If you can have access to a car and want a relaxing vacation, I would recommend taking your time to enjoy the countryside in Bavaria near the Neuschwanstein castle. We stayed in Lechbruck am See. There were biking and walking paths all around us which meandered through fields where cows grazed in the grass, and sometimes deer scampered about. The sunset walks with the gentle clanging of cowbells in the near-by fields and the sun setting with the mountains in the distance were idyllic. We spent several days relaxing in the holiday village that we stayed in, swimming in the pond and walking the paths and the rest of the days touring the region - Neuschwanstein, Linderhof, Ettal and Oberammergau. The Bavarian food was delicious, abundant and affordable.

Neuschwanstein castle is worth the trip. It has the perfect setting - the views from the castle are beautiful. The interior of the castle is also amazing. King Ludwig II even had a cave with stalagmites built inside his castle. We were not allowed to take photos of the interior of the castle. We went back to Hohenschwangau a second day so that we could rent a paddle boat to go out on Lake Alpsee (with a view of the castle.)

Linderhof castle was almost as magical as Neuschwanstein. The elaborate gardens that King Ludwig created surrounding it with a Moroccan house, a and a grotto were fun to discover. The tour of the interior of the castle was also very interesting. Our guide pointed out how the king liked to live in seclusion, calling his castle his golden cage.

The town of Oberammergau with its wood-carving shops and beautifully painted houses was also worth the trip.

July/August 2007