world’s biggest cuckoo clock

world’s biggest cuckoo clock

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.

typical German cuckoo clock

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.

world biggest cuckoo clock

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.

inside the world biggest cuckoo clock

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!

Innsbruck

Innsbruck

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 overview

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.

Olympic fire at Innsbruck

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.

the city of Innsbruck center

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!

The Ferdinand Porsche Museum – Fahr(T)raum

The Ferdinand Porsche Museum – Fahr(T)raum

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.

inside the Fahr(t)raum museum

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.

Ernst and Elisabeth Piech

opening of the Fahrtraum museum in Mattseee by Ernst and Elisabeth Piece

drive out at fahrtraum

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.

Austro Daimler

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!

 

Vienna

Vienna

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.

view over the city of Vienna

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.).

the austrian parliament

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.

the homburg of Vienna

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!

Schoenbrunn palace

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!

Waterfall Golling

Waterfall Golling

The Waterfall of Golling

The Golling waterfall, originally called Schwarzbachfall or Schwarzenbachfall, is a waterfall located in the Tennengau (Austria) on the municipal border between Golling on the Salzach and Kuchl. It is at about 30 kilometers (18,6 miles) from Salzburg and at about 10 kilometers (6,2 miles) from Hallein, the municipal city of the Tennengau. The waterfall has a drop of around 100 meters (around 300ft.) and comes directly from the Schwarzbachfall cave.

Golling waterfall

two waterfalls behind each other at the Göllmassiv mountain

The Golling waterfall consists of two consecutive waterfalls located on the eastern slope of the Göllmassiv, to the left in the Salzachtal at the Nikolausberg above the pilgrimage’s church. It has a drop height of 75 meters (around 230ft.), with the last stage having a height of 25 meters(ca. 75 ft.). The upper stage is covered by a natural bridge. You can walk the whole way up and get real amazing impressions of the waterfall and the cave were the water comes to the surface.

The waterfall gets all its water from a karst source, which drains the Göllstock mountain, and comes through the system of the Schwarzbachfall cave. The cave portal is 5 meters (ca. 15ft.) wide, but only about one meter high, and little deep. A recent suspected outflow from the Königssee could not be confirmed by recent researches. In spite of all this, colored water seems to be found in the Golling waterfall starting from a certain place in the Königssee – so maybe there is a connection. There is also an old Celtic legend, which I shall return to later.

At a 5-6 °C (around 38°F) water temperature and has a flow of a minimum of 30liters (about 10 gallons) to a maximum of 42,416 liters (14000 gallons) per second.

stream from the Golling waterfall

The waterfall and the power to it

Passing by two decaying mills, which are located directly at the brook you are on a lovely and romantic way. Along the way there are always benches.

Even if the vegetation seems alpin – the start of the waterfall is at 500m altitude, so not even 100m above the height of the city of Salzburg.
From the foot of the waterfall you can see two bridges in the upper part, called the Witch’s Cauldron.
The climb on the left side of the waterfall can be done up to the level of the wooden bridge (safe shoes are recommended). The path is regularly maintained and renovated and made accessible to you as a visitor. From the height of the wooden bridge, the path is partly washed out, some of the remains of fallen trees are present.
The walkway is largely provided with a handrail, stairs facilitate walking across the floor and stone – the picture comes from the lower section of the excursion destination, the path to the waterfall.

The path was originally built by Ernst Fürst von Schwarzenberg. Along the path there are signs.

This path is not ideal for people with limited walking or strollers. In this case we would recommend staying at the lower waterfall.

mill at Golling waterfall

The celtic mythology around the waterfall

You will be surprised, but some people say that this place is mystically and full pf power. It is up to you to believe or not but during research lately scientists found out that the celtics already used this location as a power place on which also celtic celebrations took place.

If it was a place at which also sacrifices were made we do not know.

But also the celtic mythologies took place: It is said that somewhere in the mountain of the Hoher Göll, from were the waterfalls start, there is a place where the should of the dead strong celtic soldiers are stored in tone vases. Any girl that wants to be pregnant has to take a bath at the bottom of the second waterfall and then 9months later she should get a strong and powerful baby.

So who knows if this is the only mythology that took place there.

Another mythology is told that there used to live a white alpine goat and  whoever kills that goat will die tragically.

You see that it is a powerful and also natural sight. So enjoy this place and learn more about it.

Drive with us to the waterfall of Golling and enjoy a spectacular walk through the nature to the waterfall. Learn more about this area and the Salzach valley and see the magic of water. We are looking forward to meet you here in Salzburg. Best regards and a good travel Bespecialtours!

 

Mercedes Benz Museum

Mercedes Benz Museum

The Mercedes Benz museum in Stuttgart

In Stuttgart you will find the museum of Mercedes Benz: It provides you a learning experience about the first car of the world and also about the history of this world company

Mercedes Benz Museum Stuttgart

We are sure you have heard about that company but the museum will really open your mind, even if you are not an automobile enthusiast.

a fascination of technique, Innovation and Future

The Mercedes Benz museum combines it all: From the first automobile invented by Carl Benz in 1886 to the whole history of Mercedes-Benz and Daimler-Benz to the new future of modern technology it will be covered all. The Museum brings you alive the history of cars on 9 different floors with the trends of their time and the innovation of new safety, new innovation and technique. It shows the legacy cars of Mercedes, what was behind and also some unknown parts and their race history.

Mr. Carl Benz has startet in 1883 a company of making gas engines. When he developed his first car (self-driven- carriage) and his wife proofed that it was possible to drive, already the first production of cars started in Germany. The beginning was everything else but easy. In the first years only 83 cars were produced but until 1900 already over 1.700cars. This immediately brought up other companies that produced cars. One of the most famous one was Daimler in the year 1890. Since the distributor of Daimler, called Jellinek wanted to use it also for races in southern France. He named the car Mercedes, as his daughter’s name. After the biggest order for Daimler at that time was made for Mr. Jellinek of 36 Mercedes Daimler cars, the name started to be established. In the year 1926 the Deutsch Bank suggested a fusion of the two companies Mercedes-Daimler and Benz and the success was born. In the 1930ies the legendary “Silberpfeile” (the silver arrows) were born and succeeded all of the high speed races and rally races. With modern technique and more reliable engines it was possible to win over the competition and the success started to be around the world. Especially the US market started to become the most important export market for Mercedes Benz until the 1980ies other german brands such as BMW and Audi started to become competitors in that market too. In the years 1998 the fusion with Chrysler happened that was dissolved in 2007.

The museum shows a long history and also many installations with more background and side exhibitions of the history of Mercedes Benz.

world's first carMercedes racing cars

The fascination of Mercedes and cars

Already the building in form of a triangle has won many architectural prices and made by a Dutch architect. This is the reason why it is possible to make the visit on 9 different floors and opens opportunities to use them in many varieties for different special exhibitions. Walking through you will see over 130years of automotive history. During the walk you will see two different types of paths:

  1. The Mythology path to show the history of the brand Mercedes Benz.
    1. Mythology pioneers – development of the automotive (1886-1900)
    2. Mythology Mercedes – development of the brand (1901-1914)
    3. Mythology Change – compressor, diesel, gasoline (1914-1945)
    4. Mythology “wonder years” – Form and variety (1945-1960)
    5. Mythology advance thinkers  – Safety and environment (1960- 1982)
    6. Mythology Change – the way to emission free mobility (1982-today)
    7. Mythology “Silberpfeile” (silver arrows) – races and records
  2. The Collection path that shows special edition cars, or anything around the core history.
    1. Collection: travel
    2. Collection: transportation of goods
    3. Collection: helpers
    4. Collection: names
    5. Collection: Héros

During the walk through the museum you have always views over to the town of Stuttgart and to the production site where you will find on the roof a test center for new products and can see sometimes some of the covered vehicles to learn about the future. Sometimes it is possible to see more than you expect, such as camouflaged card, special edition cars and sometimes also a test of a new vehicle around the museum, or sometimes even some of the most expensive cars ever made.

The collection of cars of the brand started already in the 1930ies. Inside the collection are at the moment 1500 facts and 160vehicles.

Before the exit there is the possibility to enjoy a coffee in the cafeteria and then at the end before returning back to the car parking lot there is a very big store of Mercedes Benz Collection goods and also of Mercedes Benz Historic good, as die cast models, fashion, travel, etc.

Enjoy the Mercedes Benz history and be driven there by one of our Mercedes Benz vehicles.

first Mercedes car

Drive with us to Stuttgart and enjoy the nice drive over to it, or combine it with stops in between in a more-days trip in Munich, the King Ludwig’s castles, or the black forest. Learn more about southern Germany. We are looking forward to meet you here in Salzburg, or Austria. Best regards and a good travel with Be special Tours!