ILLUSTRATION: MARTIN HAAKE


ON THE TR AI L BAVARIAN ALPS


A week-long drive through the mountains of southern Germany takes in a range of architectural wonders


1 SCHLOSS NEUSCHWANSTEIN


Kick things off at one of Germany’s most recognisable locations, the enchanting castle said to have inspired those featured in Disney’s Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty. An extensive makeover, including meticulous work on paintings, furniture and a one- tonne chandelier, is due to be completed this summer. Book onto a guided tour to see the results, then stroll to nearby Marienbrücke bridge for a view back at the turreted marvel. neuschwanstein.de


2 THE PASSION PLAY THEATRE


For a scenic mountain route, drive via Plansee in Austria to reach Oberammergau. The village is adorned with murals known as Lüftlmalerei, including depictions of Hansel and Gretel and Little Red Riding Hood. But there’s another, different story this place wants to tell. Locals have been putting on a once-a-decade Passion Play, telling the story of the Crucifixion, for almost four centuries — a pledge once made to fend off the plague. The next performance is scheduled for 2030, but you can join a daily tour of the specially built theatre. passionsspiele-oberammergau.de


3 ZUGSPITZE CABLE CAR


Drive south to the island-dotted lake of Eibsee and the Zugspitze cable car. Its construction, which began in 2015 and took two years, was a veritable engineering feat: carrying up to 120 people each, its glass cabins glide smoothly to the 2,962m summit of Germany’s highest mountain in a matter of minutes. Buy a return ticket, allowing plenty of time to take in the panorama: on a clear day, you can see peaks as far as Austria, Italy and Switzerland. zugspitze.de


4 TEGERNSEER HÜTTE Next, head east and get ready for a hike to the Tegernseer Hütte, a mountain hut perched between the peaks of Roßstein and Buchstein. First constructed in 1903, it was rebuilt in 1965 after a lightning strike. The quickest path takes two hours or less from the car park just west of Bayerwald, zig-zagging through forests, meadows and rougher terrain at the end. Alternatively, there’s a gentler three-hour option. Set off early to reach the terrace for lunch or book well in advance for an overnight and time without the crowds. tegernseerhuette.de


5 WENDELSTEIN COG RAILWAY


Continue along the shores of the Tegernsee and through Bayrischzell until you reach the village of Brannenburg. From here, hop onto one of the yellow carriages that shuttle visitors up and down the Wendelstein mountain. Built between 1910 and 1912, this high- Alpine rack railway was the first of its kind in Germany. Since modernised, it takes you over bridges, through tunnels, under galleries and around rock faces in around 25 minutes. wendelsteinbahn.de


6 EAGLE’S NEST


Follow the road via Reit im Winkl to the Berchtesgadener Land, where the Kehlsteinhaus (nicknamed the Eagle’s Nest) was built atop a rocky outcrop as a retreat for Nazi leadership in the 1930s. Leave your car in Obersalzberg and take a designated bus up Germany’s highest road; a brass-lined lift inside the hillside will then take you to the site, now maintained as a restaurant. There are guided tours of the area to learn about its turbulent past, then end the trip exploring the wider Berchtesgaden National Park. kehlsteinhaus.de KATE MANN


ALPINE 2024 17


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