Excursion to Garmisch-Partenkirche (Zugspitze), Burgheim, Neuburg and Kelheim

A friend visited from Braunschweig who had an exchange student in Bayern. She was visiting the family and I was invited to tag along. The Ruisinger Family was absolutely delightful. The dinner was amazing and the next day they showed us around three beautiful areas of Bayern. Burgheim which was the town we stayed in was very very quiet. The area was absolutely stunning.


Nikki, one of two cats of the great family that hosted us.

NEUBURG
Neuburg was not far. We drove and saw Schloss Neuburg. This palace is quite impressive and is in its original state (read: not war damaged). Schloss Neuburg was once residence to Counts of Pfalz-Neuburg; a principality founded in 1505. It was initially Gothic, then three Renaissance wings were added in 1530.  It has some beautiful hand etched stone of Biblical scenes which makes up an entire inner face of the courtyard (see pictures below). The technique used is called Sgraffito. Later between 1664 and 1668 a Baroque east wing and two towers were added. This was one of the very first Baroque palaces in all of Germany, but it covers an amazing array of styles, I honestly consider it an artistic marvel. 


Sgraffito

everything lined with shells

KELHEIM
Kelheim was about an hour away. It is well known for die Befreiungshalle (The Hall of Liberation). King Ludwig I commissioned the construction to comemorate both the victorious battles against Napoleon during the Wars of Liberation 1813-1815 and the unification of all the German races. It was modeled after buildings from Ancient Rome and midieval Italy. The outside houses 18 monumental statues with the names of German tribes. Inside there are 34 Goddesses of Victory made from white marble all joined in hands; they symbolise the 34 german  states of the German Confederation (Deutscher Bund) founded in 1815. The floor inscription reads:


MOECHTEN DIE TEUTSCHEN NIE VERGESSEN WAS DEN BEFREIUNGSKAMP NOTHWENDIG MACHTE UND WODURCH SIE GESIEGT.


Which translates to (according to wiki): May the Germans never forget what made necessary the Struggle for Freedom and by what means they won. 

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL FLICKR SET




A special thanks to the Ruisinger Family in Burgheim for their hospitality, friendliness and willingness to show us around. They are genuinely kind folks and it was a pleasure to have the chance to talk to them (in german/bayerisch)




The day before, on Saturday, we had gone to the Garmisch-Partenkirche to see the Zugspitze. It was a beautiful day and we took a cog train up to Zugspitzplatz where it then connected to a cable car to the summit. But the weather is unpredictable at the highest peak in Germany. It was snowing when we arrives but within 15 minutes, the sun was breaking through the clouds. 

taking a cog train; the center of the track has a grooved track for the teeth of a large gear to roll over and index. This pulls the train up steep inclines it would normally slide down.

View from the loading dock of the cable car

Germany's Highest Biergarten

A small map was found depicting what the view should have looked like. It was pretty close...

Then it Finally Cleared

Click here for the full set to Garmisch-Partenkirche on my Flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/22512029@N06/sets/72157626515704475/with/5691254184/


I give photo credit to Rachel Harper for any photos in which I appear. Thanks!