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Essentials
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So what's it like?
Walking
With 240km of trails on tap, this is a haven for walkers of all abilities. The tranquility of this area means it's not long until the only sounds you will hear are your own footsteps. The summer gondola up the Jenner Mountain (1874m) opens up hundreds of km of walking paths - if you're getting some serious milage under your boots, consider a 7 day walker's pass, available locally for apx. £41. Most of the trails on the Jenner offer those famous mountain views towards the Watzmann.
Why not try -- Exploring the path through the National Park from Salet-Obersee to Lake Obersee, a serene emerald coloured lake flanked by high cliffs on 3 sides, with the Röthbach waterfall thundering in the background.
- Venturing into the National Park to explore the Klaisbach Valley from Lake Hintersee - don't miss the feeding station where deer are fed about 3.00pm every afternoon. At the top of the valley, make this walk an international one by crossing the border into Austria on a road dating back to the 13th Century and used for salt transportation.
- Ambling along the lower level paths on the Königsseer Fußweg from Berchtesgaden. Leading you to Königssee, past picturesque traditional houses, take the Malerwinkl Trail to find a favourite spot for artists and join them to admire the amazing views over the lake, with St. Bartholomew in the distance.
Culture
In the shadow of Germany's third highest mountain, the 2713m high Mount Watzmann, you'll find Berchtesgaden and Königssee. Just 6km apart, these two villages are in idyllic rural locations tucked away in the National Park of the Berchtesgaden Alps in the southeastern corner of Bavaria.
Also towering high above the Berchtesgaden is the peak of the Kehlstein mountain, home to the Hitler's Kehlsteinhaus (Eagle's Nest) summer retreat. Berchtesgaden itself was a popular summer escape for the senior Nazi officials, and for history buffs, there's a fascinating museum documenting the history of the Second World War. Similar to a Scandinavian fjord, Königssee is Germany's third deepest lake, with steeply rising sheer cliffs on either side. This creates an impressive echo, which is best demonstrated by the playing of a flugelhorn from a boat in the middle of the lake. Quiet and relaxing, there's very little to disturb your enjoyment here - only electric powered craft, rowing and pedal boats are allowed on the lake, making it the cleanest lake in Germany. Equally beautiful is the smaller lake Obersee with its 470m high Röthbach waterfall found to the south of Königssee. Why not try -- Ducking down the salt mines in Berchtesgaden to explore the history through an impressive sound and light display
- Explore the home of Oktoberfest in Bavaria's vibrant capital city, enjoy a beer from the Hofbräuhaus along with a Weißwürste and a pretzel
- Following the footsteps of pilgrims to seek out the Baroque style St Bartholemew's Chapel on the shore of Königssee, set against the Walzmann massif
Active
'Berchtesgadener Land' is a holiday paradise - there is so much to do and see! You can visit the Royal Castle in the town centre or take a fun tour of the salt mines, learn about and sample gentian schnapps at Germany's oldest schnapps distillery or tour the fascinating Obersalzburg Documentation Centre. Perched high above the town, Hitler's "Eagle's Nest" offers amazing views, and down in the valley you can have fun and pamper yourself at the 'Watzmann Therme' pool and spa. There is also a summer toboggan run, eagle and alpine animal zoo, horse riding, mini-golf, tennnis and golf. Some evening highlights include the "Königs-Seerenade" (evening boat trip on lake Königssee) and 'Eagle's Nest at Night', as well as a number of traditional festivals and regular music events and theatre performances.
Nearby Königssee (6km from Berchtesgaden), the "King's Lake", and the small village of Schönau on its shores, have a magical setting, quite unlike any other and surrounded by National Park.