After Oktoberfest, Bavaria offers more to drink in
OKTOBERFEST IS OVER, BUT MORE FESTIVALS, MOUNTAINS AND A FAMILIARLOOKING CASTLE AWAIT
When people think of Germany, often times the images conjured are those of Bavaria — think lederhosen, dirndls and Oktoberfest.
But the southeastern state of Germany has even more to offer, including palaces, mountains and a number of festivals.
Its most famous festival, Oktoberfest, or “Wiesn” for the locals, recently wrapped up. About 6.3 million people attended this year, consuming a whopping 7.3 million liters of beer, or 1.92 million gallons in American. That’s a little less than three Olympicsized swimming pools.
The party atmosphere of guests singing along to live music and standing on benches as they consumed their steins of beer and radler will soon give way to a softer feel with the Christmas markets. These outdoor markets are set up generally in city squares and feature a number of vendors throughout Advent, though these stalls will start to pop up even earlier in late November.
Be sure to grab a hot beverage — like mulled wine — as you stroll through, looking for presents for your friends and relatives and even some treats for yourself. Germany is known for its wooden nutcrackers and its wooden Christmas pyramids that spin using the heat from candles and wooden carvings that incorporate the smoke from burning into the design, often as a man smoking a pipe or a chimney.
The villages themselves are great to explore and though the buildings tend to be white or beige they are still vibrant in color because of the overflowing flower boxes. Many also have scenes painted on their exteriors and a sculptured Maypole showing stories and characteristics about the town.
Visitors can also enjoy German food at countless cafes and restaurants. Some of the most common delicacies are wursts in a number of styles, dumplings and breads. Each place also has its own take on kasespatzle, which is basically German mac and cheese.
Hiking
Bavaria is the largest region in Germany, allowing for a variety of activities. Hiking up one of the countless mountains is a popular one, especially in the Bavarian Alps.
Hikers are greeted by grazing cows and restaurants scattered along the mountainside as they trek up the winding paths to the top. Unlike the hiking here, most of the trails are along open grassy areas on the mountain, rather than through densely wooded areas. This allows for gorgeous views of the surrounding mountains, villages and lakes.
Don’t let the open terrain fool you. The hike up can be a bit strenuous as it’s a steady uphill climb. It’s completely manageable with some breaks, though, and the view isn’t too shabby while you catch your breath and drink some water.
Cable cars are also available for the trip up and down, offering aerial views of the mountains and a more relaxing way to get to the breathtaking viewshed, and often restaurants, at the peak.
Castles
Bavaria is also home to many palaces, so many in fact that there is an official government department that oversees them.
The best known palaces are the ones King Ludwig II built while in power in the 1800s. Chief among them is Neuschwanstein, which served as the inspiration for Walt Disney’s Cinderella Castle.
Ludwig was an eccentric king who spent a good chunk of the Bavarian treasury building palaces. Linderhof is actually the only palace Ludwig was able to complete before he was mysteriously found dead in 1886 in Lake Starnberg at the age of 40. Some theories are that he was killed because he was spending too much of the people’s money on these palaces and lived in a fantasy world that didn’t translate to his actual governance.
Many of the palaces have swan details or references to Richard Wagner’s operas — both of which Ludwig adored. Keep a sharp eye out to see how many you can count hidden in the paintings and sculptural details among the beds and fireplaces.
There are also several nods to King Louis XIV in the palaces, including a hall of mirrors of his own at Herrenchiemsee that measured 98 meters, 21 meters longer than the original at Versailles in Paris.
Guests can explore even older palaces, including the Residenz in Munich and Nymphenburg Palace on the outskirts of the city, both of which are easily accessible using the city’s train system. Though Belle and the Beast won’t actually waltz through Nymphenburg’s great hall, despite its murals and chendeliers, you can actually see artwork there and at the Residenz, where the Bavarian crown jewels are also displayed.
Munich
Chances are that if you’re visiting Bavaria, Munich will be on your list. It’s the region’s biggest city and its capital.
The Marienplatz is the city’s main square. Its main draw is the Glockenspiel at new town hall which features twirling dancing statues and jousting knights as the bells chime at 11 a. m. and noon daily. The figurines tell two stories of the city’s past: the marriage of Duke Wilhem V to Renata of Lorraine and the coopers’ dance from the time of the plague.
Viktualienmarkt is just outside of the city square and has a number of food vendors selling local produce, artisan items and flowers as well as a variety prepared foods, from fish to soups to sandwiches.
People can also explore the main cathedrals and even climb the towers to get spanning views of the city.
For many outside of Germany, Munich’s soccer team, Bayern Munich, might be how they know of the city. If you’re a soccer fan and want a behindthescenes look at what the players experience, the stadium tour for the Allianz Arena is a must. There is also a museum attached that offers a number of exhibits and displays the team’s trophies from its decadeslong history. If the schedule lines up, its also worth catching a home game and seeing the fans cheer on the team in a very energetic atmosphere. Both of these are bit pricier, though.
BAVARIA IS HOME TO MANY PALACES, SO MANY IN FACT THAT THERE IS AN OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT THAT OVERSEES THEM.