DISCOVERING SOUTHERN GERMANY: ROYAL CASTLES, ETTAL MONASTERY, WIES SANCTUARY, LAKE CONSTANCE
DAY 1: MITTENWALD
Arrival in Mittenwald, a beautiful village close to the Austrian border, set at the foot of the great mountains “Karwendel”.
We will stroll around the town centre and admire the Baroque-style church of Saint Peter and Paul, whose facade is adorned with frescoes, and the charming painted houses. Mittenwald is also famous for the art of violin and lutes makers thanks to native Matthias Klotz, who learned this art from the Italian Cremona masters and brought it back to Mittenwand.
During the visit of the “Geigenbaumuseum” (Museum fort he Craftmanship of Violins), we will appreciate the masterpieces produced by the Bavarian masters and understand the production process of these magical instruments.
Accommodation in hotel, dinner and overnight stay.
DAY 2: ROMANTICISM
After breakfast, we will leave for our full-day excursion. We will pass through Garmisch-Partenkirchen and stop at one of the most beautiful palaces built by King Louis II: Linderhof Palace, whose large and stunning Park houses the „Cave of Venus“, a place where the King used to listen to his favourite Wagner music.
A few kilometers away we will visit Ettal Abbey, a Benedictine monastery with a baroque-style monastic church, as well as a dairy, a brewery and a distillery. We recommend the “Bräustüberl” at the monastery hotel for your lunch stop.
We will continue the tour, pass through Oberammergau, a village famous for the Passion Play held once in a decade, and arrive at the splendid “Wieskirche”, a church near Steingaden for a visit of the Rococo style Sanctuary of Wies, a UNESCO cultural heritage site.
We will continue the journey to Schwangau and visit Neuschwanstein Castle, the most visited monument in Germany built by King Louis II, who is known as “the Fairy Tale King“ and who had his romantic visionary castles built in this magical landscape.
Afterwards, drive to Füssen, accommodation in hotel, dinner and overnight stay.
DAY 3: MAINAU, THE FLOWER ISLAND
After breakfast, we will head towards Meersburg and Mainau on Lake Costance.
In the morning, we will first take a pleasant walk in the centre of the Medieval town of Meersburg and then, we will leave by ferry to visit the beautiful Island of Mainau, also known as the Flower Island.
Accommodation, dinner and overnight stay in a hotel in the surroundings of Lindau.
DAY 4: DEPARTURE
After breakfast, we will head home. End of our services.
