Days: 6 - 8
Sept. 21-23, 2006
Conversion rate on
our visit:
$1.27 = 1.00
Reutte
                            
       
What We Had
Upper 60° F
Beautiful
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High: 65° F Low: 52° F
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Page Index
What We Saw
•  Dachau Concentration/Death Camp
•  Oktoberfest
•  Neuschwanstein Castle
•  Tegelberg Luge
•  Die Wies Church
Where We Ate
•  Gutshof zum Schluxen (at the hotel)
•  Lake Alpsee
•  Lunch at Oktoberfest
Where We Stayed
•  Gutshof zum Schluxen Hotel

  Overview


Itinerary
Traveling from Rothenberg to Reutte we again saw very tidy German farms and rolling hills changing to areas of dense pine forests. Our experiences this day were very diverse. On our way to Reutte, we stopped first at the Dachau Concentration Camp and then before our final stop went on to Oktoberfest. Both were amazing but in a VERY different way. Details below.

We drove deeper into Bavaria seeing homes with sloping roofs, wood trim, paintings on the sides, and window boxes filled with beautiful flowers. Once we reached our hotel (actually closer to Füssen, Austria then Reutte) we found ourselves at a country inn away from everything. It was wonderful! Dinner that night was in the dinning room.

Our second day was, again, full of diverse activities! We started the day by walking up a very LONG hill to "Mad King" Ludwig's wonderful Neuschwanstein Castle. This was the castle purported to be used by Disney to fashion his Disneyland and Disney World castles. Neither comes close to the magnificence of Neuschwanstein (more below under What We Saw)!



Neuschwanstein Castle
It was a long walk up the hill...
Next, we visited the one and only stop on the entire trip that was truly built for tourists! The Tegelbeg Luge. You hop onto a small four-wheeled cart, ride it to the top of a hill and then back to the start on a curving stainless steel track (heated to keep it dry). Definitely not a Wow Moment, but a lot of fun!

Our last stop of the day was the over the top very ornate, Rococo style, Die Wies Church of Pilgrimage (more below).

We went back to our country inn to relax and have some free time before dinner. We went for a walk and we sat in the sun taking in the view of the Alps, the valley with family farms that reminded you of those of the Amish.
  What We Saw Dachau Concentration/Death Camp
Sept. 21, 2006
Our visit to Dachau was somber but eye-opening.  We walked along the railroad tracks to the entrance of the camp.  We entered through the same gate that inmates used.  Note the words over the doorway! There was an excellent museum/exhibit in the administration building.

Established in March 1933, the Dachau concentration camp was the first regular concentration camp established by the Nazis. Heinrich Himmler, in his capacity as police president of Munich, officially described the camp as "the first concentration camp for political prisoners." It was located on the grounds of an abandoned munitions factory near the northeastern part of the town of Dachau, about 10 miles northwest of Munich in southern Germany.

In the back corner of the camp there's an exit to Barracks X (the Crematorium).  This was also a very moving view of the camp as you look back to the barracks (3rd picture below).  We realized for the first time the full size of the camp ( larger than we expected ) and the magnitude of the horror and inhumane treatment the inmates must have suffered! Incomprehensible!

Some other facts we learned:
  • At the administration building within the present-day camp, there's a well-done pictorial history of the camp, its inhabitants and the people that ran the camp. There were several facts we didn't know before.
  • Dachau is actually the center of a hub of satellite camps.
  • Dachau was originally set up to house political dissidents.
  • The person originally in command of the camp was previously a criminal (before becoming a Nazi).
  • Dachau's death chamber was not used, although the crematorium was used for people that were killed in the camp by other means

Arbeit Mach Frei
Dachau Concentration/Death Camp
 
  What We Saw Oktoberfest
Sept. 21, 2006
Oktoberfest (spelled like they do in Germany...not because of the beer) was a very festive celebration of King Ludwig I's wedding.  The first "Oktoberfest" took place on October 12, 1810.  For the commemoration of their marriage, Crown Prince Ludwig (later King Ludwig I) and Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen organized a great horse race. 

​The modern-day Oktoberfest was a huge carnival...with beer tents.  The midway was very similar to a state fair, with rides, games of chance, food booths (pretzels, 1/2 meter long hot dogs, sweets, etc) and much, much more.  

Now lets briefly discuss beer "tents".  First imagine an enclosure that's 3 stories tall with a band (yes a band...on a eight foot high platform) in the middle.  Next imagine that the tent covers a high school football stadium.  Not just the field, the end-zone, the track, the stands, etc.  They are the largest "tents" we've ever seen.  More of a permanent structure then simply "tents" put up to house a three week long beer party.

The festivities inside were what you would imagine.  The food was first rate (fast, but not fast food), the beer is served in liter mugs and everyone there was having an outstanding time.  We sat by a very friendly German couple and their daughter who told us they live in Munich, but met when working in the state of Washington.  Lisa was excited. They also told us that in the evening no one sits down.  The most amazing thing?  The place closes at 11:00 pm!
 

Emblem
Oktoberfest
Theresienwiese
Since 1810
Munich, Germany
   
 
  What We Saw Neuschwanstein Castle
Sept. 22, 2006

​We motored back into Germany (Bavaria) to visit mad King Ludwig's castle.  Apparently King Ludwig's goal in life was to build the perfect castle. Neuschwanstein was only 33% complete after being worked on for 17 years!  The work stopped the day after King Ludwig died (with his shrink) which was one day after the king was officially declared mad.  Within weeks, the local government opened the castle for the public to see, charging for the opportunity. The reason? Bavaria was almost broke from the cost of building the castle. 

We were told that this was the castle that Disney used as a model for his Disneyland and Disney World Snow White castles. Mickey Mouse...eat your heart out!  This was the real thing.  The interior was phenomenal.  Unfortunately we were not allowed to take pictures, but we did buy some post cards.  Be sure to take a look (buttons below).  Paintings cover every wall and ceiling. The woodwork in the bedroom alone took 14 carpenters 5 years to complete. Unfortunately, King Ludwig only lived in the castle for 157 days.

To get to the castle you have to walk up a very steep hill.  It took us more than 30 minutes with several stops along the way.  It was worth every step!
Neuschwanstein Castle
D-87645 Schwangau, Bavaria
Tel: +49 8362 93988-0
   
 
  What We Saw Tegelberg Luge
Sept. 22, 2006
 Luge!  Yup, on a small cart (with wheels) down a track that's a stainless 'trough'.  You start by hopping on a cart which is then pulled to the top of the hill on a cable.  At the top of the hill you automatically disconnect from the cable and begin your run down the hill.  The trough is banked in the turns allowing you to build up a pretty good speed.  If you feel nervous about your speed at any point you simply pull back on the lever (between your knees) and you slow down very quickly. Everything went smoothly for everyone but Jack and Ron...each zigged instead of zagging (technical 'lugging' terms) and ended up with some boo-boos (more technical terms).  Is this a very touristy thing to do?  Of course it was...but it was also a LOT of fun!!  Highly recommended.

 

Brochure
Tegelberg Luge
Tegelberg Valley Station 3
Tegelbergstrasse 33
87645 Schwangau
Tel: +49 (0) 83 62 - 9 83 60
      
 
  What We Saw Die Wies Church
Sept. 22, 2006
This church exists to house a carved statue of Jesus in chains.  Frankly, of all the artwork we saw on the trip, this was the tackiest!  The story goes that the "artist" saw Jesus cry!  The local folks took this as a sign, built a small chapel to house the relic and then a full church when the number of visitors outgrew the chapel.  The Rococo style (best seen in the post cards below) was just a "little" overdone.

Die Wies Church
Wies 14
86989 Steingaden, Germany
Tel: +49 8862 932930
      
 
 
  Where We Ate Gutshof zum Schluxen (at the hotel)
Sept. 21, 2006




We ate both meals at the hotel.  The first night was a meal planned for us.  The second night was a buffet.

The dinning room
Gutshof zum Schluxen (at the hotel)
Pinswang-Reutte, A-660
Tel: 011 43 5677 8903
FAX: 011 43 5677 890323
      
 
 
  Where We Ate Lake Alpsee
Sept. 22, 2006




We enjoyed a sack lunch (put together by our Tour Diva, Lisa) next to Lake Alpsee, near Neuschwanstein Castle.  It was a beautiful setting sunny, quiet, and with swans (they are the symbol of Bavaria).

Symbol of Bavaria
Lake Alpsee
 
 
  Where We Ate Lunch at Oktoberfest
Sept. 21, 2006
 
We split the 1/2 meter frank and washed it down with refreshments in the beer tent.
 
 
  Where We Stayed Gutshof zum Schluxen Hotel

From their post card
Gutshof zum Schluxen Hotel
Pinswang-Reutte, A-660
Tel: 011 43 5677 8903
FAX: 011 43 5677 890323
         
 
 
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