44903SOU
Excursion
Neuschwanstein guided inside visit
Oberammergau free visit
· TM must pay 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 carts 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 has an entry time and tour number and the group must arrive at the turnstile at the time allotted to them; the ticket office will strictly enforce this policy and you will miss the visit if not on time.
· Be very strict with your TIMINGS
· Please check your vouchers. If an earlier or later castle entry is required call a couple of days in advance if possible. It is possible that you will reverse the day if an afternoon visit to Neuschwanstein has been booked.
TIMES & PROCEDURE
Munich – Schwangau 110km 1 hr 45 mins
Schwangau – Oberammergau 48km 1 hr
Oberammergau – Munich 86km 1 hr 30 mins
NEUSCHWANSTEIN PROCEDURE
08.00 Depart from Munich, take the A96 to Landsberg am Lech, turn off
through the town and follow the B17 via Schongau and Steingaden
towards Schwangau. The turn off is on the left about 1km before the
village, you should see the castle before then. This route passes
through typical Upper Bavarian countryside with farmhouses, lovely
villages and maypoles. An equally scenic route takes you on the A95
to Starnberg then on the B2, B472 and B17, this may take longer.
09.45 Arrive in Schwangau.
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 now 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 also free toilets up 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 carts 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.
14.00 Departure from Schwangau bus park. Take the B17 back the way you came but at Steingaden turn off towards the Ammerbrücke to join the B23 towards Oberammergau. En route it is possible to pay a short visit to the Wieskirche, a wonderful example of Bavarian rococo. If the group leaders are interested, the detour and visit only take about 25 minutes.
15.00 Arrival in Oberammergau.
Bus parking is generally available next to the Passionspielhaus and your driver can usually stay here. It also has the advantage of free, clean WCs located in the side of the building. They may however have to park at the large bus park on the edge of town, which is less ideal.
Apart from the celebrated passion play, Oberammergau is famous as a woodcarving centre. There are shops near the Passionsspielhaus and masses more, plus cafes and restaurants in the village. There are lots of examples of painted houses with religious themes and also well-known fairy tales.
You do not have a guided tour in Oberammergau, but you should show them the Passionsspielhaus and the main shopping street. Meet the group back at the bus.
16.00 Departure from Oberammergau. Take the B23 towards Garmisch-Partenkirchen. You pass the imposing Ettal monastery, rebuilt after a fire in Baroque style in 1744. It’s a Benedictine monastery and the monks make the famous Ettal liqueur. Shortly afterwards you will descend a steep valley to Oberau, with stunning views.
In the valley you join the B2 and soon afterwards the A95 Motorway towards Munich.
17.30 Arrive in Munich.