The fascinating German Alpine Road in Bavaria, Germany offers more than 280 miles of winding avenues from Lindau on Lake Constance to Schonau on Lake Konigssee that are begging to be discovered by adventurous North American travelers. European tour operator Top Bavaria Travel designs tours for FITs and groups along the route, which features a variety of unique landscapes, from lush alpine meadows, soft rolling hills and towering mountain tops, to thick green woods, romantic valleys and glistening lakes. The Alpine Road is clearly signposted in both directions and Top Bavaria Travel can provide your clients with information on sights, as well as practical tips for the journey. The only thing they’ll need to take care of is lodging and renting a car.
Top Bavaria Travel lists BMW, rtCars Porsche Tours and Oldtimer as possible car rental outlets; however, we suggest going with Enterprise. The company operates various locations throughout Bavaria and offers convenient pick-up and drop-off options. And before your clients head out on the open road, make sure they review Enterprise’s Germany Driving Guide, which features helpful guidelines about common driving practices, including rules of the road and parking tips.
As guests loop their way through quaint farming villages and historic towns, they’ll come upon Fussen, a small town just north of the Austrian border, known as the “Gateway to Neuschwanstein.” Ludwig II, son of Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian II, built Neuschwanstein castle, a 19th century Romanesque palace that served as inspiration for Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty’s castles, as a refuge far removed from his royal obligations. It takes a bit of a hike to get to the castle’s entrance, but speaking from personal experience, the gorgeous interiors are well worth the trek.
Continuing on past Steingaden to the Passion Play Village of Oberammergau, travelers will find colorful wall murals depicting scenes from the “Passion of Christ” play among other Christian motifs, religious carvings dating back to the 16th century, and numerous craft shops, including Pilatushaus (the Plate House), where guests can watch craftsmen at work from mid-May to mid-October. After touring, suggest your clients settle down at Hotel Alte Post in the heart of Oberammergau. This commissionable, family-run hotel, features 38 guestrooms, a terrace and a restaurant that serves typical Bavarian cuisine. Rates start at $86 per night dbl in the low season; $107 per night dbl in the high season.
For more information, visit top-bavaria.de/en-welcome.html or deutsche-alpenstrasse.de/en/home.
