DEUTSCH - AMERIKANISCHER HERRENCLUB MÜNCHEN e.V.

GERMAN - AMERICAN MEN´S CLUB MUNICH e.V.

Special Events

Back

Picture Gallery

EXCURSION TO AMERANG AND WASSERBURG

Wednesday, 14 July 2010

Bright sunshine and almost unbearable heat did not dampen our high spirits when we began our last day trip of the year to Amerang in the Chiemgau region of Bavaria and to Wasserburg on the river Inn.

While driving along the Salzburg autobahn, Erich Wölfinger informed us in detail about the history of the Amerang area and the various owners of Amerang Castle which, for more than 700 years and since more than 23 generations, has not only been the site of outstanding cultural events and celebrations but has also been a prominent family seat.

At the EFA ( Ernst Freiberger Amerang) Museum of German Automotive History which was founded in 1990 by Ernst Freiberger we went on a special exploratory journey.  More than 220 legendary German automobiles of all brands, starting with the first Benz motor carriage, followed by the magnificent creations of the 1920s  and 30s, the cute small cars of the 1950s,  on to today’s super fast cars presented a comprehensive and exceptional chronology  of German automotive history.

In a specially built side tract of the Museum we were able to admire the world’s largest serial produced Track II railroad installation. An additional model railroad exhibit with 1200 pieces complements the display with highly interesting and rare models, some of which cannot be seen anywhere else.

After renewing our energies by an extensive luncheon at the Glockenwirt Inn in Amerang we continued to Wasserburg am Inn.

Already the very first contact with this town is impressive. By its semi-insular location and its confine by the river Inn with its precipices, Wasserburg appears to be far from the usual. Right at the approach, the town offers a fairy tale view.

A town with pastel colored walls, jutties and pinnacles, with a covered gateway and an imposing castle.

Wasserburg is one of the historically most significant towns of Old Bavaria being older than Munich 50 km to the West. It has been permanently fought over by the rulers of the partitioned Bavarian duchies until the 16^th century but had the same rights as major residential cities. Because of special privileges, the salt trade, the main source of the wealth of Wasserburg, flourished till the 19^th century. Also, being situated at the crossroads of a major overland route and the waterway of the River Inn, Wasserburg was an important transshipment point for goods from the Balkans, Austria and Italy, adding to the power and prosperity of the town’s ship owners and traders.

History and legends around the old trading town of Wasserburg were imparted  to us in entertaining fashion during a guided walking tour through the old part of the town before we ended the day with coffee and cake or a snack in the Hotel Fletzinger’s beer garden and returned to Munich.