From Italy to Bavaria via Innsbruck for more Cycling

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After our disappointing cycling experience in the Po Valley in Italy, where we were based in Crema for two nights, ,Jean Michel suggests we go back to Wies in Bavaria. I agree but insist on getting a proper cycling map first.

The view in Gudon
The view in Gudon

First we schedule an over-night stopover in Innsbruck in the south of Austria, with an abortive lunch stop at Bolzano which turns out to be nothing but new buildings. We leave town and get back on the motorway, then follow a sign saying Gudon. The only two restaurants in this pretty little mountain village which is more Austrian than Italian are closed but I find a bench in the shade near the church and we have a picnic. We love the beauty of the site, the panoramic view and the lovely cemetery.

The view from our balcony in Innsbruck
The view from our balcony in Innsbruck

After another 1 ½ hours, we arrive in Innsbruck. going back to the same hotel we stayed in 5 years ago, Gastof Koreth. It’s been renovated, the rooms seem to have shrunk, the balcony still has the same great view of Innsbruck and the surrounding mountains, the wooden floor creaks badly and breakfast is hardly any better than in Italy.

The golden roof in Innsbruck
The golden roof in Innsbruck

After a short rest, we ride into the Old Town to see the Golden Roof again but there are so many tourists that we decide to cycle along the river for a few kilometers. This is the sort of holiday we like! We have our aperitif at the same café, Dom Café, as last time opposite the Cathedral and dinner in the same beer garden, Löwen Haus, as we did five years ago. We are creatures of habit if nothing else. Actually, it’s easier than searching for new places! The dinner’s a bit disappointing though – we should have taken the day’s special.

Cycling along the Inn in Innsbruck
Cycling along the Inn in Innsbruck

After cycling back up the hill to our hotel, we start the next accommodation search on booking.com. This is not a task that either of us likes. We have a lot of difficulty finding anything as we’d like an apartment for a few days and nothing seems to be available even on German websites which have the added complication of being in German. We settle for the Alpen Hotel in Peiting, about 30 km north of Fussen, for two nights. We are tempted by Sonnenbichl  where we stayed in 1999, but would like a little more comfort. I suggest we stop off at Garmich-Partenkirche on the way and pick up some tourist information.

Just one of the beautifully decorated buildings in Garmish
Just one of the beautifully decorated buildings in Garmish

When we get there, we park and walk into the centre. Every single building is decorated with beautiful murals. There is no tourist information about the area we are going to (Pfaffenwinkel – priests’ corner) but we are able to buy a couple of bike maps at a bookshop. Even in German, they are still useful.

Ettal Monastery
Ettal Monastery

On the way to Peiting, I see an interesting-looking dome off to the right in a place called Ettal. I ask Jean Michel who has had enough driving on winding roads if we can stop. We’re glad we did. Ettal has a stunningly beautiful baroque Benedictine monastery built in the eighteenth century according to the plans of a Swiss-Italian architect. However we don’t anywhere we would like to have lunch.

The farm house across the road from the restaurant in Altenau
The farm house across the road from the restaurant in Altenau

A bit further on, our GPS sends us on a most unlikely road to the villag e of Altenau. We see some people having lunch under blue and white umbrellas at the Altenauer Dorfwirt  which according to my iPhone German dictionary means something like the village host. We order Viener Schnitzel (what else?) and some cold white wine. The centre of the village is very lively and we watched school children and tractors file past. Jean Michel has perked up by now.

Our hotel in Peiting
Our hotel in Peiting – one front balcony is on the first floor on the left. There is another one round the corner.

We arrive in Peiting mid-afternoon and are relieved to discover that the hotel room is spacious with French windows on two sides, each with a balcony, and that the floor doesn’t creak. We venture out and discover we are in a pretty little village. Andrea at the tourist office speaks good English and gives us the local maps and information as well as a list of holiday flats. She shows us several bike itineraries including Wies and it looks as though we have enough information not to get lost. She also directs us to the local organic supermarket.

The view from one of our balconies in Peiting
The view from one of our balconies in Peiting

In the evening, after a picnic dinner on the balcony (now why can’t I grow geraniums like that?) and an ice-cream at the Eis Cafe down the road, we try to no avail to find an apartment for a few days. All the websites are in German and they don’t have calendars to indicate availability. I decide to go back and see Andrea next day which we do, after a disappointing breakfast. Are we getting harder to please?

Peiting Church
Peiting Church

She is very helpful and tries several places. V-lan (wifi) seems to be the main problem, which is surprising. One apartment seems promising and she says she’ll have the answer in an hour. I leave her my cell number and off we go. Our cycling holiday in Germany seems to be off to a good start!

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10 thoughts on “From Italy to Bavaria via Innsbruck for more Cycling”

  1. What a fabulous photo of Ettal Monastery, Rosemary. The day we visited the rain was torrential (in Summer!) and we could barely see it for fog. We did enjoy a lovely lunch at the Gasthof/pub directly across the road, though and if I remember correctly, the beer my husband drank was brewed at the monastery by the monks!

    I love that part of Bavaria. Did you visit Linderhof Palace or any of Ludwig’s other castles?

    1. What a pity it was raining when you went there! We hesitated to have lunch in the area because we thought it was too touristy. The shop in the monastery sells their beer as well.
      We didn’t visit Linderhof Palance or any of the other castle’s I’m afraid. After cycling through the countryside, we find the crowds difficult to deal with.

  2. It seems you had difficulties to find a place to stay in Germany… Personally, I am using a lot Airbnb to find nice flats. In 30% of the cases, you can have a flat for yourself there and they have the calendar of availibility online as well, which as you mention is the most important when looking for a room and not to waste time. Only my advice though.
    I wish you a good trip on this wonderful part of Europe!

    1. Thank you. We haven’t used airbnb yet, although my children do. One of the problems is timing. You usually need to be able to pick up the key at a specific time, we have been told. However, we may try it in the future.

    1. Yes, our problem is having to book at the last moment. I list our house in Blois with HomeAway (which is also VRBO) and am very happy with it.

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