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Fairytale Castles & The Bavarian Alps
10 Days from £2,195per
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person
Save up to £100 per booking on 2020 departures when you book on or before 15/10/2019
The Award Winning Leader in Escorted Worldwide Rail Holidays
Save up to £100 per booking on 2020 departures when you book on or before 15/10/2019
You are viewing the 2020 itinerary
Itineraries and pricing may vary by departure year
Whimsical palaces and gingerbread castles set the theme of our fairy-tale rail tour, during which we relax in the wonderful Bavarian countryside, visit the capital of Bavaria, Munich, and take a trip by train up the Zugspitze, the highest mountain in Germany.
We meet at our Departure Office in London St Pancras and take the Eurostar to Brussels. On arrival, change trains and continue to Stuttgart for an overnight stay.
We continue to Bavaria by rail (Standard Class) today. One of Germany's most popular regions, Bavaria is known for its stunning natural landscapes, studded with fairytale castles and quaint medieval towns. We arrive in Füssen on Germany's Romantic Road, set in an idyllic location in front of the Bavarian Alps, where we check into the 4-Star Hotel Schlosskrone in the heart of the town.
Today, and on Day 4, you are at leisure to soak up the quintessential Bavarian charm of Füssen. Füssen found on the banks of the Lech River and near the Forggensee lake, with its settlement dating back to the times of the Roman Empire. The town is filled with delightful buildings with rust-coloured red roofs and squares of bars, cafés and restaurants. Well worth a visit is the pretty St. Mang's Abbey. This wonderful old Benedictine Monastery boasts ornate plasterwork and splendid interiors within its noble old buildings. With the town itself being used as a retreat for the Prince-Bishops of Augsburg, there are strong religious connotations here, and St. Mang's Abbey is a demonstration of the wealth which the visiting Prince-Bishops bestowed upon the region.
Today we enjoy one of the region's most popular rail journeys, as we take an excursion on the Zugspitze Railway, reaching the summit of Zugspitze - which at 9,718 ft (2,962 m) is the highest mountain in Germany. Our train departs from the town centre and climbs along the mountain base, passing the Eibsee Lake as well as 'Hell Valley', named so thanks to it's narrow gorge that gives way to steep valley walls, on its way to the Zugspitzplatt, situated by the impressive Schneeferner glacier. Boasting of the title of Germany's largest glacier, this is a popular place for skiers after being formed in the 'Little Ice Age' in the 19th century.
From here our journey continues by cable car (weather permitting) high above the dense forests to the very summit of Zugspitze. The rocky peak offers breathtaking panoramic views over Bavaria, Switzerland, Austria and Italy. We pause at Eibsee on our descent, where you have free time to soak up the natural beauty of the lake before returning to our hotel.
Today's full-day excursion is arguably the highlight of our tour, as we visit 2 of Europe's most beautiful castles. We begin with a visit to King Ludwig's marvellous childhood home of Hohenschwangau. Situated on a verdant and tree covered hill, this yellow fortress is covered in towers and turrets that lend an air of the fanciful to the entire building. Here, we learn about the fascinating history of the two structures. Hohenschwangau was built on the site of the 12thcentury Schwanstein Fortress, but fell into disrepair during the 18th century. It was sold, and then lovingly reconstructed by Ludwig's father in the 1830s.
From here Ludwig planned his own larger, more impressive castle, just a stone's throw away: Neuschwanstein. We continue to this spectacular building, bristling with turrets and parapets, for a guided tour. The castle was the inspiration behind one of the most famous castles in modern times - the famed Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland. Surprisingly enough, for the time it was built, Neuschwanstein was equipped with many modern conveniences, but incredibly was only occupied for 170 days before Ludwig was deposed. We take in the opulence of this awe-inspiring palace - one of Germany's most popular attractions - with its sumptuous wood carvings, beautiful chandeliers and lavish paintings which adorn the majestic rooms.
Day 7 is spent at leisure in picture-book Füssen. The nearby Forggensee lake is an attractive proposition, with the town itself having many transport links to this gentle lake where you can enjoy a leisurely boat ride. Alternatively, you may wish to visit Munich, the capital of Bavaria. The city has a wonderful collection of museums, art galleries and architectural treasures.
This morning we visit the mysterious Church of Weis, a remarkable building whose immaculate Rococco architecture is found nestled among the deep forests of Bavaria. Its magnificent halls are classic examples of Bavarian Rococo architecture, featuring ornate and curved stonework, vibrant and luxurious colours and shimmering golden furnishings. It's been a church of pilgrimage ever since the neighbouring hamlet experienced a miracle when tears appeared on a wooden figure of Christ, and its significance earned it UNESCO World Heritage status in 1983.
In the afternoon, we visit Linderhof, the smallest palace commissioned by Ludwig II. The whole complex incorporates a range of architectural influences and here we explore the striking Hall of Mirrors which was supposedly used by the king as a type of living room, he was known to spend a lot of his time sat here reading solemnly, candles would burn through the night and create a unique atmosphere because of the myriad of reflections generated in the room.
Leaving Füssen today, we travel to Nuremberg (Standard Class), where you have some free time to explore the attractive city. You may like to visit the Old Town, which dates back to medieval times and boasts several wonderful Gothic Churches. We spend the night at a local hotel.
On Day 10 we travel to Brussels to connect with the Eurostar service to London.
Please note: One of the excursions on this tour is at high altitude. If you have any medical conditions or concerns that could impact this part of the tour, we recommend you seek medical advice and talk to us. We want to make sure that any holiday you book is right for you.
Provisional departure and return times, where available, can be found together with our dates and prices by clicking on the 'Prices & Availability' button. We write to all booked customers approximately 10 weeks prior to the start of their tour to advise the exact departure and return time for their particular group.
An escorted experience and all travel arrangements
Comfortable accommodation in your destination
Delicious meals included
Exciting excursions and free time to explore
NEW FOR 2020: Inclusive Luggage Transfer
Please note: This tour may be suitable for reduced mobility passengers, please call for further information.
of travellers would recommend this tour
Tour Rating
based on 1 verified review
It was a great experience
Overall a great holiday but the visits to the fairytale castles were disappointing- rushed through in 30 minutes and very crowded. Hotels satisfactory but the food at the Garmish venue was rather too little in the evenings. Breakfasts excellent.
It would have been 5 stars if the hotel meals had been better with more choice and larger portions.
all the timetables were well integrated, the tour guide was excellent, and the trips out were interesting and well planed.
The holiday overall was great not to busy time to enjoy the experience.
The arrangements, content, and management of the holiday were all excellent,
Courier/guide was excellent, the castles were often spectacular, but ******* cases on and off trains, and over steps up and down in stations was no fun at all.
My first experience with GRJ I really enjoyed the whole holiday, although I was disappointed in reference to the hotel accommodation in Garmisch. My room was inferior to those other single travellers although I paid the same amount for the holiday and would therefore expect the same standard of accommodation and the stay in Kolon on our return journey the hotel unfortunately was not geared up for 3 GRJ groups at the same time, there was insufficient food available at the evening dinner.
The hotel was excellent, the trips were interesting and ran on time, the weather was excellent (except once) and we just loved every minute!
excellent itinerary excellent hoteland good caring tour manager
Relax in the wonderful Bavarian countryside
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