludwig I. Gallery of Belles and the room in which King Ludwig II. was born. You can always visit the various museums in the palace and the beautiful park of Nymphenburg Palace which was opened around the same time as the English Garden. With its little creeks, canals and bridges and the many sculptures and little palaces, it appears like a small fairytale forest.
Tip: Excursion to Neuschwanstein Castle I recommend that everyone who has a little time and would like to go on an excursion, visits the charming fairytale castle of Neu- schwanstein. It is located only a 1.5 hour-drive or two-hour train ride away from Munich and en route provides you with an oppor- tunity to see the beautiful Bavarian landscape. In 1867, King Lud- wig II. started to make plans for his own castle in which he could feel like a “real” king. His new castle, first known as “New Castle Hohenschwangau” was supposed to be more beautiful and more cozy than the existing Hohenschwangau Castle. And over the ye- ars, Neuschwanstein Castle was built and opened to the public in 1886 after King Ludwig II.’s death. Today, it attracts up to 1.4
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