If you’re looking for a romantic and luxurious Christmas vacation, I’ll share a well-kept secret with you: go to Schwangau and see the castle town of Neuschwanstein on the German-Austrian border.
Having lived in Dubai during the boom years and seeing new buildings spring up like mushrooms, I cannot believe how untouched the Neuschwanstein castle area is. Despite over 1 million tourists visiting Neuschwanstein each year (and 3 more castles within a 3 mile radius), there are no skyscrapers, no ugly modern buildings (a tribute to great local government that puts tradition before profit). financial). Instead, you’ll feel as if time has stood still: old farmhouses and mountain chalet-style houses abound and you still see farmers on their bikes leading their little herds down the road to pasture – a wonderful and moving sight in a first world country. So here are my top 10 reasons to spend the winter and Christmas holidays in Schwangau and the Neuschwanstein Castle area.
1. The magical Neuschwanstein Castle and the story of King Ludwig
Neuschwanstein Castle is one of the most famous and possibly the most beautiful castles in the world. It attracts more than 1 million visitors a year from around the world and even inspired Walt Disney to devise the Magic Kingdom/Cinderella castle. Through Hollywood, The Magic Kingdom and Cinderella Castle, however, might be even better known than the stunning original set in the Alpine mountains of Bavaria. Neuschwanstein Castle was built by King Ludwig II in Bavaria. His mysterious death in a nearby lake remains the stuff of rumors to this day.
2. Great opportunities for skiing and winter sports (downhill, Nordic, ice skating)
Within 5-30 minutes by car you will have at your disposal no less than 5 ski resorts and 140 km of slopes for alpine skiing / snowboarding / ski touring. There are slopes for all levels and ski schools, as well as ski/snowboard rental opportunities at almost every resort. Almost all resorts offer a snow guarantee that provides extra powder if the weather doesn’t allow it. With mountain huts spread all over the alpine mountain, you’ll find plenty of reasons to stop to soak up the sun on the terraces sipping a hot drink or enjoying a plate of rustic mountain hut food such as “Kässpatzen” (small stir-fried local noodles with mountain cheese). or “Kaiserschmarrn” (torn pancake with raisins and almonds topped with apple or cherry sauce). You can even go night skiing right below Neuschwanstein Castle. Schwangau also offers 30 km of cross-country ski trails, 2 km of which are also illuminated at night. Finally, there are toboggan runs from many mountain lodges and at most ski resorts and ice skating opportunities on one of 6 lakes in the immediate neighborhood.
3. Romantic German Christmas markets
German Christmas markets (“Weihnachstmarkt”) are famous for their cozy and romantic Christmas atmosphere. You won’t want to miss them. Schwangau has a culinary Christmas market in November and Füssen, the medieval cobblestone town 3 miles away has a magical Christmas market most of December. Imagine strolling through a maze of stalls displaying treasures, from carved wooden figures, “nutcrackers,” small ceramic items to all manner of Christmas decorations, as the air is filled with the sweet aroma of mulled wine and freshly baked waffles.
4. Wellness opportunities to relax and pamper yourself
There are many wellness offers in the area, such as massages, sauna, light therapy, etc. Of special interest are the hot water pools in the royal spa thermal bath (“Königliche Kristalltherme”). The connected indoor and outdoor pools allow you to bask in the steaming warm water as you lift your head into the frigid air – imagine the feeling of snowflakes falling all around you, melting instantly when they hit the warm water. Across the fields you see Nordic skiers gliding down and against the mountain behind them looms Neuschwanstein Castle. An experience not to be missed!
5. Stunning horse-drawn sleigh rides through winter wonderland to see wild deer being fed
You can hire your own horse-drawn sleigh or join one of the regularly scheduled excursions to castles, mountain huts or deer feeding grounds in the forest. Wrapped in warm blankets, you’ll enjoy the clean, fresh air and stunning panoramic views of snow-capped mountains and white valleys. One of my personal favorites is watching the wild deer get fed so close to you you can almost touch them. To keep them from running away, you’ll barely dare to breathe trying to remain silent as you watch the majestic buck slowly approaching the rest of the herd – a magical encounter with nature!
6. Spectacular New Year’s Eve fireworks everywhere you look
In Germany, New Year’s Eve is always celebrated with fireworks everywhere you look. Everyone in this country can buy and launch their own and most families do. Why not try it yourself while you’re here? Imagine watching the fireworks over one of the castles holding your loved one(s) and making a wish for the new year ahead. It becomes an unforgettable moment. After midnight, many families engage in a tradition called “Bleigießen” (lead pouring) to predict everyone’s good fortune for the new year. Small pieces of lead are melted in pans over a candle flame. Once the lead is liquid, you pour it into a bowl of cold water where it instantly takes shape. Then everyone has fun interpreting the meaning of this shape to predict the fortune of the spout for the coming year. You can buy the complete “lead pour” kit in supermarkets in Germany. Good luck J!
7. Delicious local food specialties
The local food is delicious and you will find many restaurants to choose from. Pork dishes such as “Schweinshaxe” (pork knuckle) are common, but game and fish are also local specialities, as is the famous “Apfelstrudel” with vanilla sauce or ice cream. A local specialty is “Brotzeit”, which are large plates of cold cuts and cheese served with fresh German bread, freshly baked “Brezen” (large soft pretzels) and rolls. Finally, there are a variety of local beers to sample and why not visit the local brewery or cheese shop for a guided tour of how these delights are created?
8. Luxury and rustic hotels and vacation rentals
There are plenty of cozy vacation apartments and luxurious hotel rooms to choose from. Lately, more and more luxury holiday apartments are meeting the increasing demand for a truly relaxing and luxurious holiday. Most of the architecture is kept in the typical “Allgaeu” style, a variation of the mountain chalet that uses a lot of wood in the façade and features wooden balconies on several sides of the house. There are also many working farms that offer accommodation combined with an experience of real farm life. For a first world country and the town of King’s Castles, Schwangau has a staggering number of dairy farms. So get ready to hear the soft sound of cow bells wherever you are 🙂
9.Welcoming and friendly people who celebrate their traditions
From the moment we arrived in this region, the people have been extraordinarily friendly and communicative. They are helpful, authentic and genuine. Everyone is proud of their traditions and heritage and throughout the year there are festivals showcasing local dancing, music, clothing (“Lederhosen” and “Dirndl”) and of course beer. Most people in Schwangau speak enough English to carry on a conversation and many easily do so with amazing fluency. There is also a growing international community in the region and, of course, tourists from all over the world. This makes Schwangau a true “international town”. When you come, send me an email and I’ll help you with inside information about this dream place.
10.Great Story
With so much natural beauty, high alpine mountains and crystal clear mountain lakes all in the same small region, it is no surprise that German bishops and kings built their castles here. Even the Romans and the Celts had decided to settle here. In fact, the Via Claudia Augusta, one of the great Roman trade routes, runs through Schwangau and links the province of Germania through Austria to Rome. You will be able to find Roman pillars and visit an entire Roman villa on your magical journey to this exceptional place.