Grainau to Fussen – Zugspitze and Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany

Monday 4th November 2019
Well today is a day we have been working towards for a couple of days, hoping that we will have fine weather. The forecast was looking positive last night so we have our fingers crossed it was OK. And believe it or not we woke to clear blue sky. Yippee!!

After an early breakfast we headed to Eibsee to start our first adventure for today. The train to the peak of Mt Zugspitze (2964m) was closed so this time we went on the cable car all the way to the top. Something different for me which was great. We were on our first cable car to the top. It was a spectacular view from the cable car as it ascended on a very steep gradient. It is amazing how you stay upright when the cable is at such an incredible angle. Once at the top we decided to head down to the glacier. We put the first footprints in the powdery snow. It was a magnificent day, with the most incredible views. After walking around through the snow, up to the church and chatting with a tiny snowman. We headed back up to the top. It was -7°C and the wind chill was icy. What an amazing experience. You ca see the Austrian Alps, the Italian Alps, the Swizz Alps and out to Munich. The view today was incredible. We could see for miles and miles and miles. We couldn’t wipe the smiles off our faces as the forecast we have had for the last week was rainy and miserable. We have been so lucky. After a quick hot chocolate and cake, we headed back to ground level. It was amazing. The hour by hour forecast for today was clear from 8-10am, cloudy from 10-11 then fine again until 1pm. We thought they couldn’t know this but that is exactly the timing of the weather today. AMAZING!!

We then went for a walk around Eibsee (lake) which was very beautiful and in the sunshine now. We only walked part way 2.5km as we had a full day planned.

After our walk we headed to the Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau Castles at Schwangau. This became a challenge and added 1 hour extra to our drive due to roadworks. Pretty annoying but we did enjoy the extended beautiful drive around the lake to get there. These castles were amazing yet again. On Benny’s orders we caught the horse and cart most of the way to the top and then walked slowly the remainder. The Neuschwanstein castle is having a little restoration work but it is still magnificent. We also walked to the Marion Bridge and through the bush above it for an even better view of Neuschwanstein castle.

We then headed down the less travelled track to Hohenschwangau castle which I haven’t seen up close before. It seems a little like the poorer sister and was a little shabby. But amazing all the same. The down via the lake and back to the car. We had decided to stay in Fussen the night at the San Marco again. With the extended drive home 50mins instead of 5mins we arrived at the hotel, the restaurant downstairs was closed and there wasn’t anyone to contact. I tried calling the number on booking.com but got a message in Deutsche. I then walked around to the rooms but couldn’t find a note. I found an office but there was no answer to the knock on the door. I then went back downstairs and found a sign the said Gerschlossen Reparatur (Closed repair) with a phone number, which I called. Luckily our key was in the door and we were given our room number.

We have had an amazing day today. Yet again we had fantastic weather for a once in a lifetime opportunity. Lucky me has managed Zugspitze Peak twice now. Hopefully next time I can share it with my husband.

: It is very cold here in Grainau, I had to use the ice scraper to remove the ice from our windscreen.

: We have arrived on a beautiful day at the base of Mt Zugspitze. Not many cars in the carpark.

: Look at the time on the screen. Ready to catch the first cable car to the summit..

: The control centre .of the cable car

: On our way up with Eibsee on the left

: The cable cars take up to 120 people per trip with 4 trips per hour. That’s 500 per hour in peak times. Lucky for us it wasn’t so busy.

: This is the upshaft of poder snow when the wind gusts

: We were the first to put footprints in the snow this morning. Go girls!

: Looking out to the Swiss Alps

: The church at the glacier on Zugspitze

: View from inside the church

: The snow was so soft and powdery in some sections we sunk down to our shins. Thank goodness for hiking boots.

: Behind us is the Austrian/Italian Alps

: A very little snowman

: Outdoor cafe…

: It is not as cold on the glacier as at the summit.

: Our personal cable car driver from the glacier to the summit.

: We had a good conversation in limited German and English. I think we made his day.

: At the top looking at the summit.

: Oh so cold Brrrr!!

: This shows the via ferrata cable to the summit under snow. Not for me again today.

: Looking out the other side to Munich. We could see for miles in all directions today.

: Trying to keep warm.

: A short cut through the restaurant.

: A beautiful day at the top but as predicted the clouds moved in at 10am.

: It is so beautiful..

: This glass floor is in the foyer of the lift queue. As you do you move the dangerous sign aaway from the floor and sit on the glass for a photo. Or some people do anyway.