An Example for a Schwangau Holiday Programme for Summer
Designed for Mister & Misses X
(restaurant recommendations and evening plans not desired)
Morning
Afternoon
Day 1
Settle into Birkeneck Luxury Apartment.Rent bikes (incl. helmets) for the week.
Buy tickets for castle tour the next day at bottom of hill. Walk around Alpsee (mountain lake) and go for a swim.
Cycle to Lake Hopfen (ca. 7km), take a pedalo boat out on the lake, have a beer then enjoy a picnic in front of stunning panaromic views.
Day 2
Walk up to castles (or take a horse carriage) and tour of castle Neuschwanstein. Coffee.
Drive to Pfronten and enjoy 2 hours of climbing fun in the High Rope Course
Day 3
Day-Tour: Cycle around lake Forggensee (27km) enjoy beach stops for picnics and a dip in the water.
Thermal Spa / pools/ massage/ rest the tired legs(5 min walk from the apartment)
Day 4
Visit to Medieval Castle Ehrenburg across the border in Austria. Enjoy the knight’s festival with re-enactments of medieval battles.
Paragliding tandem jump from mountain Breitenberg or Tegelberg.
Day 5
Cycle to Buchenberg (5km from Schwangau). Take cable car up to Buchenberg mountain hut, enjoy the stunning views, watch the paragliders and have lunch there.
1.30pm Cheese Making Tour in Hopferau. Then walk on to Brewery Tour.
Day 6
Enjoy a morning of playing golf in front of mountain panorama at Lechbruck golf course
2 hour guided horse-riding excursionEnjoy local music festival in the early evening
Day 7
Drive (or cycle) to nearby Eisenberg (8km) Walk up to medieval castle ruins and enjoy the panoramic views.
Return your bikes.Canoe sunset tour on lake Forggensee
The Neuschwanstein Region in Bavaria at the border of south Germany with Austria is arguably the most beautiful corner of Germany and the Alpine mountains - no wonder it attracts people from all over the world for holidays and permanent living.
It hosts the world famous castle Neuschwanstein which thrones impressively in front of a panoramic Alpine mountain range by the village of Schwangau. With more than 1 million visitors every year it is the most visited castle in Europe – a must see for every traveler, who get to see another 2 castles (one medieval) and several ruins in the immediate vicinity.
Surprisingly the surroundings of Neuschwanstein have remained distinctively rural. Essentially a farming community, time seems to have stood still here. Farmers on their bicycles take their small cow herds to the pastures and Bavarian traditions and festivities are being celebrated at numerous opportunities.
This is particularly noteworthy when you realize that the region lies in Germany, a first world country where things are organized and work (streets are cleared from snow in winter, buses arrive on time, villages and towns are clean and beautiful).
If you live in a bustling city anywhere in this world, the Neuschwanstein region with its 6 soothing lakes and Alpine mountain panaroma will calm you down, relax you and put you in touch with yourself, challenging you to re-assess your priorities and what really matters to you.
It’s a great destination both in summer and winter. In summer temperatures invite you to swim in the lakes or enjoy a hike in the mountains. In winter the area turns into a winter paradise for skiers, snow boarders and all winter hikers.
A small community of international people have settled here to escape the hectic life in the city, the large corporations and the stress that these bring. Not that there are big jobs to be had here. No, internationals who have settled here have changed careers, set up their own business or commute to work places elsewhere in the world on a reduced work schedule (after all Munich with its airport is only just over an 1 hour away). It’s an exciting and highly interesting group of people who are very welcoming to any newcomers to the region – whether on holiday or with more permanent plans. Many come from the USA or Canada, some from Britain, France, Spain and Dubai/UAE.
The English Speaking Group of the Neuschwanstein region meets once a month and being among them feels like family to most of us who have left our own extended families elsewhere in this world. Members of the group help each other, exchange ideas and provide emotional support.
Schwangau, the village of the King’s Castles (Neuschwanstein as well as Hohenschwangau), has its own little sub-group of international English speakers. Every Tuesday afternoon they offer holiday makers, travelers and any English speaker in the region an opportunity to get connected in one of the local restaurants. Anyone is invited to join, hear their stories, ask questions and make new friends.
For details about any of the two groups you can email me. I’d be delighted to welcome you here.
If you can’t make up your mind between mountains and beach, water sports and cycle tours, cultural sight seeing, wellness holidays and sampling a new cuisine, come and have it all in Schwangau and the Neuschwanstein Castle Region.
After I discovered Schwangau, I broke my promise to never go to the same holiday spot twice and came back the year after. There is so much to do and see in such a small area, that you will have trouble enjoying it all. It left me coming for more again and again and I finally decided to settle in this beautiful region.
Here are my top 10 reasons why you should make the Neuschwanstein Castle Region your next summer holiday destination.
1. Romantic Beaches
You will find no less than 6 lakes in the immediate vicinity of Neuschwanstein Castle and Schwangau village. You will find everything from sandy beaches, pebble beaches and places where you enter the water from hide-away grassy patches between trees and shrubs. The water is exceptionally clean and you can often see down to the ground. The weather in summer is warm and temperatures can rise to 35 degrees Celsius.
2. Excellent Water Sport Opportunities
The best lake for water sports is the Forggensee, which is also the biggest of all the lakes. In summer you see a colourful display of sailing boat sails spread all over the lake. Several sailing clubs and harbours can be found along the shore. Wind surfing, canoeing and pedal boats are also available and used frequently.
3. Bike trails through stunning nature
The whole Neuschwanstein Castle Region has hundreds of kilometers of marked bike trails off the main roads and along lakes, through forests and across fields. You can enjoy the gorgeous panoramic views while sharing your picnic with one of the grazing cows. Mountain bike trails also abound and allow you to reach the cosy mountain huts and their sun terraces for a cool beer. Bikes and helmets can be rented in several places in Schwangau village.
4. Visiting the fairytale castle “Neuschwanstein” and the medieval ruins
Castle Neuschanstein / Schloss Neuschwanstein
Castle Neuschwanstein has been build by King Ludwig II and is a “must-see” in the area. With more than 1 million tourists a year it is a major European tourist attraction and even inspired Disney to design what it is known as Cinderella Castle. To get there you can either walk up the mountain, cycle up, take the bus or the horse carriage. The path is well sign-posted. To avoid the crowds, book your tickets in advance and hire a private horse carriage from one of the two Schwangau rental places to take you up.
There are many more castles and ruins in the Neuschwanstein Region and historically interested and culturally excited travelers will love their discoveries. Castle “Ehrenburg” hosts an annual “knights festival” with re-enactments and medieval food stands every year end July. It also offers treasure hunts for children and a museum where you can try on a knight’s armour.
5. Plenty of hiking trails in the Alpine mountains and welcoming huts allowing you to relax and enjoy the scenery.
There are 14 official hiking trails and tours from Schwangau allowing you to discover nature up close. You will master small challenges like steep rocky paths and windy trails through the mountain forests rewarding yourself with a cold drink and a hearty meal at one of the many mountain huts such as “Drehhütte” or “Rohrkopfhütte”. Watch out for the black mountain lizards on your path; they look like little mountain crocodiles J.
For a romantic overnight hike, start from the bottom of the mountain Tegelberg in Schwangau, hike up past meadows, forests and rocky parts to the summit of “Branderfleck”, “Ahornsattel”. You will finally reach your destination “Kenzenhütte”, a mountain hut serving you a heart-warming hut meal, allowing you to enjoy a splendid sunset and providing you with a rustic place to spend the night. The next morning you can keep hiking back a different path or take the bus back down into the valley.
6. Wellness opportunities and Thermal Spa
For a day full of relaxation and wellness, try the royal thermal bath “Königliche Kristalltherme” in Schwangau. There are several heated inside and outside pools all connected to allow you an indulging water experience. Add a visit to one of the many saunas or the crystal caves.
And why not try out a massage either at the Thermal Spa itself or at one of the many hotels with wellness area. Ask me for recommendations.
7. Outdoor Action
Would you believe that Schwangau also offers paragliding tandem jumps and entire 3 and 5 day courses for you to learn to paraglide yourself ?
If you prefer rock climbing, there are several natural climbing walls and a climbing hall for the bad weather day.
Only 5km away in Pfronten is one of the best high rope courses in the area. Whether alone or in a group, you will have loads of fun mastering the 6 different courses with increasing degrees of difficulty.
8. Friendly People and Jolly Lifestyle With Plenty of Festivals & Parades
From the moment we arrived in this region, people have been extraordinarily friendly and forthcoming. They are helpful, authentic and genuine. Everyone takes great pride in their traditions and heritage and all through the year there are festivals displaying local dance, music, clothing (“Lederhosen” and “Dirndl”) and of course beer. Most people in Schwangau speak enough English to hold a conversation and many do so readily with astonishing 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 village”. When you come drop me an email and I will help you with insider knowledge about this dream location.
9. Luxury Accommodation With International Hosts
There are lots of cosy apartments and hotel rooms of medium standard. Lately more and more luxury holiday apartments cater to the growing demand for a truly relaxing and luxurious holiday. Birkeneck Luxury Holiday Home is a fine example that sets it’s own standards for relaxation with its spacious living, stunning views, full kitchen (incl. dish washer and washing machine), free WLAN internet connection and indulgent massage chair. Have a look at the website myluxuryholidayhome.com for more details.
10. Great History
With so much natural beauty, high Alpine mountains and crystal clear mountain lakes all in the same small region, it is hardly surprising that the bishops and German Kings built their castles here. Even the Romans and Celts had decided to settle here. In fact, the Via Claudia Augusta, one of the big Roman trading roads leads right through Schwangau joining the province of Germania through Austria to Rome. You can find Roman pillars and visit a whole Roman villa on your magic trip to this exceptional place.
Feel free to contact me to get more information and make reservations.
A short walk from Birkeneck Luxury Holiday Home at the border of Germany and Austria are two beautiful forest adventure walks right by the river Lech with its magical mint green colour.
The lower one leads you through the forest directly next to the river Lech. You will learn some interesting facts and enjoy some hands-on adventures.
Among other you will find a number of different options to cross a little stream.
More photos can be found on the Auwaldpfad website. Just click on the link below.
Just across from the Auwaldpfad is a prepared mountain walk through the forest called “Bergwaldpfad”. This path teaches you about the local flora and fauna through a number of interactive displays and fun experiments.
Entry to both paths is free and open every day. The organizers also entertain a lodge with a small museum.
All year-round there are events around art & craft topics with natural materials as well as educational events to better understand the forest and its inhabitants.
For an overview of upcoming events click on the link below:
On a sunny winter day you can see lots of hot air balloons in the sky above Schwangau and Neuschwanstein Castle (today my daughter counted 16.). It’s a marvellous sight. The balloons turn the sky into a painting of colourful dots forcing you to smile. Sometimes one lands just in the meadow in front of you.
Every January the valley Tannheim just across the border in Austria celebrates the balloon festival and pilots from all over the world come to take part. During this festival you can learn a lot about hot air balloons, see how they are being prepared for a start and even ride in one.
How about seeing Neuschwanstein Castle from an hot air balloon (can you see it in the top right corner of the photo above) ?
Ask us to book you a ride or call Rudi Höfer +43 (0) 67 69490250
Birkeneck Luxury Holiday Apartment far exceeded our expectations. Located in the lovely village of Schwangau, the apartment is a true gem in a great location, close to many outdoor activities, including: mountain walks; cycling; hand gliding; white water rafting; canoeing etc. The upper floor apartment, recently converted using local materials is finished to a very high standard and you will not be disappointed with the quality fit-out. The views of the mountains and Neuschwanstien castle are a real bonus. The owners are very welcoming and nothing is too much trouble for them in making your stay comfortable. They speak German and English, have excellent local knowledge and are keen to share their experiences and recommend everything from restaurants to the best mountain walks.
With so much to see and do in the local area this is a really is a hidden gem of an apartment in one of Europes best kept secrets of a location.
We are returning again next summer – our first repeat holiday ever.
What a fantastic family holiday! All the ingredients for what my family loves. Great winter sports, great natural beauty all around and so accessible from Munich. We were absolutely thrilled with the Mountain top chalets the fairy tale castles and the friendly people in general. The flat (Birkeneck Holiday Apartment) was very attractive,extremely modern, comfortable and private – it’s impecably maintained and cosy with all the mod cons we needed. There are plenty of fabulous places to eat within close walking distance but it is also good to be able to have a simple home meal when we were tired out from days outdoors or on the slopes. Our hosts were charming and interesting and very helpful with suggestions of what we might enjoy and how to get there. Importantly for us, though they got the balance right with being there to help but letting us enjoy our privacy. Highlights: The kids ski-ing lessons, watching the reindeer at feeding time and the simply marvellous food and hospitality to be had all around. We really didn’t stay long enough to do the area justice and we will definitely be back! Thanks Silke and Kalim – and be careful, that massage chair would have left on the plane with us if it had fit in a suitcase – my husband fell in love with it!
We really enjoyed our stay at Birkeneck Luxury Apartment. It was a nice drive from Frankfurt and once we got there it was a fabulous getaway from the city life. You can arrive without knowing anything about the area and Silke and Kalim will give you all of the information you need. They had made dinner reservations for us for our first night and the restaurant was really great and just a short walk from the hotel. We weren’t really sure what we wanted to do on our trip, but we let our hosts know what types of things we enjoyed and they provided us with so many options and detailed information about the area. The apartment itself was really beautiful; modern and open, and cozy at the same time. The small town of Schwangau is charming and we actually found it easier to communicate in English there than almost any other city we have visited in Germany so far. Everyone seems like they really want you to have a great stay. We got to experience so much in our 4 nights there, but we were also left wanting more. We will definitely be coming back.
Without doubt, Schwangau at the southern border of Bavaria / Germany to Austria is one of the most beautiful places in the world. Not only does it have one of the most famous castles in the world: Castle Neuschwanstein, which inspired Disney to come up with Cinderella Castle and was used in the film Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang.
It also benefits from 6 lakes in the immediate vicinity, 2 further castles and the most stunning mountain panoramas – perfect for hiking, cycling, paragliding, sailing and skiing. It’s a spa town with hot thermal baths and especially clean air giving it the status and reward of “Luftkurort” (spa town for its healty air).
Despite all of this, the little village is still a hidden secret for international travelers. And although more than 1 million tourists come to see Neuschwanstein Castle every year, few know that the region offers hundreds of kilometers of hiking and cycling trails, exceptional local food and home-brewed beer as well as wellness offers and plenty of local festivals such as horse parades and local dress displays (“Lederhosen” and “Dirndl”) always accompanied by beer tents and local music.
If you decide that such a Bavarian style holiday is for you, here is a list of my favourite holiday apartments in the area. The places I listed are a true alternative to a hotel, as they offer many of the benefits hotels provide while giving you the space and independence only a luxurious and well equipped holiday apartment can offer. The owners of all the apartments listed have an English website, speak English and can therefore help you make the most of your stay.
Best Holiday Apartments in Schwangau – all offering 5 star amenities:
1. Birkeneck Luxury Holiday Apartment – Best Choice for Couples & Small Families (99 – 140 Euro per night)
A one-of-a-kind, beautiful holiday apartment with open beamed ceilings, lots of sunny space, great location next to meadows and lake and stunning view of Neuschwanstein castle from the living room/large balcony. It offers a large 1 bedroom for 2 people and has sleeping capacity for 1-2 further guests in the next door alcove.
You will enjoy a full kitchen (incl. dish washer, oven, microwave, washing machine), a multimedia-entertainment system with flatscreen TV, blue-ray DVD player, CD/stereo, USB connection, free WLAN internet connection and a wellness massage chair.
The owners are British and German and have been expats for 12 years in 4 countries before settling in Schwangau. Upon request, they will take their guests into the mountains (he is a trained mountain leader) or to the many sites worth seeing. The couple is always available to help their guests with inside tips and their connections – a very personal experience.
2. Lunamia Luxury Holiday Apartments – Best Choice for Families of 4 and more people (90 – 220 Euro per night).
Tastefully restored farm house with several holiday apartments of highest standard loads of space and high quality ameneties. It’s ideal for families who need 2 (and more) bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. One cute little outhouse has been designed for couples or honeymooners. All apartments enjoy outside space on either terrace or balcony.
Kitchens have everything you wish for (dishwasher, microwave etc) and all units offer flatscreen TV, CD/stereo, free WLAN internet connection. Washing machines are available in the separate washing room.
The owners are Spanish and German and have taken great pride in providing a stellar vacation home for a 5-star experience.
3. Luxury Holiday Apartment Vormann – Best Choice for large Families who need 3 bedrooms (80 – 200 Euro per night).
Spacious apartment offering 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and 2 balconies on 160 sqm of space. The apartment does not offer a view of Neuschwanstein castle but the use of an indoor swimming pool /sauna in the adjacent hotel. Like in Birkeneck and Lunamia, all ameneties such as washing machine, dish washer etc. are provided.
As visitors from the United States who had been looking forward to the stunning beauty of southern Germany, we were told by German friends that Schwangau is one of the true gems, and the perfect place to stay. That proved to be excellent advice! But even more so, our experience in the Birkeneck apartment was fantastic: Brandnew, very spacious, with a beautiful view of the mountains and Neuschwanstein. And the owners, Silke and Kalim Rehman, who live in the same house, were not only fluent in English (hey, they are Brits!), but also magnificent tour guides. Our two children enjoyed this vacation tremendously – we’ll be back next year, Familie Rehman!
From the Marylanders, Columbia / USA – September 2009
You will find no less than 6 lakes in the immediate vicinity of Neuschwanstein Castle and Schwangau village. You will find everything from sandy beaches, pebble beaches and places where you enter the water from hide-away grassy patches between trees and shrubs. The water is exceptionally clean and you can often see down to the ground. The weather in summer is warm and temperatures can rise to 35 degrees Celsius.
The best lake for water sports is the Forggensee, which is also the biggest of all the lakes. In summer you see a colourful display of sailing boat sails spread all over the lake. Several sailing clubs and harbours can be found along the shore. Wind surfing, canoeing and pedal boats are also available and used frequently.
The whole Neuschwanstein Castle Region has hundreds of kilometers of marked bike trails off the main roads and along lakes, through forests and across fields. You can enjoy the gorgeous panoramic views while sharing your picnic with one of the grazing cows. Mountain bike trails also abound and allow you to reach the cosy mountain huts and their sun terraces for a cool beer. Bikes and helmets can be rented in several places in Schwangau village.
There are 14 official hiking trails and tours from Schwangau allowing you to discover nature up close. You will master small challenges like steep rocky paths and windy trails through the mountain forests rewarding yourself with a cold drink and a hearty meal at one of the many mountain huts such as “Drehhütte” or “Rohrkopfhütte”. Watch out for the black mountain lizards on your path; they look like little mountain crocodiles J.
For a romantic overnight hike, start from the bottom of the mountain Tegelberg in Schwangau, hike up past meadows, forests and rocky parts to the summit of “Branderfleck”, “Ahornsattel”. You will finally reach your destination “Kenzenhütte”, a mountain hut serving you a heart-warming hut meal, allowing you to enjoy a splendid sunset and providing you with a rustic place to spend the night. The next morning you can keep hiking back a different path or take the bus back down into the valley.
For a day full of relaxation and wellness, try the royal thermal bath “Königliche Kristalltherme” in Schwangau. There are several heated inside and outside pools all connected to allow you an indulging water experience. Add a visit to one of the many saunas or the crystal caves.
Would you believe that Schwangau also offers paragliding tandem jumps and entire 3 and 5 day courses for you to learn to paraglide yourself ?
Only 5km away in Pfronten is one of the best high rope courses in the area. Whether alone or in a group, you will have loads of fun mastering the 6 different courses with increasing degrees of difficulty.
There are lots of cosy apartments and hotel rooms of medium standard. Lately more and more luxury holiday apartments cater to the growing demand for a truly relaxing and luxurious holiday. Birkeneck Luxury Holiday Home is a fine example that sets it’s own standards for relaxation with its spacious living, stunning views, full kitchen (incl. dish washer and washing machine), free WLAN internet connection and indulgent massage chair. Have a look at the website myluxuryholidayhome.com for more details.
With so much natural beauty, high Alpine mountains and crystal clear mountain lakes all in the same small region, it is hardly surprising that the bishops and German Kings built their castles here. Even the Romans and Celts had decided to settle here. In fact, the Via Claudia Augusta, one of the big Roman trading roads leads right through Schwangau joining the province of Germania through Austria to Rome. You can find Roman pillars and visit a whole Roman villa on your magic trip to this exceptional place.
You will enjoy a full kitchen (incl. dish washer, oven, microwave, washing machine), a multimedia-entertainment system with flatscreen TV, blue-ray DVD player, CD/stereo, USB connection, free WLAN internet connection and a wellness massage chair.
