Page 251 - (DK Eyewitness) Back Roads Travel Guide - Germany

DRIVE 24: The German Alps 249

Left House decorated with Lüftlmalerei,
Oberammergau Below Exterior of the
pilgrimage church of Wieskirche

EAT AND DRINK
NESSELWANG
Brauerei-Gasthof Hotel Post
moderate
With its traditional tiled oven and
wood-panelled ceiling, the Hotel Post’s
dining room is an attrac tive setting for
In Steingaden turn right and at the in Bavaria, most notably on the hearty meals. Begin with pork with
next junction turn right again to 18th-cen tury Pilatushaus, whose onions and caraway followed by beer
Wies/Wieskirche. There is paid parking aston ish ing frescoes are the work of goulash or Schnitzel (pork fillet) in
close to the church. Franz Seraph Zwink (1748–92). brewer’s malt and breadcrumbs.
Hauptstrasse 25, 87484; 08361 309 10;
ª Continue on the B23 to Ettal. There www.hotel-post-nesselwang.de
6 Wieskirche is free parking in front of Kloster Ettal.
Bavaria; 86989 FÜSSEN
About 5 km (3 miles) from Steingaden, 8 Ettal Gasthof zum Schwanen
in the district of Pfaffenwinkel Bavaria; 82488 inexpensive–moderate
(priest’s corner), lies the dazzling Ettal, about 4 km (3 miles) from This restaurant serves Schnitzel
along side regional specialities from
Rococo Wieskirche, a UNESCO World Oberammergau, was founded by Swabia and the Allgäu, including
Heritage Site. Com pleted in 1754 Ludwig IV of Bavaria. It is best known Maultaschen (Swabian ravioli) with
by German archi tect Dominikus for the Benedictine monas tery of Emmenthal and salad and Kässpatzen
Zimmer mann, this spectacular church Kloster Ettal, one of the most grand of (cheese-topped noodles) with roast
is a master piece of 18th-cen tury Bavaria’s Baroque abbeys. The domed onion and salad.
Brotmarkt 4, 87629; 08362 61 74;
southern German architecture. abbey church (open daily) assumed its closed Mon
ª Return to last junction, head east present form between 1744 and 1753,
and pass Schwaig. Turn right on to the when architect Joseph Schmuzer was OBERAMMERGAU
B23 for Oberammergau. There is free com missioned to com plete the fire- Benedikt’s & Vinothek expensive
parking near the tourist office. dama ged church. The interior is deco- Oberammergau’s most elegant
rated with Rococo stuccowork. hotel, Maximilian, is the setting for
Benedikt’s & Vinothek, an acclaimed
Oberammergau’s Passion Play ª Turn left from the western end of gourmet restaurant with excellent
Performed in the last year of each Ettal. Get on to Linderhof Strasse to Mediterranean cuisine. The hotel also
decade – the next is due in 2020 – Linderhof. Follow signs to the car park. has its own micro brewery, Maxbräu,
the Passion Play has its origins in a which serves classic Bavarian food.
promise made by the villagers in 9 Schloss Linderhof Hotel Maximilian, Ettaler Strasse 5,
1633 during the Thirty Years’ War. Bavaria; 82488 82487; 08822 94 87 40;
They pledged to perform a play www.maximilian-oberammergau.de;
about the life of Christ if God would In the early 1850s, Linderhof closed Sun & Mon
spare them from the plague that was was bought by the Bavarian King
ravag ing the surrounding district. Maximilian II. This mountain district
The play is still performed by locals appealed to his young heir, who
on an open-air stage in the town. later went on to become “Mad” King
During the years when the play Ludwig and was responsible for
is not being performed, it is still
possible to tour the Passionstheater. Schloss Linderhof (open daily). Set in
terraced gardens, between Ettal and
the Austrian border, Schloss Linderhof
7 Oberammergau was originally built by Ludwig II as a
Bavaria; 82487 hunting lodge for his father. It was
Renowned worldwide for its Passion transfor med into its current Neo-
Play, Oberammergau is also worth Rococo appearance by Georg
a visit for its lovely setting in the Dollmann between 1870 and 1872.
Ammergau Alps, its strong tradi tion ª Return to Ettal, turn right along
of handi crafts and woodcarving, and the B23, then right at Oberau to get
its south ern German charm. The on the B2 for Garmisch-Partenkirchen.
town’s houses are deco ra ted with Look out for signposted car parks in
some of the best Lüftlmalerei work Garmisch and in Partenkirchen.
Eat and Drink: inexpensive, under €20; moderate, €20–€40; expensive, over €40

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