54905MUN
Route Marches
Neuschwanstein guided inside visit
· TM pays entrances. You will need a lot of cash or ACIS card.
· The group must be kept on a tight schedule today in order to fit all the visits in.
· Remember there is a lot of steep walking and steps at Neuschwanstein. Ensure the group leaders know this in advance and mention it tactfully to any potential stragglers beforehand. Mention also the horse buggies and the bus.
· You buy your tickets for Neuschwanstein in the central ticket office in Schwangau, you must be there -strictly- at least 90 minutes before your allotted entrance time! This is now the only place where tickets for Neuschwanstein (and Hohenschwangau) may be purchased.
· The ticket office will give the tour manager a free entrance ticket, but chop off the bar code so that you cannot use the turnstiles – you must show the ticket and your EOTA official ID card to be given entry. If you do not have one, and wish to go inside, buy yourself a ticket as part of the group.
· Remind the group that no inside photography is allowed.
· Keep the group punctual – each group will now get an entry time and tour number and the group must arrive at the turnstile at the time allotted to them; you may risk missing the visit if not on time.
· Be very strict with your TIMINGS
· Please check your vouchers. If earlier castle entries required call well in advance and hope they can accommodate your changes
OBERAMMERGAU
The coach can normally park at the side of the Passionspielhaus (where there are free public WCs at the side of the theatre). If the driver can’t wait there then arrange a rendezvous. Apart from the celebrated passion play, Oberammergau is also famous as a woodcarving centre. There are shops by the playhouse and many more plus cafes and restaurants in the village. There are also many examples of painted houses with religious themes as
well as well-known fairy tales. You do not have to give a guided tour but you should show them the Passionsspielhaus and the main shopping street. Arrange a meeting point and time.
NEUSCHWANSTEIN PROCEDURE
On arrival, ask your driver to drop you off at the ticket office while they take the group on to the coach park. Ask the group to wait for you there.
You must arrive at the ticket office least 90 minutes before your reserved tour time. If you are even one minute late the computer automatically releases your tickets to the general public and you may have to wait hours for another tour. The staff cannot do anything to change this!
Buy the tickets, find your bus and point out the pay toilets by the coach park – there are free toilets at the castle.
Make a very clear rendezvous for departure.
It is a long and very steep walk to the castle (20 – 30 min.).
If anyone is taking the horse buggies or bus then encourage them to get in line as soon as possible as split groups are always slower to get together. Arrange a meeting point at the entrance to the castle and remind them of your entry time.
Walk up the hill with your group. At the top wait in the castle courtyard until your tour number and entry time comes up. The tour of the castle lasts about 30 minutes. There is a multimedia show about Ludwig II which they can see free of charge after the tour. (Time permitting)
Your group will have time for souvenir shopping and lunch. As well as a café at the castle, there are cafes and restaurants on the hill and in the village.
For the energetic ones there is the chance to walk up the very steep hill to the Marienbrücke for the most spectacular views of the castle (only in summer). This can be slotted in before the visit, given the 90 minute gap between collecting tickets and the entry time.
LINDAU
The island town of Lindau is very small. Buses are now permitted to drop off and collect on the main island, outside the Inselhalle (GPS address: Zwanzigerstrasse 10). There are also pay WCs here. The driver must still park on the mainland. Walk the group through the walls to the market square and give free time for them to explore on their own and get lunch – there are plenty of cafes and restaurants. Most of the town is geared towards
pedestrians. The main street is Maximillianstrasse, the beautifully-decorated Town Hall is along here. You can also suggest the Uferweg – a lakeside walk around the west end of the island and recommend that they see the attractive harbour with the Lion of Bavaria statue.
