Bavaria

Bavaria’s southern-German charm draws history buffs as well as revelers

Germany’s highly independent state of Bavaria has dozens of castles dotting its countryside, but none is as famous as Neuschwanstein, created by the extravagant Bavarian King Ludwig II. No doubt you’ve seen pictures of this fairy-tale castle perched on a cliff above the town of Hohenschwangau—but even if you haven’t, it’ll seem very familiar: It was the model for Disneyland’s Sleeping Beauty Castle.

Also in Bavaria is the exuberant city of Munich, a prime rail destination which serves as one of Germany’s most important cultural centers and is graced with an impressive architecture that includes royal residences, steepled churches, grand squares, and ornate monuments. Munich’s most famous event, of course, is Oktoberfest, held from mid-September to the first Sunday in October, during which an estimated six million visitors guzzle more than a million gallons of beer. Winter travel to Bavaria is becoming increasingly popular, thanks to the ski areas in the Bavarian Alps.

© 2009, Wiley Publishing, Inc.