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Day 3
We are in for a great day in Austria! There will be three main stops that begin with a guided tour of Royal Castle Neuschwanstein (only minutes from our hotel in Fussen, Germany). After a hundred plus photos, we are off to Austria. Next stop is Ehrenberg Castle in Reutte, Austria. After another hundred photos, we are onto Hofen, Austria (a quaint town in a lush valley surrounded by the Austrian Alps) for dinner, glider rides above the Alps (for those hearty souls) and we finish with a great evening of schuplatter (Austrian 'slap' dancing), great Austrian refreshments, food and ambiance. |
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Sample Schedule
8:00-9:30am PeeWee and Bantam skate
10:00 Bus 1 lv Rink for Tegelberg, summer bob sledding
12:00 Bus 2 lv from Rink for Hohenschwangau
11:45 Bus 1 lv Tegelberg for Hohenschwangau
12:00 Group 1 lunch in Hohenschwangau
12:30 Group 2 Lunch in Hohenschwangau
13:30 Group 1 Castle Tour - Neuschwanstein
14:00 Group 2 Castle Tour - Neuschwanstein
16:00 Bus 1 leaves for Reutte
16:30 Bus 2 leaves for Reutte
17:00 Arrive at Ehrenburg. Option to hike to Castles or walk to village. (People with a sailplane reservation can be brought to the Flugplatz at this time)
19:00 Pick up stop #1 at Castle Ehrenburg
19:15 Pick up stop #2 at Reutte train station
20:00 Schuplatterl
21:30 Bus 1 returns to Fussen
22:30 Bus 2 returns to Fussen |
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Stop #1
Castle Neuschwanstein. Fussen-Schwangau
 King Ludwig The Second (Mad Ludwig) created the fairytale Castle Neuschwanstein (circa 1869) like the castles of the medieval German Knights. The interior walls of Castle Neuschwanstein illustrate numerous scenes from Richard Wagner's musical dramas such as Lohengrin's Quest for the Holy Grail (1850). Examples are Siegfried (Lobby), Lohengrin (reception rooms), Tristen and Isolde (bedroom), Tannhauser (study), Master Singers (toilet). Only sixteen rooms are completely finished because of the king's untimely death in 1886 at the age of 41. He reportedly was murdered by shortsighted patriots for trying to sell a part of Bavaria to fund his castle building. This truly romantic castle is set among the Bavarian Alps and a majestic waterfall (left). |
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 Stop #2
Ehrenberg Castle - Reutte, Austria
After your visit to Bavaria's fantasyland castle, make a short trip over the German-Austrian border to Reutte and catch the Ehrenberg Ruins for a completely authentic castle experience. Perched on a small hill overlooking the town of Reutte are the Ehrenberg ruins amidst a peaceful valley. A great bird's-eye view awaits you from your own private ruins just a short hike up from the parking lot.
 Ehrenberg, which means mountain of honor, was built in the year 1290 by Count Meinhard II of Tyrol. For centuries, this castle ruled this Tyrolean area,  able to repel 16,000 Swedish soldiers in the defense of Catholicism in 1632. Ehrenberg witnessed other battles but soon after, languished in disrepair leaving behind this intriguing and provocative history. Today you will see a few of the 700 year old castle walls still standing amongst the desolate ruins.
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Stop #3
Hofen, Austria
Here we will have a Bavarian/Austrian dinner buffet, followed by an evening of authentic schuplatter (slap dancing) outdoors (weather permitting) in the quaint town of Hofen, nestled in the Austrian Alps. |
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| Glider rides - For those with a great sense of adventure, you will have the opportunity to take a glider ride over the Alps and will soar above the numerous castles sprinkled in the German and Austrian Alps. If you are interested, we need to take reservations for this. The cost is roughly $50-$60 USD for a 45 minute flight with a pilot. If you would like to reserve your spot, please email shawn@planethockey.com and refer to the glider rides. This is limited to 10 people. |
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