Munich to Bavaria's Fairytale Castles: Private day trip

If you think you’ve seen this castle somewhere before, then you have — it’s the real life castle that was the model for the castle featured in Sleeping Beauty, used in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and inspired Disney to create his Magic Kingdom. Even the location of the castle is simply breathtaking, as it sits at the top of a beautiful gorge in the Bavarian Alps. Built by Ludwig II between 1869 and 1886, the interior of the castle is every bit as awe-inspiring as the outside and reflects his obsession with Wagner, his preoccupation with medieval royalty and his retreat into fantasy. Central to the castle is opera and the works of Wagner, which Ludwig intended to be a shrine to his close friend. Although some rooms were never finished, Neuschwanstein remains the ultimate visitor experience for those looking to come face-to-face with a genuine fairytale castle. Due to its popularity, you should book your tickets in advance at https://www.neuschwanstein.de/

In 1663, the little Bavarian village of Oberammergau asked God to stop the Bubonic plague outbreak ravaging Europe, and in return, they would put on a play depicting the life of Jesus in perpetuity. By July, the plague had loosened its grip, and in 1634 the people of Oberammergau upheld their end of the bargain and produced their first Passionsspiele - and have repeated it every year that ends with a 0 ever since. Today, the play draws hundreds of thousands of visitors to the town - with an estimated 500,000 coming for the 2020 performance. Even if you’re not in town for the performance, Oberammergau is a mecca for mural lovers. The Bavarian Baroque tradition originated here with Franz Seraph Zwinck, and nearly every building is beautifully decorated in this style. Woodcarving is another of the town’s traditional crafts, and the Oberammergau Museum has a collection of historical wood carvings on the second floor.