The Time of a Weekend in Bavaria

For a weekend, forget about time, forget about daily life and plans. For a weekend, escape and reconnect with friends. I take you on the journey of this weekend, filled with warmth, a Christmas village, and a perched castle: my perfect weekend in Bavaria.

Time. The time that flies. The time that runs away... and we are left behind. A sort of daily tragedy. While death doesn't frighten me, time certainly has the power to worry me.

During those months of mononucleosis, time stood still. It enveloped me in its humid warmth, clouding my mind, draining my thoughts, and cutting off all initiative. Tomorrow never came... But tomorrow has arrived! Mononucleosis will soon be a bad memory, time is opening up to me again and, oh surprise, it's already December! I feel like I'm waking up from a nightmare that lasted 3 months (Sleeping Beauty better watch out!).

So, December, the end of the year approaching, with its festive scent. A time that feels like the end of a book: the feeling of slipping back into childhood, holding in my hands a volume of Harry Potter, stroking the last pages of paper announcing the end of the year, the end of the adventure, the end of the book... and awaiting the next installment, the new book, the new adventure, the new year.

But before that, before this end and this new year... I wanted a bubble for myself, for my friends. A bubble outside of time.

Since our first trip to Germany in June (in Saarland), Germany has taken shape in my imagination: when I think Germany, I see vast landscapes, forests, fortresses, lakes, and mountains... This time, it's time to add two new images to my internal collection, more classic but just as delightful: Germany's Christmas markets and Bavaria's princess castles. A double dose of magic, a double dose of tales: between those of fairies and those of Santa Claus!

Except that... except that, the time of princesses needing rescue is over! I smile to myself thinking about it. As a child, I was raised (almost exclusively) on fairy tales and princesses to save. Now, watching a western annoys me, and I applaud with both hands at a story where a complex and nuanced female character occupies the screen without waiting to be saved. I wonder: where do these tales with watered-down female characters come from? Should we continue to pass them on to our children? Is it better to change mindsets and fight against stereotypes from the cradle? I think back to my little sister and all those tales from around the world that I sometimes read to her at night, featuring Eskimos, Indians, and characters that reflect the diversity of humankind on our beautiful planet. I walk toward the castle and tell myself that, ultimately, although I was raised on Disney and other fairy tales, my personal case may not be hopeless regarding the role of women... Perhaps that > is just as important as >...

I move from room to room in this castle that does not seem so large from the inside. No princess to rescue, but legends painted on the walls... I consume the stories of Tristan and Isolde before devouring a slice of cheesecake topped with chocolate at the cafeteria. One of the perks of traveling with friends who share the same appetite for nature, history... and delicious food!

A true emblem of Bavaria, guides proclaim that >!

From Füssen, there's a road through gentle green landscapes waiting for visitors. This castle, the most famous in the country, belonged to King Ludwig II of Bavaria in the 19th century and receives numerous tourists each year (it's best to avoid peak hours and, during the high tourist season, reserve your ticket a few days in advance).

Perched on a rock at the foot of the Tegelberg (summit of the Ammergau Alps), the best view of this magnificent castle is from the Marienbrücke Bridge. This grand castle reminiscent of Disney seems to shrink into the landscape. It is amusing to

Inside the castle (where photos are prohibited), we move from room to room, admiring the secret passages, murals of legends inspired by the works of Richard Wagner... and nods to the ever-present swan (Neuschwanstein literally means >).

Upon reaching the site of Neuschwanstein Castle, two other sights are also worth a visit: Hohenschwangau Castle and Lake Alpsee, beautiful with the lights of early and late day... A bit of Canada in the air!

Neuschwanstein Castle Address: Neuschwansteinstraße 20, 87645 Schwangau, Germany Fee: €13 (including audio guide and guided tour), there are also combination tickets to visit other castles Hours: open daily, from April to mid-October from 8 AM to 5 PM, and from mid-October to March from 10 AM to 4 PM Note: the parking for this castle is located in front of Hohenschwangau Castle. To reach the entrance of Neuschwanstein Castle from the parking lot, there are three options: by foot (30 minutes walk up a steep road), by horse-drawn carriage (10 minutes, €6 for the ride up, €3 to come back down!), and by shuttle bus from the parking lot to Marienbrücke Bridge for the viewpoint, then walk the 600 meters that separate you from the castle (allow 10 to 15 minutes).

Hohenschwangau Castle Address: Alpseestraße 30, 87645 Schwangau, Germany Fee: €13 (including audio guide and guided tour), there are also combination tickets to visit other castles Hours: open daily, from April to September from 9 AM to 6 PM, and from October to March from 10 AM to 4 PM

Other castle ideas of King Ludwig II to visit: Herrenchiemsee Castle, Linderhof Castle, the Royal House of Schachen.

The Kempten Christmas Market is one of the largest Christmas markets in the Allgäu region. The charm of this market is enhanced by its location in the heart of the historic district, in front of the beautiful white church of the city. And all the ingredients are there to strengthen the festive atmosphere: the carousel, local crafts, roasted chestnuts, mulled wine... and of course, the food stalls that remind us we are in Germany, like the sausage stand!

The old town of Füssen is often overlooked in favor of Neuschwanstein Castle, yet the historic heart is a pleasant setting for a stroll. Its colorful houses and typical architecture provide an exotic and charming character that fully justifies its place in the > and the >.

Füssen is also an opportunity to discover a charming little Christmas market in a courtyard filled with small chalets and animated by bubble-makers.

Things to see in Füssen for culture lovers: the municipal museum in the Abbey of Saint Magnus (Abbey of Saint Magnus); and in the surroundings of Füssen, besides Neuschwanstein: Linderhof Castle, Hohes Schloss fortress, and the Franciscan Monastery of Saint Stephen.

In terms of nature, the region offers many lakes to discover: Alatsee, Hopfensee, Weißensee (Weissensee), Alpsee, and Bannwaldsee.

Considered a superior 4-star hotel, the Oberstdorf hotel charms at first glance with its welcoming atmosphere and setting among the mountains, with its wooden chalet design. The major pluses: the super comfortable bed, the lounge and bar area on the ground floor with an open fireplace making the space super cozy, the royal breakfast buffet, and the wellness area, featuring a pool and sauna.

Address: Reute 20, 87561 Oberstdorf

A hotel where we had a meal before exploring the city of Füssen, and one of the best meals we had! Everything is good, you can order typical local dishes with confidence!

Address: Kaiser-Maximilian-Platz 7, 87629 Füssen, Germany

From the Oberstdorf hotel, we took a lovely torch-lit walk to the Alpe Oberstdorf restaurant (a walk that was supposed to last half an hour but actually took an hour), located in the Söllereckbahn ski area. Special mention for the delicious soup, and especially for the warm and family-like welcome of the place, representative of this restaurant and brewery, passed down through generations.

Address: Kornau-Wanne 10, 87561 Oberstdorf/Kornau

We flew to Munich. After that, you need to account for a 2-hour drive. If you want to move around easily on-site, I recommend renting a car.

A journey outside of time, outside of everything: escape, rejuvenation. For a weekend, walk, eat well, chat until the early hours, talk about the past, the present, the future, oneself, and one's plans... all by a wood fire or against a backdrop of mountainous landscapes rolling around us. A perfect weekend!

In partnership with the German Tourism Office and that of Bavaria.

To continue reading Other travels in Germany to Saarland: The Call of Nature; Nature Roadtrip in Saarland: itinerary and good addresses to Saxon Switzerland: Nature and Fairy Tales to Bavaria: A Grand Nature Journey

Our travel videos in Germany: Nature Roadtrip in Saarland; The Mountains of Berchtesgaden; Postcard from Saxon Switzerland

Other ideas for nature destinations in Europe: Spain: Adventures and Emotions in Cantabria Finland: Aland, Finland in the Flow of Water; Finland, at the Heart of the Archipelago Serbia: Escape along the Danube