I awoke to another beautiful day in Munich and while a good portion of the day would be driving back to Zurich, I had a few stops planned along the way to round out my adventure. I loaded up the car, left a thank you note for my host, and hit the road.
Just less than an hour southeast of Munich was Andechs. It was a quaint, little town nestled in the hillside between Ammersee and Starnberger See. Green fields stretched along the roads and the buildings were moderate and cozy. I was headed to the Kloster Andechs, a monastery in the center of town that had been brewing beer for centuries.
It was located atop a hill surrounded by trees and there were a variety of statues that lined the path up to the cathedral. Stepping into the church was like stepping back in time. Everywhere you looked there were beautiful figures and designs in an array of light and playful colors. It was not a large church, but the vaulted ceilings made it look all the more extravagant.
Connected to this were the brewery and gift shop. I unfortunately was unable to take a tour of the brewery since I had not booked in advance, but there was small café on the grounds where you could grab a bite to eat and enjoy a beer that they produce. Since I still had a long drive to go that day, I had the Vollbier Hell, a light and refreshing lager that resembled a shandy. It was the perfect addition to the gorgeous sunny day.
My next stop was only slightly out of the way from a direct route back to Zurich, but it seemed like the perfect once-in-a-lifetime venture that should not be missed. The Blomberg is home to 25 km. of hiking trails and breath-taking views of one of Germany’s most beautiful natural landscapes. It is also home to the Blomberg Classic, one of the longest summer toboggan runs in Europe. One could hike all the way to the summit to experience this, but there is also a double chairlift that will take you all the way to the top with ease. A day like this one yielded an astonishing view and it was only a short hike down to the start of the toboggan run.
I presented my ticket to ride the toboggan, got strapped in, and then was given a brief tutorial about how to manage the speed as I rode down the mountainside. After a little push, I was off! The brisk air whipped around me as I maintained just enough pressure on the brake to keep from careening off the track when I hit a sharp curve in the track. The trees and greenery flew by, but soon I neared the bottom, and after a final steep drop the track leveled off and I slowed to a stop. While it didn’t last long, it was definitely worth the stop to take in nature, the beautiful landscape, and a fun ride.
As the day wore on, my final stop before arriving back in Zurich was Linderhof Palace or Schloss Linderhof. Schloss Linderhof is the smallest of three palaces built by King Ludwig II of Bavaria and the only one which he lived to see completed. Nestled in the hill country, the scenery surrounding the palace breathtaking, enhanced by the well-maintained gardens, pathways, and fountain in the front courtyard. It may not have been as large or well-known as Schloss Neuschwanstein, but it was no less extravagant.
I went on a tour of the palace and marveled at the gorgeous and ornate decorations in each and every room. Even a simple sitting room was adorned with elaborately decorated crown moldings, beautiful murals on the ceilings and lavish light fixtures. We were not allowed to take photos of the interior, but I doubt they would even have come close to capturing the majesty of the structure. Soon it was sunset, and the glow of the sun began sinking behind the mountains as I made my way back to the car to finish my journey.
The remaining drive back to Zurich was a fairly peaceful one, with only a little bit of traffic and a detour due to construction on the freeways after a leisurely and winding cruise through the mountains. I reflected back on my trip and enjoyed the quiet. The trip as a whole was near perfect, with it being the first one I had taken on my own. It started with some difficulty, but I felt very accomplished and fulfilled having persevered. I soaked in the culture, tried new things, and even make friends along the way. Saying Goodbye to Bavaria and Switzerland, but hopeful to return again.
Cheers!
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