From Regensburg to Chiemsee, Medieval Towns and Castles
After spending a ballin' week in Berlin we were ready for part two of our adventure, a six-hour drive on the Autobahn to Regensburg. What was on the agenda? First, a fabulous evening at the historic Altstadthotel in the town square followed by more driving in the morning to reach our final destination, Bavaria. This leg of the trip was rather historical filled with medieval cities and majestic castles.
Regensburg
Boasting the title of "Germany's best-preserved medieval city", Regensburg is a sight to be seen. Endless shops, local restaurants and great places to grab a drink line the city's many winding, cobblestone streets. During our short stint at Regensburg, it was evident that the ancient city is a hot tourist attraction for visitors and locals alike.
When in Regensburg be sure to visit the Steinerne Brueke (Stone Bridge), which is a stone bridge that carried tourists and traders across the Danube river since the 1100s.
Neuschwanstein
Germany's famous "fairytale castle", Neuschwanstein, was built by King Ludwig the II of Bavaria in the 19th century. Tucked away in the Bavarian Alps, Neuschwanstein is one of Europe's most popular tourist attractions. If you haven't been to this Bavarian marvel and are wondering why it looks familiar let me ask you this, are you a Disney fan? Inspired by the castle's beauty and King Ludwig's love for all things fairytales, Walt Disney based his logo off of Neuschwanstein. While the castle itself is simply marvelous, the beautiful surrounding scenery gives it a run for its money in terms of taking your breath away.
Fair warning, if you decide to visit Neuschwanstein prepare for an all-day affair filled with plenty of run-ins with Disney-happy tourists eager to snap a photo or two with this magnificent structure in the background. If you want an unmatched view of Neuschwanstein and are feeling particularly brave, head over to the Marienbruecke a narrow iron bridge with wooden planks that crosses a large gorge with steep cliffs on both sides. While this might not sound particularly intimidating to read, imagine being hundreds of feet above a rushing waterfall on a man-packed (literally 100s of people), creaking wooden bridge, #nope #neveragain.
Herrenchiemsee New Palace
Another awe-inspiring location built by King Ludwig the II, Herrenchiemsee, also known as the New Palace, was modeled after the Palace of Versailles in France. Oh and did I mention, the palace is located on a freakin' island!? That's right, the only way to get to Herrenchiemsee is by a short boat ride launching from the mainland. After docking on the island, visitors embark on a short walk to the Palace located in the center of the island.
While Castle Neuschwanstein draws larger crowds, I personally found Herrenchiemsee to be more magical overall. Each room within the castle is astonishingly intricate with crazy details from the floorboards to the ceiling. In addition to a ballin' interior, the palace courtyard is seriously amazing with countless larger than life fountains each telling their own unique story. If you have to choose between Neuschwanstein and Herrenchiemsee I'd recommend Herrenchiemsee all day, but that's just my two-cents.
Regensburg
Boasting the title of "Germany's best-preserved medieval city", Regensburg is a sight to be seen. Endless shops, local restaurants and great places to grab a drink line the city's many winding, cobblestone streets. During our short stint at Regensburg, it was evident that the ancient city is a hot tourist attraction for visitors and locals alike.
When in Regensburg be sure to visit the Steinerne Brueke (Stone Bridge), which is a stone bridge that carried tourists and traders across the Danube river since the 1100s.
Neuschwanstein
Germany's famous "fairytale castle", Neuschwanstein, was built by King Ludwig the II of Bavaria in the 19th century. Tucked away in the Bavarian Alps, Neuschwanstein is one of Europe's most popular tourist attractions. If you haven't been to this Bavarian marvel and are wondering why it looks familiar let me ask you this, are you a Disney fan? Inspired by the castle's beauty and King Ludwig's love for all things fairytales, Walt Disney based his logo off of Neuschwanstein. While the castle itself is simply marvelous, the beautiful surrounding scenery gives it a run for its money in terms of taking your breath away.
Fair warning, if you decide to visit Neuschwanstein prepare for an all-day affair filled with plenty of run-ins with Disney-happy tourists eager to snap a photo or two with this magnificent structure in the background. If you want an unmatched view of Neuschwanstein and are feeling particularly brave, head over to the Marienbruecke a narrow iron bridge with wooden planks that crosses a large gorge with steep cliffs on both sides. While this might not sound particularly intimidating to read, imagine being hundreds of feet above a rushing waterfall on a man-packed (literally 100s of people), creaking wooden bridge, #nope #neveragain.
Another awe-inspiring location built by King Ludwig the II, Herrenchiemsee, also known as the New Palace, was modeled after the Palace of Versailles in France. Oh and did I mention, the palace is located on a freakin' island!? That's right, the only way to get to Herrenchiemsee is by a short boat ride launching from the mainland. After docking on the island, visitors embark on a short walk to the Palace located in the center of the island.
While Castle Neuschwanstein draws larger crowds, I personally found Herrenchiemsee to be more magical overall. Each room within the castle is astonishingly intricate with crazy details from the floorboards to the ceiling. In addition to a ballin' interior, the palace courtyard is seriously amazing with countless larger than life fountains each telling their own unique story. If you have to choose between Neuschwanstein and Herrenchiemsee I'd recommend Herrenchiemsee all day, but that's just my two-cents.
At the end of the day, one does not simply visit Germany without visiting some dope-a** castles. So go ahead and get historical, you won't regret it!
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