Do you ever get that feeling when you simply have to get and go somewhere? Well, I did last weekend. Our friends were talking about the possibility of going together, with a bigger group of friends, without the kids, for a short trip towards beautiful Salzburgerland and Berchtesgandenland. Sometimes, I can be quite impulsive, and this trip came more than at the right time. We needed a short break from all that had been going on at home.
Our first stop was Salzburg, a city full of history and so much to see and do. I have always liked it, but somehow, we never seem to find enough time to drive there.
Did you know that the original Mozart Kugeln was made in Salzburg, and there were even fights about the product name rights? Conditorei Fürst is the first one to produce these yummy chocolate treats. If you would like to read more about Mozart Kugeln here is a Wikipedia link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mozartkugel
When we go to Salzburg,I love to walk around and do people-watching. Like many other famous places,it is full of tourists now a days. There are still some wonderful off-beat places where you can get some sort of feeling of how real Salzburg can be.
After visiting downtown Salzburg, we headed towards Schloss Hellbrunn. Hellbrunn Palace is in Salzburg, Austria. It was built from 1613 to 1619 by Markus Sittikus von Hohenems, Prince-Archbishop of Salzburg, and named for the “clear spring” that supplied it.
Hellbrunn was only meant for use as a day residence in summer, as the Archbishop usually returned to Salzburg in the evening; therefore, there is no bedroom in Hellbrunn. So, pretty cool summer house??
A couple were taking their wedding pictures. Looked like a Turkish couple and a wedding. So beautiful!
From what it is really known from it, it’s jeux d’eau (water games). These games were conceived by Markus Sittikus, a man with a keen sense of humor, as a series of practical jokes to be performed on guests. Notable features include stone seats around a stone dining table through which a water conduit sprays water into the guests’ seats when the mechanism is activated and hidden fountains that surprise and spray guests while they participate in the tour. Be careful in the garden and have fun..
It is a great place to visit with kids. Just take an extra change of clothes with you and choose a warm day! Water comes from spring, and it is cold! Here are a couple of links to Schloss Hellbrunn:
It was time to get on our bus again. Now, we were heading towards Rossfeldpanoramastrasse and Eagles Nest. Actually, there’s not much to see from Eagles Nest anymore because the Allied Forces bombed it down to earth after the war was over. Kehlsteinhaus is worth visiting. This area is also known from the movie “Sound of Music.”
The road was really interesting and offered amazing views of Salzgammergut and Bayern.If you are into motorcycles, this would be one hell of a road to ride! There were lots of bends and curves.
http://www.berchtesgadener-land.com/home#
We left the mountains behind and headed towards Berchtesgaden. Very charming small city.Luggage into the hotel,shower, and dinner in a local brewery.
Hofbrauhaus Berchtesgaden has been brewing beer since 1645—not that long, but long enough. Baumgartner Brewery in my home city, Schärding am Inn, has been brewing beer since 1609 and is a relatively young brewery compared to Weihenstephan Brewery, which has been making beer since 768.
The food was traditional.Haxe,Bratl,Schnitzel etc..It was good but heavy. You went to the counter,pointed out what you wanted to eat, the chef made your plate, and you went to the cashiers to pay.
http://www.hofbrauhaus-berchtesgaden.de/
The next day, waking up was a bit tougher. Maybe it was due to the beer and wine consumed the night before.Well worth it. We had fun!
On Sunday, we took a short walk through the inner city of Berchtesgarden. It was lovely and so different from what I am used to seeing here in Innviertel.
After walk it was time to get into the bus again. We were heading towards Königssee. The Königssee is a natural lake in the southeast Berchtesgadener Land district of the German state of Bavaria, near the Austrian border. Most of the lake is within the Berchtesgaden National Park. Seeing the lake and SMELLING the water was like balsam for my soul. Coming from Finland, from the lake are I miss great lakes, the smell and the sound of waves.Water is my favorite element!
The lake is noted for its clear water and is advertised as the cleanest in Germany. For this reason, only electric-powered passenger ships, rowing, and pedal boats have been permitted on the lake since 1909. Passenger services along the length of the lake. There are two harbors where you can stop.From the harbors, you can make small hikes in the surroundings or just sit there and enjoy the marvelous views.
Then it was time to go home again..Perfect weekend. It just made me realize how many beautiful places there are around me in Austria and Germany. I do not need to travel far away for adventure and exotic places. All of that, is here..Looking forward to our next small break from everyday stress..I don’t know when it will happen but hopefully soon..
frommygardenintomykitchen.com 