Bavaria (part 3)

I never imagined that Bavaria could be so big and has so much to offer. Even though it was our 4^th day, we are all thrilled to be at our next destination – the Linderhof Castle. This is one of the 3 castles built by King Ludwig II of Bavaria and the only one where the king actually lived for a significant amount of time.  Though this palace is smaller than the Neuschwanstein castle, but the architecture and the interior just stunned us. Another unforgettable part was the surroundings of this castle. Lush green grass, beautiful parks, a big pond, vivid flora-fauna would make anyone to fall in love with this place. One should not miss the beautiful view of the castle from the stairs in front of it. The beautiful statues, the magnificent fountain with the castle in the background was the most picturesque view I have ever seen.

As we already had the passes, we were guided inside by an English speaking guide. Compared to Neuschwanstein castle, the interiors looked very lavish and sophisticated and everything inside was so well maintained. From a 18^th century piano to some ancient Chinese pots, everything inside the castle looked so splendid. Another thing I loved about the castle is the use of technology. Even at that age there were heating systems, hot water and also a mechanical elevator that would bring food from the kitchen to the king’s dinning hall. Also, the room with no ends did amaze us.

It was a beautiful morning and we are all set to visit Innsbruck.  A beautiful city in the Alps, known for its beautiful architecture, winter sports, hiking etc. As we travelled to Austria, the small towns in the Alps covered with snow, was something magical for us. Call it early winter or luck, it was snow-snow everywhere. The feeling of soft snow and the privilege of playing in it, only an Indian can understand. After a 2 hours of journey, we reached the beautiful town of Innsbruck. A walk to the old town centre is a must. We saw the Golden Dachl, the landmark structure of Innsbruck. It is the city’s most famous symbol. This roof was decorated by copper tiles for Emperor Maximillian I to celebrate his wedding. Also, the balcony was used by the emperor and his queen to enjoy events and tournaments that took place in the town square below. The surrounding buildings, the brick road, small alleys speak about the medieval period Europe and that’s what I loved the most.

We then took a stroll down the market to famous Gothic church called Hofkirche, located a few blocks away. What amazed me there, is the architecture which speaks a lot about renaissance and the Maximilian’s cenotaph. Also, one should not miss the digital show on the life of Maximillian.

After a little bit of history now it’s time for some fun, food and shopping. We did try some local chocolates and cuisine in a café and my wife really enjoyed some local street fun.

We took a quick Panoramic view of the city and went straight to our hotel. It was Friday night and how could we miss Haufbrau house- one of the best place to be. Though it was damn crowded, the Bavarian music, the large beers and great food just made our evening splendid.

Next morning it was time for us to visit the city centre, the Marienplatz square, the markets and the Nymphenburg palace. On our way to the Nymphenburg palace, we stopped at a big ground where workers were dismantling huge tents and temporary structures. Just looking at the banners it didn’t take me a second to guess that it’s the “HOLY PLACE OF OKTOBER FEST 😉 ” . Though we were a few days late for the fest but atleast we could see the enormous arrangements. We took a few snaps and then we were off to the palace. The Nymphenburg palace is one of the biggest palaces I have ever seen in my life. Clearly built in three structure architecture that stretches through huge masses of land. Since, it was not possible to see the entire palace in a day, so we just saw a few attractions and spent most of our time outside. The lush green grass, the beautiful royal ponds and the trees attracting different varieties of migratory birds were amazing to see.

After spending a few hours in the palace we hurried to Marienplatz square. At the clock tower exactly at 1 pm the Glockenspiel performance happens every day. It is actually a huge cuckoo clock where motorised figures dance on a soft music. We were lucky enough to be on time and were amazed to see such a big crowd. The dance show depicts the period in history when three young man tried hard to bring people out of their houses after the deadly plague was over. Another thing we loved about Marienplatz square is the line of restaurants and shops in its perimeter.

We spent the rest of the day shopping, eating, drinking and being merry at Marienplatz square.