Ah, Bavaria! And it's not expensive!

Travel notes on holidays in the Bavarian Alps, one of the most beautiful places in Europe. The possibilities for various excursions, entertainment and fun in winter and summer time. And all this with a decent and thoughtful service at a very reasonable price.

Если вам надоело проводить отпуск в толпе, на жаре, в тесноте и шуме, значит вам нужна Бавария. Это юго-восточный край Германии, место с климатом «в пределах разумного», умеренным количеством местного населения, доброжелательного и учтивого. А главное – это Альпы, Баварские Альпы.

Bavarian Alps - The mountains are "young" and relatively low, somewhere up to 3000 m above sea level. But they look imposing and austere: the slopes are steep and the peaks are sharp. This is how I saw them from the town of Berchtesgaden. It is the regional center of "Berchtesgaden Land," adjacent to the border with Austria. The Austrian airport Mozart in Salzburg is located 25 km from Berchtesgaden. During the day a constant bus and rail service at intervals of about 1 hour. At your request, the tour operator can tell you the schedule. But you should try to arrive in Salzburg not late evening. Otherwise, you will be waiting only for a cab and have to pay the trip there and back.

Berchtesgaden. A town with its own population of about 9000 inhabitants. It is located along a valley of the clearest river. Steep streets lead up the hill, where the historic center with medieval buildings, churches ostoroverhimi XII century and the palace of the Wittelbach, intricate lanterns and countless stores with souvenirs and various attributes of Bavarian life. (I couldn't take my eyes off the exquisite outfits of the Bavarian "Freulen" from the Oktoberfest commercials.) There is also a concert hall with posters of visiting stars.

If you come in summer and with children, you, and more importantly children, should enjoy walks on wooded mountain slopes with many kilometers of comfortable sandy paths, excursions to the salt mines with rides on the underground lake; excursion on the cleanest and most beautiful lake Königsee to the chapel of St. Bartholomew at the foot of the dominant in the region peak Wacman (2713 m). There, by the way, they feed trout from the same lake. In summer, there is an excursion to another "historical" place: Hitler's Kölnsteinhaus, given to him by Bormann, on one of the surrounding peaks. In winter, unfortunately, it is inaccessible. When you're not touring, the Wachsmann Therme water park in the center of Berchtesgaden offers all sorts of water treatments, gimmicks, and tricky things.

If you come in winter, don't be lazy, get up on skis. It doesn't matter if it's your first time. There are a lot of them there. You can either bring them with you or rent them. Around the town in a few kilometers in almost any direction there are ski stations. There are tracks for children (i.e. for "dummies"), and for the real ski buzz. This is Jenner.

You can also take a day out of every day's rest and "drive" to Neuschwanstein, which is not far from Füssen. The trip will take a full day, but the castle is worth it. At the ticket office you can get a printout of the entire route with three changes, one of which is in Munich, so there are no problems. No long waits for the next train either. Everything is well docked, so don't stray too far from the platform. In Neuschwanstein you can buy a tour of the castle, but keep in mind that you will be allowed there strictly by the time specified in the ticket. The castle is located on a high and steep hill, and the road to it is "serpentine" and will take enough time. It is better to go up in advance, from the observation deck in front of the castle to look at the distant horizon and the nearby mountains and feel like King Ludwig II for a minute.

And finally, I would like to add that contrary to the popular opinion that Europe does not accept 'all inclusion' service, for example, at the Seimler Hotel in Berchtesgaden I was completely free of the question: where to eat during the day? Just go down to the restaurant.

That's how it is, Berchtesgaden - a town "pleasant in all respects". Visit - you won't regret it.