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Discover and experience Neumarkt in der Oberpfalz

Art, culture and cuisine, a love of celebration and the dreamlike Jura landscape all around: This is Neumarkt in der Oberpfalz, the little cultural metropolis between Nuremberg and Regensburg. The old Palatinate town offers experiences you wouldn’t expect at first glance: the world’s only museum dedicated to historic Maybach cars, the spectacular Lothar Fischer Museum honouring one of the most important German post-war sculptors, or the concert hall in the historic Reitstadel with its much-praised acoustics and glittering concerts. In the 15th and 16th centuries, Neumarkt experienced its golden age under the Counts Palatine; it became a royal residence and soon shone with courtly splendour, boasting the Count Palatine’s Castle, the Reitstadel, the Court Church and the parish church of St John. There is a bustling atmosphere on the Upper and Lower Market Squares, Neumarkt’s ‘parlour’. The heart of Neumarkt beats in the old town, which was exemplary rebuilt after the war; this is where people meet to shop, to take a leisurely break in beer gardens and pubs, and to soak up the relaxed atmosphere amongst the Town Hall, St John’s Cathedral, modern works of art and pretty pastel-coloured town houses. Surrounding the town, the gently rolling landscape of the Upper Palatinate Jura is enchanting and inspires you to go hiking and cycling along certified quality trails. Everyone will discover and experience Neumarkt and its surroundings in their own unique way – and feel their heart skip a beat in the process.

Ingolstadt, situated in the heart of Bavaria, has many attractions to offer. History, tradition and modern urban charm blend together perfectly here. Within the city walls, you will find impressive sights dating back to the time when Ingolstadt was the residence of the Bavarian dukes: historical treasures such as the New Palace, the Asam Church and the Gothic cathedral. Ingolstadt also holds a significant place in Bavarian university history, as evidenced by the ‘Hohe Schule’ – the seat of the First Bavarian State University – and the ‘Alte Anatomie’ with the German Museum of the History of Medicine. Alongside Prague and Vienna, Ingolstadt was the most important university in Central Europe for centuries. Doctor Frankenstein and the Illuminati are all world-famous and have their roots in Ingolstadt’s university history.

Ingolstadt is also a city of gates, towers and casemates. This city on the Danube has a long tradition as a fortified town and was even expanded into a Bavarian state fortress in the 19th century. Imposing fortifications can be seen throughout the cityscape, most notably in Klenzepark, the largest open-air museum of German fortification architecture.

In cosy restaurants and rustic beer gardens, visitors can enjoy regional and international specialities alongside traditional Bavarian hospitality. The unrivalled quality of Bavarian beer is also world-renowned – and has its origins in Ingolstadt! It was here in 1516 that Duke Wilhelm IV enacted the Bavarian Beer Purity Law, the world’s oldest food regulation still in force today.

For cars and technology, visit the Audi Forum Ingolstadt’s automotive experience centre, featuring the Audi museum mobile and factory tours. Moving walls and interactive exhibits are the highlights of the Audi museum mobile. Its collection tells the story of the automobile and of today’s AUDI AG. A visit to the Audi factory in Ingolstadt is an unmissable experience – witness first-hand the birth of a new Audi!

Another attraction in Ingolstadt as a shopping destination is the Ingolstadt Village outlet shopping centre: high-quality designer and fashion brands at heavily discounted prices offer a unique shopping atmosphere. Bargain hunters will be in their element here, with discount promotions and events taking place all year round.

The fortified town of Kufstein combines rural charm with urban flair. The fortress is the town’s landmark and can be seen from afar. A visit at midday is particularly worthwhile, as the ‘Heroes’ Organ’ – the world’s largest open-air organ with 4,948 pipes – plays at 12 noon, 365 days a year. From April 2019, the fortress will be transformed into an attractive hub to mark the Emperor Maximilian commemorative year. Shopping enthusiasts will find numerous boutiques and high-street shops in Kufstein. The historic Römerhofgasse in the old town is perfect for a leisurely stroll, ideally combined with a stop at the traditional Auracher Löchl inn, where the famous ‘Kufsteinlied’ originated. A visit to the Riedel Glas glassblowing demonstration is a highlight in both summer and winter. The adjoining shop offers a wide range of glassware across 300 square metres.
In summer, the ‘Kaisergebirge Nature Experience’ is a particular draw, accessible to everyone via the Kufstein Kaiserlift. Quaint mountain huts invite you to linger and relax. The idyllically situated Hechtsee, near the border with Bavaria, offers a refreshing escape. It is also the starting point for the magnificent 4-Lakes Walk.
Culture lovers have a huge choice in Kufstein: concerts of every genre in the Festungsarena, theatre performances in the imposing auditorium of the Kultur Quartier, or a traditional open-air concert in the heart of the town. The cultural highlight in August is the popular OperettenSommer at Kufstein Fortress. Throughout the year, Kufstein offers a colourful mix of events such as ‘KUlinaria’, a culinary journey for connoisseurs and gourmets featuring a street food market on the Inn promenade, or the pop and rock festival ‘Kufstein unlimited’. Medieval times are brought to life at the Knights’ Festival at Kufstein Fortress, and for lovers of fine wines, the Kufstein Wine Festival is an insider’s tip. Kufstein, the pearl on the green River Inn, is buzzing with life 365 days a year.

… is one of Austria’s absolute top destinations. The winter sports resort of Sölden is internationally renowned for the AUDI FIS SKI WORLD CUP, the Hannibal glacier spectacle, the Electric Mountain Festival and the cinematic installation 007 ELEMENTS, which was created during the filming of the James Bond film SPECTRE. From Haiming to Obergurgl-Hochgurgl, the Ötztal valley offers its guests unique experiences and highlights all year round. At altitudes ranging from 650 to 3,774 metres, there is something for everyone: whether it’s outdoor adventures at AREA 47 or pure relaxation at the AQUA DOME – Tirol Therme Längenfeld. With more than 70 lifts, 350 kilometres of slopes, 3,000 metres of vertical drop and a network of cross-country trails covering all levels of difficulty, no other valley offers so many highlights – and that’s with 6 ski areas, including two glacier ski areas.
Here’s a quick overview of the highlights the Ötztal has to offer:
• Wildspitze. Tyrol’s highest mountain. 3,774 m
• AREA 47. The Ultimate Outdoor Playground, including Tyrol’s highest high ropes course. 27 m
• Oetz. Lake Piburg. Tyrol’s warmest swimming lake
• Oetz. WIDIVERSUM in Hochoetz – a new children’s adventure park at 2,020 m above sea level
• Urkraft Umhausen. Ötzi Village. Birds of Prey Park. Natural swimming lake. Stuibenfall
• AQUA DOME. Tyrol’s only thermal spa
• Sölden. 007 Elements. James Bond exhibition, cinematic installation inside the Gaislachkogl
• Sölden. Bike Republic Sölden, the world’s most ‘flow’ Republic with pump tracks, natural trails and shaped lines
• Obergurgl-Hochgurgl. Top Mountain Motorcycle Museum. Europe’s highest motorbike museum. 2,175 m
• Obergurgl-Hochgurgl | Timmelsjoch. Highest mountain pass in the Eastern Alps

It is one huge natural playground – the Pillerseetal, which has made a name for itself as a Tyrolean family holiday destination in the heart of the Kitzbühel Alps. Every day, new adventures await around the five cosy villages of Fieberbrunn, Hochfilzen, St. Ulrich am Pillersee, St. Jakob in Haus and Waidring. No fewer than three mountains offer unique worlds of adventure here – Timok’s Adventure in Fieberbrunn, Triassic Park in Waidring and the Jakobskreuz on the Buchensteinwand; down in the valley, Austria’s largest family rollercoaster is one of the main attractions. Or how about swimming, cycling or hiking? Those who want to get out and about without their parents can join Tatzi the Lucky Dragon, who invites children on daily discovery tours at his club. And in the evenings, it’s time to celebrate – at the games and adventure night, the ‘Seeleuchten’ event on Lake Pillersee, or Fieberbrunn’s night-time stroll. With the PillerseeTal Card, mountain railways, swimming pools, the children’s weekly programme and numerous other activities are free of charge.

By the way: if you’re on holiday in the Pillerseetal, you can use the Regiobus public transport service free of charge with your guest card. You can travel free of charge by S-Bahn and train (REX) right across the Kitzbühel Alps (from Hochfilzen to Wörgl).

The market town of Weiler-Simmerberg, with its 6,200 inhabitants, is idyllically situated in the border triangle between Austria, Switzerland and Germany, just 25 km north-east of Lake Constance. Lush green meadows, mystical moors, pine-scented forests and crystal-clear white water characterise the landscape around Weiler-Simmerberg and are perfect for hiking.
A highlight is the wild and romantic Hausbach Gorge, which begins right on the outskirts of the village. From the ridges, you can enjoy views of the striking Nagelfluh range, the Vorarlberg mountains or as far as the Säntis massif in Switzerland.
History is very much alive in Weiler-Simmerberg. For centuries, the three formerly independent villages of Weiler im Allgäu, Simmerberg and Ellhofen played a significant role in the West Allgäu. Weiler im Allgäu served as the administrative centre with judicial authority and later became the hub of Allgäu Emmental cheese production, Simmerberg as the logistical hub of the salt trade – a legacy brought to life and made visible to this day by the ‘Historic Salt Train’ and the salt works – and Ellhofen as an enclave of the Teutonic Order and the centre of soft cheese production in the West Allgäu.
Culinary delights are still very much in the spotlight today. With two local breweries, an alpine dairy and a chocolate factory, Weiler-Simmerberg was honoured in 2018 as one of Bavaria’s 100 “places of culinary delight”.

Well... for the heart and soul

Halle-Westfalen, a medium-sized town in the north of the Gütersloh district with a population of just under 22,000, lies between the cities of Osnabrück and Bielefeld on the southern slopes of the Teutoburg Forest. It offers both a vibrant lifestyle and opportunities for leisure. A ring of typical Westphalian half-timbered houses – some dating back to the Middle Ages – forms the heart of Halle and provides a wonderful backdrop for town festivals. Not far from there stands a sports and events stadium of national and international significance, which delights people with a wide variety of events. The town is set against the scenic backdrop of the Teutos hill range and the expansive parkland of the Münsterland. Here you’ll find Tatenhausen moated castle, the forest chapel in Stockkämpen and the ‘Kaffeemühle’ viewpoint above the town. All of these are highlights well worth seeing in a gently rolling, green landscape that could not be more typical of Germany’s low mountain ranges. Everything is easily accessible by car and even better explored via over 200 kilometres of cycle and walking trails.

Mayrhofen-Hippach Holiday Region

The Mayrhofen-Hippach Holiday Region, comprising the villages of Brandberg, Ginzling, Hippach, Mayrhofen, Ramsau and Schwendau, is regarded as the cradle of Alpine tourism and, thanks to its ideal location and excellent infrastructure, offers a wide range of activities all year round. In summer, 532 kilometres of hiking trails, bouldering and climbing areas, as well as a wide variety of cycling routes, invite you to explore. Nature lovers will find special experiences in the four side valleys and in the 422-square-kilometre Zillertal Alps High Mountain Nature Park.

In winter, Mountopolis – the adventure world of the Mayrhofner Bergbahnen – delights visitors with its Ahorn and Penken mountains, offering 142 kilometres of slopes and guaranteed snow, whilst Winterzauber Ginzling provides an idyllic alternative away from the slopes.
The year-round programme of events, featuring musical, cultural and sporting highlights, rounds off the experience – true to the motto ‘You never really leave’.