A picture book comes alive…

Mittenwald, Bavaria

Well, we didn’t think it could get any better but Mittenwald was one of our favourites.  Again it’s well known for its colourful painted houses, its charming cobbled streets and mountain landscapes.

Mittenwald, Bavaria

It is also known as the “Village of a Thousand violins” for its famed son, Mattias Klotz who brought the art of making violins back to Mittenwald. After studying under the masters in Italy, he returned to the village in 1684 and carried on the tradition of mentoring violin makers. He started with his brothers, but soon half of the men in the village were at work crafting violins.  The location was ideal for good-quality wood and Mittenwald became a cultural hot spot.

We spent a whole afternoon and the following morning walking not only in the old town but also the residential areas outside just marvelling at the beautiful buildings.  To the west, there are forested paths that pass Lautersee Lake and the Laintal waterfall.

We felt like we were on the set of The Sound of Music, walking its storybook lanes with houses straight out of the Brothers Grimm, all in view of the Alps.

This idyllic little mountain hideaway is just under 2 hours from Munich.

We parked up for the night in a stellplatz which was just a 5-minute walk from the town and just outside the old fashion railway station.  (I must admit we were not at all disturbed by the trains).

Although the peaks aren’t as impressive as those at Garmisch-Partenkirchen we still thought this was the most beautiful town in the Bavarian Alps.

Mittenwald, Bavaria

Mittenwald, Bavaria

Mittenwald, Bavaria

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Mittenwald, Bavaria

Mittenwald, Bavaria

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Mittenwald, Bavaria

Mittenwald, Bavaria

Mittenwald, Bavaria

Mittenwald, Bavaria

Mittenwald, BavariaMittenwald, Bavaria

Mittenwald, Bavaria