The Top 10 Sights in Bavaria

When you first catch sight of Neuschwanstein Castle in the distance, it will be hard to believe that such a feat of construction was possible more than 150 years ago. The commissioning of this castle, born of the imagination of King Ludwig II, earned him the nickname “the Fairy Tale King”. The magnificent building in Schwangau is one of the most famous sights in the world and of course should not be missing from this list.

A city like no other – that is what they say about many cities, but in the case of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, it is actually indisputable. Within the completely preserved city walls there is a complete medieval old town, with hardly any modernistic touches and architecturally appearing just as it did hundreds of years ago.

The second fantasy of the Fairytale King Ludwig II that was actually realized and appears in this list is the Herrenchiemsee Palace. Built on the largest island of the Chiemsee, the palace can only be reached by boat. However, the somewhat time-consuming journey is worth it: Both the gardens and the splendor of the halls and chambers are simply too good to be true.

From the Imperial Castle to the Pegnitz River, Nuremberg’s Old Town offers numerous sights. The most impressive ones, however, are the architectural influences of Romanticism, Gothic and Renaissance, which coherently flow into each other and underline the historical significance of the city. We would also be remiss if we didn’t mention the famous Christmas market.

Constructed in the 18th century, this Bavarian Benedictine abbey was built on a unique piece of land. To this day, it radiates a fascinating tranquility with its location at the entrance to the romantic Danube opening near Kelheim. Guided tours of Weltenburg Abbey are available on request, or you can enjoy the remoteness of the location on a hike along the Danube.

It is not an easy undertaking to choose just one sight in Munich. We decided on Nymphenburg Palace because along with the extravagant palace garden, it presents an incomparably royal appearance. No building in Bavaria embodies the Bavarian monarchy more than the famous summer residence of the Wittelsbach dynasty.

Würzburg is not short of historic landmarks either, but one in particular stands out – literally. The Fortress Marienberg was built about 100 meters above the Main in the years after 1200 and up to this day, it watches majestically over Würzburg’s city center. At night it appears like a beacon up high, and during the day you can see the vines on the fortress hill.

This sight is somewhat reminiscent of the Acropolis in Athens, but actually, the Walhalla in Donaustauf near Regensburg is based on norse mythology. Ludwig I had the impressive memorial hall built in the mid-19th century to honor important figures of the Germanic-speaking world.

If one would like to describe the Margravial Opera House in Bayreuth with only one word, “stunning” would be a very appropriate one. It is one of the few opera houses in Europe that was built before the French Revolution and has been preserved to this day. It has long been a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of the most popular attractions in Bavaria.

Referred to as the “Franconian Crown,“ this fortress dates back some 800 years. It is the largest castle complex in Germany in terms of surface area. The fortress is located at an altitude of 460 meters and can be seen from far away. Today, the massive walls conceal an impressive art collection consisting of glass art, paintings, sculptures and artifacts related to chivalry.