Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Marcel Janus

The area is popular tourist destination thanks to the beautiful countryside and unspoilt nature. Allgäu Alps with an altitude reaching more than 2000 metres above sea level are popular places for winter sports. Its highest point is Großer Krottenkopf with the hight of 2,656 metres above sea level, however, Nebelhorn is the most famous peak reaching an attidue of 2,224 metres.

Allgäu is one of the most popular tourist areas and winter resorts in Germany. For Alpine skiing lovers, there is a large selection of well groomed slopes – and it does not matter whether you are a beginner or an experienced skier with high demands. Most of the slopes are artificially cared and such they have enough snow until the end of March. After skiing you can drink in one of the cozy cottages, cafes and pubs, or lately at night in one of clubs.

You can choose from a number of skiing resorts that include Adelharz-Breitenstein Lifte, Alpsee Bergwelt, Balderschwang, Bolsterlang/Hornergruppe, Breitenberg, Buronlifte Wertach, Fellhorn – Kanzelwand, Grasgehrenlifte, Grunten, Halblech, Hornergruppe/Fischen, Hörnle, Hündle-Thalkirchdorf, Luggi-Leitner-Lifte Scheidegg, Oberjoch Bad Hindelang, Oberstdorf/ Nebelhorn, Oberstdorf/Sollereck – Hollwies, Ofterschwang, Scheidegg, Schwäbeleholz / Sonthofen, Steibis, Steibis-Hochgrat, Tegelberg, Thalerhöhe Skilifte, Weiler/Simmerberg.

In the eastern part of the Allgäu is located famous Neuschwanstein Castle. Allgäu is also known for the dairy industry. One of the best known product is Hirtenkäse – herdsman’s cheese.

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Twenty days prior to the July 2nd race, a total of 10 contestants will be draw to compete in the first event of the year. The remaining 7 contestants will participate in the second event on August 16th; along with the top three contestants from the July race. Three days before each race, the contestants are assigned the horse that they will be running in the race.

The Palio di Siena is considered to be one of the most famous and historic of festivals in the whole of Italy which takes place every year in the Piazza del Campo square; a fan shaped earthen race track. The actual festivities of the event start on June 29th and will continue on until August 13th of each year.

Horse race, Palio di Siena, Tuscany, Italy by Janus Kinase

On race day, there is a special mass held in Siena where the contestants and their horses are blessed before the start of the competition. Trial runs are held until around 3 in the afternoon; after which a procession makes its way throughout the historic town center of Siena. The procession ends at the Piazza del Campo just in time for the 4:30 official start time of the Palio di Siena competition.

The race is composed of three laps around the Piazza del Campo which is roughly 1,000 meters in all. The winner wins a victory flag for their neighborhood known as the palio. It is a huge honor to win the Palio di Siena.

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