Germany’s Alpine RoadR&R and Outdoor Adventure in the Bavarian AlpsEdited by Jennifer L. PriceExperience Bavaria's breathtaking scenery and keep an eye on culture while hiking, walking, or simply absorbing Bavaria's unique beauty. From the Berchtesgaden National Park to the picturesque Starnberg Lake and the town of Murnau, fascinating history lessons and rich culture are to be found at every turn on the alpine trails and vales in areas close to Munich.
 The Berchtesgaden National Park, located at the east end of Germany’s Alpine Road, is a region of spectacular views and one of the oldest nature reserves in the Alps. Guided or independent walks in the national park are excellent ways to discover this idyllic landscape with its rocky peaks, Alpine meadows and forests of mountain pines. The National Park boasts world-famous sights such as the mysterious world of the salt mine in Bad Reichenhall, Hitler’s former 'Eagle's Nest' dominating the mountain summit ‘Obersalzberg,’ and the 12th century chapel of St. Bartholomew on Koenigsee (King Lake).  www.berchtesgadener-land.com
Ruhpolding, about 27 miles further west on the Alpine Road, is a picturesque village nestled in the Alps. Countless walking, hiking and mountain paths, as well as the recently opened Nordic-Walking trail, lead out through the broad valley, past traditional mountain inns, all the way up to the Alpine peaks. Throughout the year visitors can experience all kinds of famed Bavarian traditions such as folk dancing, displays of traditional costumes, finger-wrestling, concerts and country theater in and around Ruhpolding. www.ruhpolding.de
 Next stop along the road is Prien, situated at the ‘Bavarian Sea’ - Chiemsee. The beautiful landscape of the Chiem region offers endless possibilities for hiking, mountain tours, cycling excursions and relaxing walks. To discover royal times, visitors to Prien can board one of the boats heading to the island of Herrenchiemsee, famous for its castle built by Bavaria's fairytale King Ludwig II. The castle's park and gardens are designed to follow the pattern of those at Versailles and are enhanced by impressive fountains. www.tourismus.prien.de
Oberammergau, located on the western end of Bavaria’s Alpine Road, owes its world-famous reputation to the Passion Plays. They have been performed every ten years since 1634, when the town prayed to be excluded from the plague. The play tells, in grand and heart-wrenching form, of the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The next one will take place in 2010. But Oberammergau is also famous for its traditional handicraft: about 120 wood sculptors still work in Oberammergau today, selling carvings ranging from figures of saints to household goods. And the picturesque houses in town, decorated with so called "Lüftlmalerei" (fresco paintings), have also contributed to Oberammergau's popularity. From the peaks of the local mountains, visitors can enjoy a spectacular view of the fabulous ‘King-Ludwig Country’ with its fairy tale castles of Neuschwanstein and Linderhof. www.oberammergau.de
 Situated just a stone's throw away from the scenery of the Bavarian Alps, and only 16 miles south of Munich, is the Starnberg Five-Lakes-Region. With beer gardens, picturesque villages and houses with painted facades the Starnberg region appears to come straight out of a fairy tale. A cultural attraction is Bernried's 'Buchheim Museum', which presents a survey of expressionism as well as craftwork and folk-art from all over the world. www.sta5.de
Close by is the town of Murnau, which was home to one of Germany’s most important schools of expressionism: The Blue Rider School. The ‘Blue Land’ is what painter Franz Marc called the region around the enchanting town, marked by lakes and mountain peaks. There, in the early 1900s, Wassily Kandinsky, Gabriele Münter, Alexej Jawlensky and Otto Müller created their famous contrast paintings under the influence of the folk culture and landscape of that region. Today, the Schlossmuseum (Castle Museum) houses the most important permanent exhibition of Münter paintings worldwide. www.murnau.de
 Last stop en route is the 1,200 year old city of Dachau, just outside of Munich. The name Dachau is known the world over as the location of the first concentration camp in Bavaria. Today, it is the city's uttermost priority to bear in remembrance the events of the past and to work against them ever being forgotten. In Dachau, which was once a well known artist colony, culture is increasingly vital. Exhibitions and international concerts take place all year round in the resplendent surroundings of the Renaissance Castle Dachau. www.dachau.info
For more information on hiking tours in Bavaria and along the Alpine Road go to: www.bavaria.by, www.cometogermany.com and www.oberbayern.de. |
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