Back Roads Germany (Dk Eyewitness Travel Back Roads)

244

The German Alps

From the balmy shores of Lake Constance (Bodensee) in the west to the gates of Salzburg

in the east, the German Alps (Bayerische Alpen) offer some of the country’s most thrilling

landscapes. Through high-altitude passes and along Alpine lakeshores, this consistently

beautiful route meanders deep into the mountains. The stunning scenery it passes is just

one of its attrac tions. Regarded as Germany’s winter playground, the region offers a wealth

of activities, from high-altitude skiing at Garmisch-Partenkirchen to the more usual winter

sports at Bayrischzell or Reit im Winkl; in summer, it is a paradise for walkers and cyclists.

There are cultural highlights, too, such as the charming optical illusions of the Lüftmalerei

paintings, the giddy excesses of “Mad” King Ludwig’s palaces, and the sumptuous interiors

of Baroque and Rococo churches. Food lovers will enjoy the simple, hearty food, from

Allgäu cheese and Swabian noodles to fresh fish and game in season.

BACK ROADS GERMANY

ACTIVITIES

Enjoy skiing on the Zugspitze’s high-altitude pistes at Garmisch-

Partenkirchen, with superb views as far as Italy and Switzerland

Ascend a mountain in a summer cable car at Walchensee to

enjoy the fresh air, exhilarating walks, and breathtaking views

Admire the falconry displays at Aschau im Chiemgau’s

Schloss Hohenaschau

Take a yachting course on the beautiful blue Chiemsee

Slide down into Berchtesgaden’s salt mine

Above Pretty geraniums outside a guesthouse in Reit im Winkl,

see p252 Right Bavaria’s largest lake, Chiemsee, a paradise for

water sports enthusiasts, see p252

KEY

Drive route

BAYERN

Grünten

5,702 ft

Hochgrat

6,178 ft

Hoher Ifen

7,323 ft

Hockvogel

8,507 ft

Wettersteing

ebir

ge

Mieminger^ Gebirge

Kl

. W
al
ser
tal

Allg

äu

er

A

lp

e

n

B a y e r i

s c

A l

l g

ä u

Forggensee

Bodensee

Flughafen

Friedrichshafen

Lech

Lech

Ammer

LINDAU

IMMENSTADT

BAD HINDELANG

NESSELWANG

FÜSSEN

WIESKIRCHE

OBERAMMERGAU

ETTAL

SCHLOSS

LINDERHOF

GARMISCH-

PARTENKIRCHEN

Vils

Oberjoch

Egg

Stanzach

Weissenbach

Namlos

Bichlbach Ehrwald

Heiterwang

Rheineck

Schwarzach

Lochau

Reutte

Oberau

Sonthofen

Eriskirch

Baindt

Buchenberg

Wolfegg

Heimenkirch

Seeg

Görisried

Trauchgau

Biessenhofen

Germaringen

Marktoberdorf Peissenberg

Rott

Steingaden

Schwaig

Kohlhofen

Murnau

Leutkirch

Oberstdorf

Fischen

Lindenberg

Isny

Pfronten

Waltenhofen

Tettnang

Kisslegg

Bad Grönenbach

Altusried

Langenargen Weitnau

Simmerberg

Blaichach

Obergünzburg

Dornbirn

Bregenz

Wangen

Ravensburg

Kempten

Kaufbeuren

Friedrichshafen

Schongau

Weilheim

0 kilometers

0 miles

15

15