by Adminblog | Dec 7, 2020 | Destinations
Oberammergau – a village in the German Alps
Oberammergau is a village in the Garmisch-Partenkirchen region and for sure one of the most famous one. It is after Garmisch the most important village in the region. The village is located in the Ammergauer Alps and known for it’s touristic importance.
The village of Oberammergau has a bit more than 5.500 inhabitants and is mostly know for their tourism destinations. With more than 400.000 tourists per year it is the most important industry for the region.
Located in the Ettal valley, formed by glaciers millions of years ago and surrounded by many mountains it allows to do many sports that are normally done in flat land, such as cross country skiing, etc. The area has also many natural highlights to be explored by hikers and people that just enjoy the mountains. Unfortunately due to its location in the middle of the mountains it is also one of the rainiest areas of Bavaria. Coming to Oberammergau is only possible by car, or bus, or with the small local train.
The easiest way to get there is with the train or car to Garmisch and then taking the turn to Ettl, or changing into buses to Oberammergau.
The nearest international airport is Munich, but there is also a small airport for private airplanes at Garmisch.
The village of Oberammergau is nowadays popular among all people for it’s passion plays, as well as for it’s woodcarver artists. Every ten years the passion plays are performed and wi unless there are any unforeseen events, such as wars, or Pandemic the passion play keeps a 10year distance between it’s performances. Close by are also two of the castles of King Ludwig: The Linderhof, King Ludwig’s only finished palace and not far from Oberammergau, in the Ettal valley, bedded in the middle of untouched nature and the Neuschwanstein palace, King Ludwig’s most famous palace, that also inspired Disney for it’s famous Disney palace.
In the winter time people come to this attractive village to experience the mountains for skiing, or learning to ski, or for cross country skiing and to enjoy the quietness of nature in a perfect winter wonder land.
Oberammergau shows the best of it’s culture and the bavarian faith. You will see numbers of wood carvers, one more talented than the other and almost all of them are happy to create a unique piece according to your ideas or wishes and by the many decorated houses that show the hundreds of years of history.
The first settlements in Oberammergau go most probably back to the time of the celts but there is no proven timing. The first proven settlement is from about 15 before christ, as there must have been a roman camp. The first proven settlements were from the 9th century after christ, as there was decided to make a abbey in the area of Oberammergau. In the 12th century the first church was constructed in the village of Oberammergau. In the 14th century the biggest abbey in the area, called Ettal was constructed and is until nowadays the most important one in the area. Since the 16th century the importance of the woods and the woodcarvers started to become one of the most important industries for the region. Besides that already the kings of Bavaria allowed here to charge taxes and controlled the hunting in this area.
In the 17th century, during the time of the 30years war the region and the village suffered very much by the traveling through of the imperial troops and by foreigners that settled in the area and occupied illegally land, as well as also tried to suppress the locals. For this reason the abbey of Ettal had a court until the 19th century.
In the year 1633 was the worst year as the imperial troops took everything that they could use, such as food, burning wood, wagons, etc and the black plaque arrived to the village. In this year over 80 people died due to the black plaque. The people had no idea what to do and found hope in the faith to god. This is the reason why the vow of a passion play was made if the village will overcome the black plaque. The first passion play was done in the following year of 1634. The passion play shows the last 5 days of the life of Jesus Christ. Since 1680 the passion play have been performed in a 10years’ rhythm. In the 20th century only two extra performances were made in the year 1934 and 1984 due to the 300 and 350th anniversary of the passion play. For 2034 another extra performance is already planned. Due to the pandemic of 2020, the passion play is postponed to 2022. The passion play allow only inhabitants from the village to be part of the performance. In the initial times all of the inhabitants were part of the stage, nowadays at least half of the inhabitants are involved, not only as actors but also everything around it. Since the 20th century the passion play has become also a political issue and therefore had to be changed several times. In 1960s the passion play had to be re-written because the Vatican approved that the jews were not the responsible people for the death of Jesus Christ. in the year 1990 the state of Bavaria decided that the actors have to be treated equally, meaning that married women and people of different religion must be given the chance to perform as well. In the passion play of 2020/2022 for the first time Jesus is performed by a muslim person, showing also the opening of the old traditions that only catholics and male inhabitants for already over 3 generations were allowed as actors. Each time before the performances huge discussions among the village happen and the tickets are sold out far in advance.
Since the year 1938 a military base has been in Oberammergau, hosting first the troops of the Wehrmacht, after the second world war the american troops and since the 1990s back to the German army and a big army facility was added. During the second world war a construction of Messerschmitt was constructed with more than 500 workers.
Nowadays tourism and the timber industry are the main industries, especially the performances of the passion play bring more than 500.000 tourist to village and is the biggest economical factor for the village.
Visiting the village of Oberammergau visitors will recognize the numerous wood carving artists, as well as the so called “Lüftlmalerei” on the houses in the center, showing the art of colored paintings on the house facades, mostly religious scenes and related to the passion plays. The name originated from the building, hosting the local museum, called Lueftl.
Tourists love the region for its natural beauty, as well as the quietness of nature and the traditional outlook of the village. New hotels are only allowed to be constructed if they follow traditional outlooks and if there are no over tourism happening. The area has as sights the abbey of Ettal, a show cheese factory and the palace of Linderhof and a mountain hut that has been constructed for the dream King LudwigII of Bavaria.
Tour Oberammergau, the Ettal and the King Ludwig castles
If you want to enjoy some great time in Oberammergau, book a tailor-made tour to Oberammergau with B(e)special Tours from Salzburg, or arrive directly in Munich, enjoy a city tour with our comfortable vehicles, enjoy a guided tour through the village of Oberammergau and continue a nice drive through Germany and see the palace of Linderhof. So if you are planning to come to Oberammergau, or if you want to do a tour to from Salzburg to the palace of Linderhof, Neuschwanstein (the Disney castle) and the village of Oberammergau then please do not miss a nice ride with b(e)special tours! It is fun for youngsters and the older ones and you can taste a lot of delicious typical Austrian dishes a! Enjoy the fascinating area of Oberammergau – Passion Play and history – with fresh ideas, food and a lots of fun – bespecialtours!
by Adminblog | Nov 24, 2020 | Culture
Salzburg during the second lockdown
A city trying to live during the pandemic
The following Text is a very personal statement from Gerlinde Maria Praher-Schneck, it is not a political or science post
If you now go through the streets of Salzburg, it feels uncomfortable. It is nearly empty, the shops are mainly closed in the main shopping Area of Salzburg Oldtown.
Since Tuesday we have a second lockdown due to COVID-19 Pandemic. But it is not the same like it was in March 2020. Very less people here are actual following the rules. They now know the tricks to go out even there is restriction of moving outside the own apartments or houses. It is allowed to go for a walk or doing sports. So the main people who were following the rules in spring are now going out like they ever did, washing their cars at the carwash, going to the supermarket to shop or just being out in nature or on the mountains.
What I personally miss is the “together we make it!” sense, which was here at the beginning of the year. In my personal opinion it gets more and more egoistic – as long as I am not infected, what should I longer smaller down my personal life.
We have three little kids, which grow up now in a world of face masks. My 3year one will not touch me, while wearing a mask – and of course she does not understand. She is not able to go to a childhood garden, as these are open – but it is just possible to bring her to the door and everyday you cannot be sure, that it is open longer. She miss playing with others or just the visit of her godmother and their son. I do not want to grow up my kids in this times. But they are here no – and the pandemic is.
It would be great to find a solution to life with – only vaccine will be for sure not the solution. It is very difficult for all the politics to find solutions and then being shouted by the other parties to do it wrong. In my opinion there is no right or wrong. It just should be a way to become comfortable and find a way to life all together with COVID-19.
We miss the tourists here in Salzburg, they always were a part of the city background of Salzburg. And we personally miss also travelling. The world changed. We will have to find a new way to handle with.
Perhaps we all share similar thoughts, perhaps completely different ones. It is all okay, the only thing I would bet – don’t forget – it is one World and we are all living in the same world.
winter in Salzburg!
Together we will make the tourism great again and are looking forward a nice new year, welcoming lots of guests again!
by Adminblog | Nov 10, 2020 | Culture, Tailor made tours from Salzburg
Cuckoo Clocks from Germany – a unique and traditional clock from the black forest
Traditionally the most famous cuckoo clocks come from the back forest area in Germany. Traditionally they are still made with all the experience and hand craft of the south western part of Germany.
The cuckoo clocks have many years of traditions and the noise has been so much perfected to come as close as possible to the real ones in nature.
The cuckoo clocks are not only a tool to see the clock but also should reflect the traditions, stories and experiences of the region.
a long-time tradition and development
The cuckoo’s clock tradition is for Germany some tradition that shows tradition at it’s best and stands for german preciseness and unvieled German coziness.
The cuckoo clock has been originated in the area of Schonach, where people live since the middle of the 18th. Century only from the cuckoo clock’s production. When it was developed the cuckoo clock had two advantages: 1. the clock worked for much more time than other traditional clocks and instead of ringing a bell, a cuckoo comes out to wake you up and telling you that another hour has passed. the inside of a cuckoo clock worked in the most traditional way and still does: The whole wheels and mechanism is made out of wood. The cuckoo clock’s nice producer is still made in the same way: a sound chamber out of wood and bellows with a paper air bulk to make the noise. The basic idea was to make a rooster to wake up the people and the servants in the morning to make sure that they start working on time on the fields. Since the kicker sound was not possible to make, the clock makers decided to just use two pipes and producing the typically sound of the cuckoo.
A typical cuckoo clock is made out of wood and shows the best preciseness that Germany has to offer.
purists swear that the cuckoo clock has to stay the same way as already over 250years ago. One of that producer has decided to make the mechanic open for everybody and just simply decided to make a cuckoo clock in an XXL version. It became the world’s biggest cuckoo clock, as big as a normal single family home.
The clock is as interesting and dark as the german history, decorated with latin numbers, oak wood, antlers, etc. Inside the mechanic is all made in wood and shows how a traditional black forest cuckoo clock has to be.
At each hour an 80 kilo cuckoo bird comes out and makes the typical sound.
Find below the pictures of the world’s biggest cuckoo clock, with an inside picture of the size and mechanic.
Therefore it has the risk of all the traditions: The best times are over but how do you make a classic still work and innovate in order to be still considered traditional. A classic will also work but can it be transformed also into the newest times?
There are nowadays several versions: 1st: the original one without any fancy new additions; 2nd: the ones made with moving figures and extra sound; 3rd the ones made out of quartz and just need a battery, also there you can have them with moving figures or not.
The world is changing and people changed their houses and also the cuckoo clock. There are now versions that are totally transparent, versions in light neon colors, or silver deer, etc.
Not everybody agreed with it but the main fact has to stay the same: The cuckoo noise and also the mechanic has to still work with the same principals, just more precise, etc than it was hundreds of years ago. The 150 single pieces still work in the same manner with a chain and weights at the end. The mechanic does not need any electronic or batteries. A normal movement has to work between 5-8 days and can last even longer without having to rewind it by pulling the weights the opposite way (one on top, the other one below). The gravity does the rest and is therefore very much eco friendly, as plastic and also lots of chemical is not used.
Nowadays the innovations show also that the tradition is still alive. It should not only show like a typical Grimm fairytale with wolfs and dark and dangerous forests but reflects the positivity of Germany: friendly and achieving sport success, as well as economical success. Around the cuckoo clock there has been lately another hype again but only the outside of the clock changes but the inside is still as traditionally as a german tradition can be and who knows what the future brings.
Drive with us up to the black forest and see why fairytales and cuckoo clock comes from here. See a factory and see the tradition and the new innovations. We are looking forward to meet you here in Salzburg. Best regards and a good travel Be Special Tours!
by Adminblog | Oct 26, 2020 | Destinations, Tailor made tours from Salzburg
Innsbruck – a city in the heart of the Alps
Innsbruck is the main city of the region called Tyrol in Austria. It is the 5th biggest city in Austria and has a big university with over 30.000 students. The city is located in the Inn valley (that goes from the Arlberg area toward Germany / Bavaria). Innsbruck is surrounded by mountains and has in north the Nordkette, part of the Karwendel mountains and in the south the line central mountains with the Patscherkofel mountain. It is therefore also seen a one of the most interesting alpine towns as it is surrounded by mountains that can be as beautiful as imagined on clear days and as threatening as possible during cloudy days. The city of Innsbruck is in the valley at an altitude of 1.880 ft. above sea level and is surrounded by mountains that are over 7.800ft. above sea level. Therefore it is considered to be in the heart of the alps. In the south the Brenner pass is one of the most important passes in the alps where already roman troops and others traveled over to get to the area north of the alps. Through the Inn valley most people traveled then on to the area of Rosenheim, where the valley opens then to more smooth hills to the north, east and west. there is also a pass towards the north but historically not as much used. Nowadays if you come by train to Innsbruck from Munich or Italy, you will either go through the inn valley, or over the Brenner pass to get to Innsbruck.
Also an airport has been opened in Innsbruck but only with a special training pilots are allowed to land due to the thermal winds that happen some few times at this airport.
The city of Innsbruck is nowadays popular among all people that are interested in winter sports. Innsbruck was also for two times location of the winter olympic games and holds within the city area every year the world cup of ski jumping. A very thrilling event.
In the summer time people come to this attractive city to experience the mountains very close by and to reach up to the mountains by cable car, funicular, car and hiking. Another attraction is definitely to see also the mountain zoo of Innsbruck were rare animals of the alps are shown.
Innsbruck also brings you back in time with many attractions and historically buildings that show you the importance of Innsbruck in former times. One of the most important building in the town is the city’s landmark: The golden roof.
The first settlements in Innsbruck go back to 3.000 years ago when settlements were found around the center of Innsbruck. The romans arrived at about 15 before christ to make there a military station against invaders. It was only destroyed then in the 7th century. The main church of Tirol was located at Brixen in South Tyrol which used to be part of Tyrol until the first World war when the southern part of Tyrol (including most parts of the Dolomites) became Italy and the area of Tyrol was separated. Innsbruck itself has the first proofed settlement at the beginning of the 12th century when also the first bridge over the Inn River was established in Innsbruck, therefore also the name of the bridge over the Inn. Since the 13th century the city right has been given to Innsbruck and soon the connection to the Habsburg family was given. This meant for the city a very strategically position since everybody that passed over the Brenner from Italy, or that needed to go to Italy had to pass the bridge at Innsbruck and tolls were the biggest income for the city. Therefore already in the 15th century the golden roof has been constructed to show also the richness of the city.
This meant also that in the 16th century the biggest military base in Austria has been established to prevent foreign armies to invade the area. Also by that time the beginning of the postal system has been established together with the family Tassis from Italy to send letter and announces into the Habsburg empire by horse riders and knights. Members of the family Tassis married then into the german house of Thurn and became then the inventors of the postal system as we know it nowadays.
Since the 19th century the railway through the Inn valley is operating and connect Woergl, Kufstein, Innsbruck with Germany and since the end of the 19th century also over the Brenner pass and the Arlberg mountain to Switzerland.
The 20th century leaded to drastically changes in Innsbruck: After the first world war Tyrol was divided in North tyrol, South Tyrol and led to a lot of people that fled from south tyrol to Innsbruck where they found new places to stay. After the second world war Innsbruck was under the rule of the Americans that helped to rebuild the city, the university and the airport. Already in 1948 the first helicopter for search and rescue was placed in Innsbruck and it is until nowadays the most important station of these helicopters within the alps.
In 1964 and 1976 Innsbruck was the place where the olympic winter games have taken place. Still nowadays some stadiums and locations can be found, even if adapted to nowadays times. The winter sport plays still the most important role in the area. Skiing areas are very close by and all famous skiing or snowboard brands are sold in the locations. Another very famous company in this area is Swarovski in the nearby Wattens where also a museum can give more inside about the factory, history and products.
Innsbruck is famous for its touristically area being directly in the middle of Northern tyrol with all famous ski resorts within the area. Innsbruck is the center of the trading in the area and on the main road to get from north to south in Europe. One of the biggest industry in Innsbruck has been the production of Loden (made of thick, water-resistant woolen material with a short pile). Nowadays the production is still going on but not any more so important as it used to be. Besides that the city of Innsbruck hosts many hospitals, university students and international tourists. Tourism is the biggest income for the city and lots of efforts are done to keep everything clean, safe and nice so that many more tourists come to this region. The importance that Innsbruck used to have is shown in all the beautiful buildings in the city and also by the summer residences of the Habsburg family, like castle of Ambras, the Hofburg of Innsbruck, the golden roof, an the castle of Hungerburg (getting there by funicular). Visitable at any time is also the skiing jump that holds the world cup within the city and the alpine zoo in the north of Innsbruck which hosts one of the finest collection of alpine animals within the alps and which is the highest zoo (at about 2.250 ft. above sea level) in Europe. Each year lots of sportive events take place in the winter time in Innsbruck, such as the world cup for ski jumping, the air & Style contest, a snowboard jump contest and the world cup of sledging in the ice track of Innsbruck.
Innsbruck‘s heritage
Innsbruck is nowadays not only the heritage of it’s own history but also is a town directly within the heart of the alps. You can see that mountains and sports are so close and still it is on the main traffic route between north and south and from Switzerland to the eastern part of Austria. It is to show how impressive mountains are and can be combined so perfectly with a city in the middle of the Inn valley, where you can explore the history of the winter olympic games and other mountain sports. But do not miss out to visit the city not only in the heart of the old town but also from one of the surrounding mountains, like the Berg Isl, the Hungerburg funicular, or the Norkettenbahn. Visit Innsbruck and learn a lot of this city – history and fascinating stories of traditions, mountains and nature – bespecialtours!
Innsbruck city tours and Innsbruck tour
If you want to enjoy some great time in Innsbruck, book a private tour to Innsbruck with B(e)special Tours from Salzburg, or arrive directly in Munich, enjoy a city tour with our comfortable vans, enjoy a guided tour through the town of Innsbruck and continue a nice drive through Germany and Austria. So if you are planning to come to Innsbruck, or if you want to Visit the city of Innsbruck and the Inn river valley and the alp’s mountains coming from Salzburg then please do not miss a nice ride with b(e)special tours! It is fun for youngsters and the older ones and you can taste a lot of delicious typical Austrian dishes a! Enjoy the fascinating city of Innsbruck – Innsbruck and history – with fresh ideas, food and a lots of fun – bespecialtours!
by Adminblog | Oct 22, 2020 | First time visiting Salzburg, Tailor made tours from Salzburg
The Ferdinand Porsche Museum calles Fahr(T)raum in Mattsee, Salzburg
There is a great and new museum in the area: The Fahr(T)raum, north of Salzburg shows you the innovation and the most famous creations of Ferdinand Porsche.
We are sure you that everybody who likes vehicles, or is a fan of innovations and some great memories will love this place. It is a place for young and more mature “children”, or just a feast for the inner child to get ideas and how to realize them.
a fascination of technique, Innovation and Creations
The Fahr(T)raum in Mattsee combines many things: One of the first car creation from Ferdinand Porsche, to trucks and tractors that he developed, as well as his creations of cars during the first and second world war and the different milestones of Ferdinand Porsches innovation’s career. You will discover many new things and aspects about this innovative man and learn definitely a lot.
Ferdinand Porsche was born in 1875 and moved to Vienna where he went to a higher technical school and participated at some lectures (without being inscribed to the University) at the technical University go Vienna. He learned there some basics and tried immediately to put it into practice. Already in 1893 he worked for an electrical company in Vienna and his career developed quickly. He started to develop already the first hub engine and patented it in 1896. In 1899 he worked for the Lohner company where he developed the Lohner Porsche, the first electrical car, the first 4wheel drive and the first hybrid car. In 1906 he moved to Austro Daimler where developed the first passenger cars, flight engines and sportive cars. In 1908 he won the first reliability race and many sportive cars until 1923 when he moved to Daimler Mercedes in Stuttgart where he even became part of the board of Directors. In 1928 he dropped out of Mercedes Daimler and opened his own construction and design office. During the second world war he developed the KdF car which was also used for the VW beetle and the collaboration continues until in 1946 he decided to construct with his son Ferry the first Porsche, the model 356 in Austria. He remained in Austria while his son founded the Porsche company in Stuttgart. He died in 1951 and was buried in the family estate in Zell am See, close to Salzburg.
The museum shows a long history, has many installations with more background and side exhibitions of the history and achievements of Ferdinand Porsche.
opening of the Fahrtraum museum in Mattseee by Ernst and Elisabeth Piece
The fascination of antique cars and machines
The exhibition of these cars is in an old storage hall but will be also added for a new exhibition space to show also the airplanes and the engines that Ferdinand Porsche developed. The most surprising part for us is to see that many technologies that we are now selling as new ideas have already existed and have been developed. Nowadays we have evolved some of the achievements of Ferdinand Porsche but in the basis it is still the same. The Hub engine are used in the formula1 but who know if that is also coming back in future cars.
But the museum does not only show the innovations of Ferdinand Porsche, also besides cars but has one of the biggest collection Porsche tractors and also some of the trucks that Ferdinand Porsche has helped. Besides the machines and cars there are many things to entertain also the younger, or remained younger guests with a live race of vintage cars, one of the biggest public Carrera race track to play with and to experience the fascination of mobile technology.
The Fahr(T)raum at Mattsee also offers a unique experience for most of the museums: You can also book a drive around the lake district area with one of the antique cars to experience how driving was in former times. The roads were unfortunately not as good as we have them nowadays but the experience of driving on nowadays roads with an antique car is unique and definitely special. You will also experience and see some of the best picture spots of the northern lake district area of Salzburg.
Come and experience a unique museum and get inspired for innovations and new technologies. Maybe you will also see that the boarder of not developing a new thing is mostly our imagination and not the possibility to create something new. A dream can also be to just not growing up and keeping the toys or to create something lasting for the next generations.
Before the exit there is the possibility to enjoy a coffee in the cafeteria or to enjoy the library and looking through one of the books that bring you closer of how other people realized their dreams or their innovations.
Enjoy the world of Ferdinand Porsche and experience the drive with one of the antique cars: feel, smell and touch it.
Drive with us to Mattsee during a day tour from Salzburg and enjoy the tour with the combination f the Hanger7 and enjoy a pastry and soft drink on one of the nicest locations of the lake district area of Salzburg: The historical palace of Fuschl. Learn more about what Salzburg has to offer besides the town and it’s movie and musical history. We are looking forward to meet you here in Salzburg, or Austria. Best regards and a good travel Be special Tours!
by Adminblog | Oct 18, 2020 | Destinations, Tailor made tours from Salzburg
Vienna – the capital of Austria
Vienna is for sure one of the most various, biggest, musical and interesting cities in Austria. As the capital of Austria it has at the moment almost 1,9 mil residences, it is the biggest city of Austria and almost 1/4 of the inhabitants of Austria live in Vienna. It is the cultural, economical and political center of Austria. Apart from being the City of Music, it is also considered to be the city of dreams since the psycho analytic Freud lived and worked in this town.
Vienna is known for it’s quality of life. Since 2005 it has always been in the top 3 ranking of one of the most “alit of Life” surveys and was also ranked by the economist Intelligent Unit as the second most livable city in the world. The reason is very simple explained: You will find Vienna as one of the most “green” city, with lots of parks, lots of wood and is surrounded by the “Wienerwald”, the viennese wood that also used to be the hunting area for kings and queens. One of the most important part is the drinking water quality of Vienna. Every now and then you will find free water supplies. The water comes from the nearby “Semmering” mountain area and support’s Vienna with fresh mountain water. This is also the reason why it tastes so well. Working and recreation can be perfectly combined within the city. If you like to go for a walk, Vienna offers a big variety of parks within the city center and even more in the outskirts. If you like to run the parks give a great opportunity, otherwise next to one of the Danube arms. In vienna is more than one river. First of all you have the Wien river, where there is limited possibility to run and cycle. Then you have the danube canal, where you can find also a swimming pool on a ship, bars and lots of young people partying during the evenings, the old danube (very clean and a nature protected area where you can even search for animals that are on a protected list), the Danube and the new Danube. So if this is not enough of water, then there is even the possibility to take a hike through vineyards and nice views over the city from the viennese highroad (Höhenstrasse), next to the Hotel Kobenzl and for miles along the hills.
Vienna is also surrounded by vinyards and therefore is one of the only capital cities in the world that produces wine within the city boundaries. With this matter it is a perfect combination of nature, wine, work and freetime. You have to try one of the wines in one of the typically local places the so-called Heuriger. There you can interact with locals but can also enjoy your time with music, nice food and excellent wine.
Besides that Vienna welcomes you with the highlights of history, art and music. With most of the galleries in the city centers, it is the art capital of central Europe. Besides that also a lot of history welcomes you in Vienna and for sure not to forget the music. In vienna is every day another concert. It is just the difficulty of choice because too many choices of high quality concerts, from the Vienna boy’s choir, to the Spanish horse riding schools (with it’s Lipizaner), to the Vienna Opera house, you will find Vienna as the capital of classical music of the world. So why not stay some more days in order to feel the choice of this town. Get information about concerts prior t make sure to have a reservation.
Vienna is therefore a highlight of your Europe trip and to see more about this town. The history of this town is so amazing. Once in the 17th century Austria was the biggest country of the world. The Habsburg family ruled over this country for centuries. It was a mix of all different cultures, Slavic, Germans, Italians, etc. and still it worked well until the beginning of the first world war. Sure that in between there were always some rivals and problems but all in all the city was always in the center of the empire and therefore shows also it’s importance in the architectural style, in the buildings and the history that can be found at almost every street corner of the city. The St. Stephan’s cathedral and the cemetery under it’s fundaments where a lot of “ghost stories” took place, to the burial area where the Habsburg’s rulers have been buried (in the Kapuziner Kruft), through one of the most prestigious roads “the Graben”, which used to be once upon a time the middle aged city protection walls to the Hofburg, the imperial palace which was contructed over centuries and hosts nowadays the national library of Vienna, the offices of the Opec, the Sissi Museum where you can find how the emperor and his wife lived in this winter palace and ruled there. Also attached is the spanisch hors riding school, one of the greatest and finest horse training schools in the world. The Lipizaner horses are all white horses and the horse riders are training with the horses for years before preforming in the horse riding school to see what the horses can do and the combination of music. Once upon a time they were the elite of the Austrian Army and showed what the horses can do but soon it turned into a tradition and is nowadays known as the finest school and seen as an art. Also in the Homburg you will find the treasury of the Habsburg empire. The treasury not only hosts the crown of the holy roman empire but also the tooth of St. John the baptist, pieces of the cross of jesus, etc. You will have to see it in order to believe or not to believe and to judge by yourself. But next to the Homburg you will find the two most important museums of the City: The nature museum with one of the biggest collections of nature worldwide and the museum of art. It is one of the most important collection of art in the world and well-known by a lot of art lovers around the world. Do not miss to see also the “Secession”, next to it where Gustav Klimt used to have a work-room there. The pictures of Klimt can be seen nowadays in the “upper Belvedere”, a former summer residence from a nobel person and is just some few stops by streetcar from the famous opera building away. It is always a highlight to see it and to enjoy it because the art and the location is a perfect location.
Also Music can be found at all times in Vienna. The greatest classical music composers lived in this town and worked there. Haydn, Beethoven, Mozart, Strauss, etc. all lived and composed in Vienna. Their pieces are played all around the world and some centuries ago it was the capital of music in the world. Still Music plays a very big role in the Austrian history and in the Vienna’s every day life. Operas and classical music concerts take place almost every day. You just have to take a choice which music pleases you most. The locations are all stunning and the quality of music is always on a very high level. But also in a Viennese every day life music plays a role. As a child it is nothing unusual to learn at least one instrument in school and even already in Kindergarten. As a teenager the “dancing school” is taking place, in which manners and classical and modern dances will be tough to teenagers. It is nothing unusually in Vienna and Austria and latest at one of the “Balls” they can perform and dance with everybody. One of the highlights of Vienna is the “Opera Ball” at which the State opera house becomes one of the biggest dance floors in the world and all the VIPS and wannabes of Vienna and Austria will show off and enjoy a great evening.
So even nowadays music, dance and art fits perfectly together in this setting of Vienna. Historical buildings are open and just wait to be explored. Even if you do not want to pay entrance fees but just seeing also some of the state offices (which are open to the public) show the old style and history of this city. High ceilings and wooden floors are almost every day. Architectures will be interested in seeing the architectural combination of centuries of different styles all together combined with modern art architecture, and also extravagant architecture, like the architecture of Hunderwasser who created several buildings and sights within the city area but also some classical architectural and Design elements, like the famous chairs of Thonet that can be still found in most of the Viennese coffee houses.
The Viennese coffee culture is a culture by it’s own. You will find all different coffees in them, offered mostly by waiters and waitresses all dressed up in black and white. They will offer you the daily newspaper to read there and you will see that when ordering a coffee, you will always get a glass of water. The reason why this water is there, is a bit open of discussions. Some say it is to alway have the taste, like the first zip of the coffee, some say that since coffee dehydrates, you need to drink water and others say that this way the coffee does not taste so strong. But it is a must to try it and you can even then sit in coffee houses where already Freud, composers, politicians and others have taken their coffee. You will be taken the orders by waiter for the drinks and then another waiter passes with cakes to choose from.
You have not been in Austria, if you have not tried the pastries, already a famous composer mentioned. One of the most famous pastry is the apple strudel, that can be found all over Austria and the world famous Sacher Torte, which is a chocolate cake with a layer of apricot marmalade (which adds the calories in the cake, since chocolate does not have any calories.).
Vienna reflects the Austrian culture very well and shows you how old traditions can be combined and still make workable together. The heritage of the monarchy, the best collections of Art and science and also the amazing music are all combined with nice scenery, architecture and played-back culture in Vienna. No other capital city of the world seems to work well, precise and without all the big stress of capital cities. All this symphony works together. Also because throughout the history it has been always a melting pot of different cultures and ethnical backgrounds and it still works together. Over the history sure problems occurred but now it seems as all of the ethnically groups and different cultures seem to live together in peace and without any problems. Austria is a neutral country and therefore organizations like the United Nations love to be here. Furthermore also other organizations have seats in Vienna because this way they can held they discussions on a neutral ground and can work in harmony together without any politically or other influence.
Vienna’s heritage
Vienna is nowadays not only the heritage of it’s own history but also a mirror of how this enormous country was all combined in this city. Architecturally, naturally, art wise, music wise and all other forms of expressions. It is also nowadays a symbol of how ethnically groups and cultures can all live in one place and therefore is so much loved by a lot of people and is constantly increasing from the number of inhabitants. It is a perfect harmony of music, culture, palaces, wine, parks and nature. Visit Vienna and learn a lot of this city – history and fascinating stories of music, politics, kings and queens, bishops and vines – b(e)specialtours!
Vienna city tours and Vienna tour
If you want to enjoy some great time in Vienna, book a private tour to Vienna with B(e)special Tours from Salzburg, or arrive directly in Vienna, enjoy a city tour with our comfortable vans, enjoy a guided tour through the town of Vienna and continue a nice drive through Austria. So if you are planning to come to Vienna, or if you want to visit the city of Vienna and the cities along the drive coming from Salzburg then please do not miss a nice ride with b(e)special tours! It is fun for youngsters and the older ones and you can taste a lot of delicious typical Austrian dishes and of course a lot of Beer! Enjoy the fascinating city of Vienna – Vienna and history – with fresh ideas, food and a lots of fun – bespecialtours!
by Adminblog | Oct 12, 2020 | Destinations
The town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber
Rothenburg takes you back into time. Some people say that this city even seems to be the ideal cities where fairytales are alive. Once upon a time this town the rivers where the main trading routes in Europe and even if it was a small river, the river of Tauber, it helped to travel from the south to the north. Already the roman road was passing by this village. In the 16th century roads were built around the Tauber’s valley and then nobody was interested to pass by this small city and fell a very big sleep. This “sleeping beauty” slept and slept and got more and more forgotten. Only in the 19th century, during the time of romanticism some artists suddenly passed by this city and started to see the beauty of a fully-intact middle-aged city. Immediately started to write stories about it. After the first world war Germany wanted to attract more and more tourists into the country and started to create touristic routes. One of them was the “romantic road” of Germany and the other very famous one is the “fairytale road”.
With this invention of the roads, the city was waken up from it’s “sleep” by “prince tourism” and the city started to see a new industry of tourism.
Even if in the second world war by accident some parts of the city have been destroyed and no money was there to help the city building up the major of the city cam up with a very creative idea: Why not ask the allied troops to help us. Unfortunately none of them wanted to help them and so the major came up with another idea:
He asked the troops to distribute a special spot on the radio to buy a virtual “meter” of the city wall. As a reward the city of Rothenburg will put up a small mark on the wall who contributed to rebuilt the city walls. This tradition is still going on and is done specially for couples that are getting married in the town of Rothenburg.
Rothenburg is a fascinating city. It brings you back in time. When you want to see how the life in the middle ages was. By walking through the town, besides the touristically streets, you will see courts and yards where you see history totally alive. You will see the different religions, different ideas and different classes lived in a very tiny place. You will explore half-timbered houses, crawl up the old city tower and see views over this old city with it’s towers, and castle like walls.
But also you can see and explore more about this medieval lifestyle during one of the events of the community when medieval music is going to be played, when medieval costumes are shown and the medieval crafts and traditions are going to be shown alive.
Besides that you can also explore the medieval torture museum. One of europe’s finest collection is held there about the medieval rights and what was an evil thing to do. From ways to separate and finish fights between women, to musicians that did not play nicely, to men that were drinking too much and women that did not stay faithful to their men. People at that time were very creative and did invent all kind of things to make their rules and torture others. The laws in each city differed and treated in a different way. See the tools they used and see this dark chapter in the cellars of Rothenburg.
One of the highlights will be to take a walk of the city walls. Not only it shows how people wanted and needed to defense themselves but also it is specially in autumn a highlight to see the nearby vineyards, grapes and the autumn leaves change their color and make the whole region in a colorful combination with the red-roofed houses of Rothenburg a perfect combination.
Rothenburg reflects the German culture very well and brings you back in time. It also explains a lot about some of our nowadays sayings, when you realize that one of the warmest rooms in former times was under the roof, even in winter. So cats and dogs where staying up there, enjoying the heat. When it rained the tiles of the roofs became very slippery and thus came the saying from it is “raining cats and dogs”. In Rothenburg you will realize much more of those saying and you will also learn about how Christmas is going to be celebrated in Germany. Since one of the most famous shops in Germany has it’s headquarter in Rothenburg: “Käthe Wolfahrt” and inside the shop you will find the first and biggest christmas museum of Germany. After visiting it you will go through the shop, which is a museum y itself and coming out you will realize that the atmosphere reflects what you just saw and that christmas is really alive in Rothenburg. Already many many years ago, people needed a special day in the winter time to enlighten their houses, their souls and their mind. Christmas was celebrated and therefore made this rough and dark period of the year a bit sweeter and nicer for people to go through.
Rothenburg‘s heritage
Rothenburg is nowadays not only the heritage of it’s own history but also a mirror of how medieval history can be brought alive. You will see also throughout the church history where you will find one of the best examples of wood made altars with the blood ofJesus inside and you can see that faith, strength, joy and sadness was close by each other in such a small place. But do not miss out to try one of the local vine and take the time to see also the surrounding city walls and Tauber valley, where you can explore how well this city is set in it’s surrounding. Visit Rothenburg and learn a lot of this city – history and fascinating stories of medieval time, christmas and vines – bespecialtours!
Rothenburg city tours and Rothenburg tour
If you want to enjoy some great time in Rothenburg, book a private tour to Rothenburg with Bespecial Tours from Salzburg, or arrive directly in Munich, enjoy a city tour with our comfortable vans, enjoy a guided tour through the town of Rothenburg ob der Taube and continue a nice drive either through Germany, or Austria. So if you are planning to come to Rothenburg, or if you want to Visit the city of Rothenburg and the romantic road coming from Salzburg then please do not miss a nice ride with bespecial tours! It is fun for youngsters and the older ones and you can taste a lot of delicious typical Austrian dishes and of course a lot of Beer! Enjoy the fascinating city of Rothenburg – Rothenburg and history – with fresh ideas, food and a lots of fun – bespecialtours!
by Adminblog | Oct 6, 2020 | Destinations
Hallstatt Saltmines – with the oldest staircase of the world
About 90 minutes away from the city of Salzburg you’ll find something very special in this area: In the lake district area you can find the village of Hallstatt, an old celtic city, where it is possible to visit the oldest operative salt mine of the world. The village is settled right on the side of the Hallstatt lake and the mountain of Salzberg. Already over 7.000 years ago salt has been mined there. Still nowadays it is an active salt mine and visible. So go back in time where the mountain still holds many secrets.
Salzwelten – salt mine Hallstatt
Already before getting to the salt mines of Hallstatt you will enjoy a great ride with the funicular to the “Rodolfsturm” where you can enjoy a great view over the lake and village of Hallstatt. Visit the platform and be 900ft. over the mountain and village of Hallstatt. Then enjoy a nice walk to the entrance of the Hallstatt salt mines.
Here in Hallstatt you enter the mine over the Cristina tunnel one which was opened the 18th century. But there has been already another entrance over 7000 years ago. At the beginning you will walk over 600feet into the mountain and over 250ft. under the earth where the mine opens up and you get over the first slide to a lower level of the mine. The mine has all together over 21 floors of which only 3 are visible through the tour. Then the history surrounds you. Enter into a world that has been established already over 200 Mio. years ago. But not only this.
You will discover different types of Salt stones. In this mine we have one of the highest concentration of salt in the stones. The salt stones contain up to 90% of salt. With a normal bulb it is possible to see all different colors of stone.
One of the most impressive thing to see is the slat lake. This helps to get the salt out of the stone and creates a salt brine, containing over 28% of salt – more any sea water – and enjoy the experience to see the celtic figures and structures. Go away from rain or fog outside and relax in a very well air conditioned and salty area.
And then come to the most impressive station in this mine: See the oldest staircase of the world, very well preserved by the salt and see the real staircase that dates back already to 1400bc.
Of course, they have some more surprises for you, which I will not mention here. Be sure, the guides are personal and individual and in english language you can enjoy the tour with funny correspondence without an audio guide. Best regards and a nice trip with B(e)specialtours! See you in the mine!
by Adminblog | Sep 21, 2020 | Destinations
The royal King Ludwig’s castle of Neuschwanstein
The royal castle of Neuschwanstein was for King Ludwig II already as a child an important station. During his childhood he often came here because his father was the owner of the castle of Hohenschwangau. The medieval castle of Vorder- and Hinterschwanstein dates already back to the 11th century. Since the 15th century the castle of Hohenschwangau became more and more important. The old castles were only ruins. King Ludwig II went often to this castle to enjoy th view and to play there. Many hikers used the ruins as a destination and visitor’s platform over the area. After becoming the king of Bavaria, King Ludwig II decided to reconstruct what was left of the ruins and to make it to a medieval castle and into the ideal of a Knight’s castle. Together with the Linderhof palace in the style of rococo and the palace of Herrenchiemsee in the baroque style, it is reflects the Bavarian historism. After a visit to the Warburg in Germany and the visit of palace of Pierrefonds in France. The castle of Warburg became also the main architectural example to construct the castle of Neuschwanstein.
In the year 1869 the start of the construction of Neuschwanstein started. The original plan was changed several times and not everything was realized since King Ludwig wanted to change always the plans. The idea was it for King Ludwig that it should be a livable theater ambiente. It was done as a temple to Richard Wagner, even if Wagner never visited the castle. Even if the size is enormous it would have never been enough for a King’s palace. It has only place for the King’s apartments and for the servants. So the main use was only as living and decorative purposes.
Even if the costs were more than doubled until the death of King Ludwig, he finances most of the castles by his own money and credits which he took from different banks (also the state bank of Bavaria). Already 1885 the first execution was threatening King Ludwig. With another credit he avoided that. In the year 1872 King Ludwig lived for 172 days the castle of Neuschwanstein until he was sent to the castle Berg where he dies 1 day later, after he received the order to not be king of Bavaria any more. Some people say that his spirit still lives in the castle even if King Ludwig was very shy and did not want anybody seeing the interior.
The palace of Neuschwanstein was opened already 6 weeks after his death to the public in order to refinance and pay-off his credits. It took the state until 1899 to pay off the credits that King Ludwig II took at different banks to be paid back. with his construction to give jobs to people there and also nowadays as a tourist attraction but on the other hand also brought the state very close to bankruptcy.
Nowadays more than 1,5 Mio. tourist visit the castle each year. It became also the most famous castle in Germany due to the movies and due to Disney: The castle in Anaheim and Disneyland Paris have a certain similarity to the castle of Neuschwanstein. All over the world it is mostly known as the cindarella castle of the Disney. Also the Hotel Excalibur Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas has a small similarity. In some movies about this Bavarian King and some other movies it functioned in the background. Newly also on stamps and on some German 2€ coins the castle of Neuschwanstein can be found. So it became a very big industry for the region and the villages nearby.
The royal King ludwig’s castle of Neuschwanstein nearby Füssen and opposite site of the castle of Hohenschwangau (his parent’s castle) shows in the most eccentric and best way of King Ludwig’s fantasy and reflects best his idea of a medieval castle but still not forgetting about the standard of the 19th century. In his last wish King Ludwig wanted that each palace and castle should be destroyed after his death. Luckily the Bavarian state decided differently and gives us now days the possibility to visit all of his dream castles and brings us closer to his ideas and lifestyle. The palace of Neuschwanstein is the most visited castle in Germany with over 1,5 Mio. visitors over year. So please book ahead before waiting in a very long line. Enjoy the castle of Neuschwanstein the whole year around and see the spectacular landscape around the palace. See, feel and enter the dreamworld of this eccentric king and learn why he chose place and what it brought to the area. Enjoy also the ride to the nearby church of Wies, Oberammergau, etc. it is a fascinating and great opportunity and see all the prejudices of Bavarian landscape there.
Enjoy a trip to the castle of Neuschwanstein and the nearby area with Be special Tours. Have fun in Salzburg with Be Special Tours!
by Adminblog | Sep 14, 2020 | Destinations
The royal King Ludwig’s palace Linderhof
The royal palace of Linderhof is the smallest of the three King Ludwig II’s palaces. It is the only finished palace during King Ludwig’s lifetime. It is the palace where King Ludwig had spent most of his time and is therefore seen as his most beloved castle. In 1869 King Ludwig decided first to make out of a farmer’s building an addition in wood as a small mountain retreat. It was constructed in five phases. The first phase was a wooden chalet ad an extension of the farmer’s building that was owned by King Ludwig’s grandfather Maximilian II. The second phase was the addition and extension of the small chalet to the farmer’s building and in the third phase the two buildings were connected by a huge bedroom. In the year 1873 King Ludwig decided to surround the wooden buildings by a stone wall to guarantee more stability and in the year 1874 it was extended to the nowadays extension including also a new staircase and hallway. In the year 1876 the interior was finished to the nowadays extensions. In the year 1885/86 the master’s bedroom was extended and this had as a consequence a last big change to the size and rooming to the nowadays form.
In the year 1874 King Ludwig approved the construction and extension of the park. He desired to make a copy of the park of Versailles during the time of King Ludwig 14th (the sun king). In the year 1873, after becoming the owner of the Island in the Chiemsee the plans have been changed to not make a copy of Versailles any more and due to the valley space it was also not possible to make it to the extension of Versailles. Therefore a fountain that can raise up to 75ft. was made here and a cascade with over 30 marble steps due to the mountain location and leading into the neptune fountain with the so-called music pavilion. In the park King Ludwig also wanted to realize his dream of 1001 nights and made a small retreat hut in the style of Marocco with beautiful colors from the middle east and created a great new technology grotta, the so-called venus grotta. The grotta will be explained further down. Kind Ludwig forced the architectures for a very fast finish of work and therefore in the park more than 180 workers worked to finish the park as soon as possible.
The palace of Linderhof includes also elements of the bavarian rococo and includes also actual art from the 19th century. In the total construction it does not have any kind of example and can be defined as a new creation. A very important factor is that King Ludwig decided to use the wood and wood workers from nearby. It does not seem as it would have been made out of wood and then was covered then. Furthermore he invented already for the workers that they receive money, even if they would be sick at home, a very unusual thing for that time. In the year 1886 the palace and the gardens were finished and some people say that also king Ludwig finished his life idea of creating a wonderful world for himself and for the area.
The park is one of the most important part of the palace of Linderhof. It shows in the best way how King Ludwig lived and created his world. Especially the walk in the extended park is a must at this palace where the hilly area of the park was used perfectly to create on the upper part the Venus grotta, an artificial dripstone grotta with a lake and a waterfall. It was created to the first act of the famous Wagner’s opera “Tannhäuser” (King Ludwig’s favorite composer). Besides the “king’s seat”, also a lordly rock and a venus shell in the middle of an artificial lake.
In order to strengthen his reality it was shown with floor lightning. It took them 12 dynamos in order to create the electricity for it. That was created in the electricity’s building in about 300ft. distance, Bavaria’s first electricity building. Below was a music pavilion, the cascades and the neptune fountain, before getting to the palace and the fountain in front. In the park can be also found the Moroccan building, a historical pavilion, the forbidden gate, the Hunding’s hut and the Gurnemanz Hermitage, another creation of the King’s ludwig’s fantasy world.
The royal King ludwig’s palace of Linderhof nearby Oberammergau and bedded in the middle of the mountains shows the only finished King Ludwig’s palace and shows his idea of of a small retreat, similar to the retreat of Versailles, called Marly and was brought to the standard of the 19th century. The highlights is the park and the small grotta. In his last will King Ludwig wanted that each palace and castle should be destroyed after his death. Luckily the Bavarian state decided differently and gives us now days the possibility to visit all of his retreat castle and his dreamworld. The palace of Linderhof was the most loved one by this king and finished during his lifetime. With almost 450.000 visitors it is the less seen palace of the three and is open almost the whole year around. Enjoy the palace of Linderhof and see the spectacular landscape around the palace. See, feel and enter the dreamworld of this eccentric king and learn why he chose place and what it brought to the area. Enjoy also the ride to the nearby village of Oberammergau, etc. it is a fascinating and great opportunity and see all the prejudices of Bavarian landscape there.
Enjoy a trip to the palace of Linderhof and the nearby area with Be special tours. Have the best of Salzburg and surrounding with B(e)specialtours!
