0:00:07 > 0:00:09Now, the Travel Show.
0:00:09 > 0:00:12Scenic mountain ranges, fairytale castles and yes, traditional hearty
0:00:12 > 0:00:24drinking establishments.
0:00:24 > 0:00:27Southern Germany has more than its fair share of stereotypes.
0:00:27 > 0:00:30But they hide an intriguing, mysterious hinterland which I am
0:00:30 > 0:00:38determined to uncover.
0:00:38 > 0:00:38Whoooooa!
0:00:38 > 0:00:39That's a thrill.
0:00:39 > 0:00:49A side that is wilder, faster, louder.
0:00:49 > 0:00:50And frankly completely bonkers.
0:00:50 > 0:00:54How are you supposed to sleep to this?
0:01:03 > 0:01:05My road trip starts in Bavaria's capital, Munich.
0:01:05 > 0:01:08Home to BMW and some of the fastest cars in the world.
0:01:08 > 0:01:13But I want to get a different perspective.
0:01:13 > 0:01:17On the open road, checking out Munich.
0:01:17 > 0:01:20And here is one way to do that, inside this customised
0:01:20 > 0:01:301930s-style mini hot rod.
0:01:30 > 0:01:32It may look like a souped up go-kart, but it's street
0:01:32 > 0:01:44legal and can go up to 90 kilometres an hour.
0:01:44 > 0:01:44Wow.
0:01:44 > 0:01:48It's like being a kid in a toy shop with the best sports car ever.
0:01:48 > 0:01:49How good can it get?
0:01:49 > 0:01:55My guide, a local man, is launching this hot rod experience
0:01:55 > 0:02:09as an alternative way to see this place.
0:02:09 > 0:02:10Cobblestones!
0:02:10 > 0:02:21You can feel everything.
0:02:21 > 0:02:27I pass some amazing classical architecture.
0:02:27 > 0:02:31Many of these monuments were rebuilt after World War II,
0:02:31 > 0:02:34when the city was heavily bombed, because Munich was the stronghold,
0:02:34 > 0:02:41and some say birthplace, of National Socialism.
0:02:41 > 0:02:50Today, in very different times, it's Germany's economic powerhouse,
0:02:50 > 0:02:55and home to the world's biggest beer Festival, Oktoberfest.
0:02:55 > 0:02:57But it's long been saddled with a conservative image.
0:02:57 > 0:03:00A lot of people would say it's Munich, it's boring,
0:03:00 > 0:03:02it's rich, it's traditional, it's beer and Bratwurst.
0:03:02 > 0:03:04What would you say to that?
0:03:04 > 0:03:05How stupid.
0:03:05 > 0:03:07I have never heard somebody telling Munich it's boring,
0:03:07 > 0:03:10but you are completely right, people are aware of Oktoberfest,
0:03:10 > 0:03:12and this is definitely an eye-catcher, people know it
0:03:12 > 0:03:13around the world.
0:03:13 > 0:03:16We find just in this two weeks of time, 6.2 million visitors.
0:03:16 > 0:03:18But I mean, it's not everything, right?
0:03:18 > 0:03:21I would say the mixture of tradition on the one hand
0:03:21 > 0:03:35and innovation on the other hand.
0:03:35 > 0:03:37I'm here to find little pockets of interest, something that
0:03:37 > 0:03:39will surprise me in Munich.
0:03:39 > 0:03:40Do you know anything?
0:03:40 > 0:03:41I have one for you.
0:03:41 > 0:03:42Let's go for it.
0:03:42 > 0:03:45I won't tell you right now, but we will go there.
0:03:45 > 0:03:46Here are the surfers.
0:03:46 > 0:03:47Isn't this great?
0:03:47 > 0:03:48Whoa, they're surfing here.
0:03:48 > 0:03:49In a river.
0:03:49 > 0:03:50Crazy guys, right?
0:03:50 > 0:03:52You find them every day, every morning, every night,
0:03:52 > 0:03:54on weekends as well.
0:03:54 > 0:03:59I've got to get a closer look.
0:04:06 > 0:04:09I think surfing on river waves is quite popular
0:04:09 > 0:04:11in Bavaria for a long time.
0:04:11 > 0:04:12People did it behind bridges.
0:04:12 > 0:04:13Typical Bavarian inventiveness.
0:04:13 > 0:04:15Hundreds of miles from the sea.
0:04:15 > 0:04:26This is definitely not for the novice.
0:04:26 > 0:04:29You need to develop a different sort of vision for the wave,
0:04:29 > 0:04:30because it's quite intimidating.
0:04:30 > 0:04:33It's really loud, and you need to develop the muscle.
0:04:33 > 0:04:35I felt terrible coming the first few times,
0:04:35 > 0:04:38because you gradually get better, but it takes really long.
0:04:38 > 0:04:39And how popular has it become?
0:04:39 > 0:04:42The surf scene in Munich is quite big, actually.
0:04:42 > 0:04:44There is actually a surf scene in Munich?
0:04:44 > 0:04:45Who would have thought that?
0:04:45 > 0:04:47Not me, but I'm pretty happy about it!
0:04:48 > 0:04:50Time for me to head out of Munich.
0:04:50 > 0:04:53But it's not quite as serene a journey as I imagined.
0:04:53 > 0:05:11THUMPING MUSIC.
0:05:11 > 0:05:13This band are part of a folk revival in Bavaria.
0:05:13 > 0:05:15Taking traditional music and mixing it with contemporary
0:05:15 > 0:05:19styles and rhythms.
0:05:19 > 0:05:25And they've got a passion for flash mob.
0:05:25 > 0:05:28A decade ago, traditions like this were out of fashion,
0:05:28 > 0:05:30because for some, German tradition brought up too many
0:05:30 > 0:05:51negative connotations.
0:05:51 > 0:05:52But not any more.
0:05:52 > 0:05:52Fantastic.
0:05:52 > 0:06:12Really, really good.
0:06:12 > 0:06:14The prominence of the culture is now back again.
0:06:14 > 0:06:17Every style is included in this new music, it's not only folk music
0:06:17 > 0:06:21and not only punk music, it's a mixture of every music now,
0:06:21 > 0:06:22and the traditional instruments are back.
0:06:22 > 0:06:25In terms of the clothes you wear, some people might say,
0:06:25 > 0:06:27hang on, this is just silly.
0:06:27 > 0:06:28This is just party dress.
0:06:28 > 0:06:29Is it party dress?
0:06:29 > 0:06:31No, it's not party dress, it's our culture.
0:06:31 > 0:06:34We wear it very often, not only for fancy time,
0:06:34 > 0:06:38to have fun, we wear it to make music as well as at home when we're
0:06:38 > 0:06:42together and traditional festivals, and we wear it at the office
0:06:42 > 0:06:43and we like to wear it.
0:06:43 > 0:06:46It's our clothes and we are proud of it.
0:06:46 > 0:06:49And off they go, spreading their new take on an old sound
0:06:49 > 0:06:50to more unsuspecting commuters.
0:06:50 > 0:06:53My next stop is right on the border between Germany and Austria.
0:06:53 > 0:06:53Berchtesgaden.
0:06:53 > 0:06:55The location of Hitler's notorious holiday hideaway, the Eagle's Nest.
0:06:56 > 0:07:00Berchtesgaden.
0:07:00 > 0:07:03The location of Hitler's notorious holiday hideaway, the Eagle's Nest.
0:07:03 > 0:07:06But it's also home to the country's only Alpine park.
0:07:06 > 0:07:08And there is an unexpected aspect to this breathtaking scenery,
0:07:08 > 0:07:11one that runs completely contrary to the cliche that Germans
0:07:11 > 0:07:33are straightlaced and serious.
0:07:33 > 0:07:35One of the peaks here, the Untersberg, is renowned
0:07:35 > 0:07:36for the paranormal.
0:07:36 > 0:07:38With reports of time-shifting and unexplained disappearances.
0:07:38 > 0:07:40Hitler thought the mountain harboured special powers that
0:07:40 > 0:07:41would help him win the war.
0:07:41 > 0:07:44But nowadays, the Untersberg is seen as a spiritual retreat,
0:07:44 > 0:07:53and it's said the Dalai Lama is a frequent visitor.
0:07:53 > 0:07:56I feel just bliss, and I feel this is me, there is no separation,
0:07:56 > 0:07:59and I feel more energy, more relaxation, more joy
0:07:59 > 0:08:01of life and more peace.
0:08:01 > 0:08:02This academic and spiritualist insists there's
0:08:02 > 0:08:08a special energy here.
0:08:08 > 0:08:10It's really a strong energy point.
0:08:10 > 0:08:11A really big, strong power spot.
0:08:11 > 0:08:14And this is because ley lines, energy lines, are leading through,
0:08:14 > 0:08:16passing through this mountain.
0:08:16 > 0:08:17Everybody has heard about the Dalai Lama,
0:08:17 > 0:08:20and my friends who met him there and heard him saying
0:08:20 > 0:08:50that the Untersberg is the heart chakra of the world.
0:08:50 > 0:08:53You know, I'm not sure about all this energy centre stuff
0:08:53 > 0:08:53and mysterious disappearances.
0:08:53 > 0:08:56But let's face it, the view here is incredible
0:08:56 > 0:09:06enough to be inspiring.
0:09:06 > 0:09:09And underneath the mountain range, a subterranean salt mine.
0:09:09 > 0:09:10Salt all along the sides here.
0:09:10 > 0:09:12And you can feel the atmosphere changing.
0:09:12 > 0:09:15A bit colder, a bit fresher already.
0:09:15 > 0:09:17The salt deposits here were what made Berchtesgaden wealthy
0:09:17 > 0:09:25in the 12th century.
0:09:25 > 0:09:28And slides like these were used by miners to move between levels.
0:09:28 > 0:09:41I'm sure they didn't see it as a playground, mind you.
0:09:41 > 0:09:45Whooooa!
0:09:45 > 0:09:46That's a thrill.
0:09:46 > 0:09:48Wow.
0:09:48 > 0:09:50I can do that over and over again.
0:09:50 > 0:09:53Fantastic.
0:09:53 > 0:09:57But there's more to the salt mine than just being a great source
0:09:57 > 0:10:12of wealth for Berchtesgaden.
0:10:12 > 0:10:14Because this place apparently has got magical powers,
0:10:14 > 0:10:17a healing energy, and I'm going to find out more about that.
0:10:17 > 0:10:19So, every year we have about 15,000 guests,
0:10:19 > 0:10:21coming mainly from health reasons.
0:10:21 > 0:10:22Because we have two things.
0:10:22 > 0:10:32We have wonderful air and salty air.
0:10:32 > 0:10:36Jan von Werten manages a salt cure gallery deep in the mine.
0:10:36 > 0:10:39Twice a month, we have a combination of relaxation and music.
0:10:39 > 0:10:40Apparently, the salt neutralises background radiation
0:10:40 > 0:10:43to encourage deep relaxation, and it's said an overnight's stay
0:10:43 > 0:10:46can cure everything from tinnitus to insomnia and asthma.
0:10:46 > 0:11:10And people are just sleeping and resting?
0:11:10 > 0:11:11Yes.
0:11:11 > 0:11:13And the tuning of the sound is wonderful, as well.
0:11:13 > 0:11:15We have a wonderful acoustic inside.
0:11:15 > 0:11:23It's like a church.
0:11:23 > 0:11:25They call this event a sonic journey.
0:11:25 > 0:11:28I have the big feeling that humans are so easily touched
0:11:28 > 0:11:32by the sound of the music, and especially by the human voice.
0:11:32 > 0:11:36If we are here inside the mountain, we feel or hear even with our heart
0:11:36 > 0:11:37the rhythm of Earth.
0:11:37 > 0:11:40This is a powerful place, so just lean back and do nothing.
0:11:40 > 0:12:05And you will feel the power of Earth, the power of the creation.
0:12:05 > 0:12:19And the power of creation includes the human voice.
0:12:19 > 0:12:21THROAT SINGING.
0:12:21 > 0:12:37There are two notes at the same time.
0:12:37 > 0:12:38I can at the same time.
0:12:38 > 0:12:38I can move at the same time.
0:12:38 > 0:12:38I can move them at the same time.
0:12:38 > 0:12:41I can move them separately. at the same time.
0:12:41 > 0:12:44It is about 11pm and we have been here for three hours.
0:12:44 > 0:12:46Tell me how you are feeling at the moment.
0:12:46 > 0:12:48I feel very calm and relaxed.
0:12:48 > 0:12:51I feel the talking in my mind gets quieter and quieter,
0:12:51 > 0:12:54and I feel like I am breathing out.
0:12:54 > 0:13:00It is very meditative, you can feel very free and wide
0:13:00 > 0:13:09and travel in your fantasy.
0:13:09 > 0:13:12As the night wears on, I can't seem to drift off quite
0:13:12 > 0:13:21as easily as my fellow guests.
0:13:21 > 0:13:28It is quarter to one in the morning and they are still going strong.
0:13:28 > 0:13:32Frankly, I can't see myself getting any sleep at any time soon.
0:13:32 > 0:13:38It is quite cold, but I do have a secret weapon, a hot water bottle.
0:13:38 > 0:13:42That should keep me warm at least for a bit,
0:13:42 > 0:13:56because it is pretty chilly.
0:13:56 > 0:13:59It is way past one o'clock, and they are now playing
0:13:59 > 0:14:03the big drums at maximum volume.
0:14:03 > 0:14:08How are you supposed to sleep to this?
0:14:08 > 0:14:19And on and on it went.
0:14:19 > 0:14:27And a short respite that lulled me into a false sense of security.
0:14:27 > 0:14:32Then, this wake-up call.
0:14:32 > 0:14:39At 7am, it was time to pack up and go, after not the best night's
0:14:39 > 0:14:43sleep I have ever had.
0:14:43 > 0:14:47We are on our way out, emerging bleary eyed.
0:14:47 > 0:14:50I had a couple of hours' sleep between the booming
0:14:50 > 0:14:53drums and the didgeridoo.
0:14:53 > 0:15:06It is a real experience, let's put it that way.
0:15:06 > 0:15:10From the border with Austria we head north and deep into the Bavarian
0:15:10 > 0:15:14forest, close to the Czech border.
0:15:14 > 0:15:20This is a land rich in mythology, and there is one creature that
0:15:20 > 0:15:27features very strongly in that folklore.
0:15:27 > 0:15:30The wolf, here in the national park, is a relatively new
0:15:30 > 0:15:50and rare tourist attraction.
0:15:50 > 0:15:53You can see typical wolf markings, and its cheeks and muzzle are white.
0:15:53 > 0:15:55They have white dots above their eyes.
0:15:55 > 0:15:58It is a very colourful face they have, but very small
0:15:58 > 0:16:00in comparison to a lot of dogs.
0:16:00 > 0:16:03It is really a beautiful animal, and nothing like the image
0:16:03 > 0:16:09of a nasty villainous creature that it is portrayed as.
0:16:09 > 0:16:14Wolves were hunted to the point of extinction in Germany, but they
0:16:14 > 0:16:21started to come back, in the 1990s, crossing over from other countries.
0:16:21 > 0:16:28Now, on average they have about five pups per pack.
0:16:28 > 0:16:34So that means about 200 pups per year, so that is
0:16:34 > 0:16:38a huge increase in population size.
0:16:38 > 0:16:41Reappearance of the wolf in Germany has divided opinion.
0:16:41 > 0:16:45The wolf is an animal just like any other animal, but
0:16:45 > 0:16:48in our heads they are different.
0:16:48 > 0:16:51They belong to the ecosystem, so they are important
0:16:51 > 0:16:54for the national environment.
0:16:54 > 0:16:57There are some who like wolves and some who hate them,
0:16:57 > 0:17:00so it is a huge controversy.
0:17:00 > 0:17:03I think there is no other animal in Europe that is
0:17:03 > 0:17:11so controversial as wolves.
0:17:11 > 0:17:15I am in the pitch black countryside now, and I am about to meet
0:17:15 > 0:17:18a group of people to get a very different take on the wolf.
0:17:18 > 0:17:22They are taking part tonight in an annual celebration that is
0:17:22 > 0:17:27unique, I have been told.
0:17:27 > 0:17:32The festival celebrates the ancient custom of herdsmen
0:17:32 > 0:17:40ringing bells to scare wolves away.
0:17:40 > 0:17:44Hans is one of the organisers.
0:17:44 > 0:17:47Tonight, hundreds of local people will form teams of bellringers,
0:17:55 > 0:18:00Tonight, hundreds of local people will form teams of bellringers,
0:18:00 > 0:18:03and I am joining in as well, a rare privilege for a non-Bavarian.
0:18:03 > 0:18:05First, I need the right outfit.
0:18:05 > 0:18:14What is the point of these twigs?
0:18:14 > 0:18:23I'm going to look like a Christmas tree.
0:18:23 > 0:18:27The headgear pales into insignificance once I realise I will
0:18:27 > 0:18:34be lugging this 20 kg bell around.
0:18:34 > 0:19:01It is so heavy, it is ridiculous.
0:19:01 > 0:19:06OK, so I have taken this bell, and I think others are there who
0:19:06 > 0:19:09will be doing it as well.
0:19:09 > 0:19:13Did you hear me coming, by any chance?
0:19:13 > 0:19:18So, you are also taking part?
0:19:18 > 0:19:21How big a night is this for you?
0:19:21 > 0:19:24I think it is the biggest night of the year.
0:19:24 > 0:19:28Nowhere else is there something like this, so we are very proud of
0:19:29 > 0:19:32it, and we also want to take part.
0:19:32 > 0:19:34Have you ever thought about wearing earplugs?
0:19:34 > 0:19:37Yes, I have them.
0:19:37 > 0:19:41It is impossible without them.
0:19:41 > 0:19:51I will bear that in mind, that is very good advice.
0:19:57 > 0:20:01I join the rest of the team as we head towards the town centre.
0:20:05 > 0:20:10Nothing could have prepared me for the incredible noise that is
0:20:10 > 0:20:17generated heaving these enormous bells around.
0:20:17 > 0:20:21I am trying not to use my knees, but it is almost impossible.
0:20:21 > 0:20:27They feel battered and bruised already.
0:20:27 > 0:20:34We are greeted by a huge crowd of tourists and locals.
0:20:34 > 0:20:38Dominic is the flamboyant leader, rousing the troops,
0:20:38 > 0:20:43leading the beat.
0:20:43 > 0:20:55And conducting the cacophony.
0:20:55 > 0:20:57Luckily for me, after half-an-hour, Dominic calls time,
0:20:57 > 0:21:10for a much-needed break.
0:21:21 > 0:21:26That was one of the most physically intensive things I have ever done.
0:21:26 > 0:21:39Amazing.
0:21:39 > 0:21:41Tribal but great and I deserve this.
0:21:41 > 0:21:43What does it feel like to be leading this bunch
0:21:44 > 0:21:46of people with such a loud noise?
0:22:05 > 0:22:09If I have learnt to do one thing, it is to try to look
0:22:09 > 0:22:13beyond the straitlaced image of the people of Bavaria.
0:22:13 > 0:22:19I have been moved by their warmth, compassion and sheer quirkiness.
0:22:19 > 0:22:23It has been an adventure.