Back Roads Germany (Dk Eyewitness Travel Back Roads)

253

DAY TRIP OPTIONS

The region can be explored in a series

of day trips.

Architectural haven

Visit the church of Wieskirche 6 ,

then head to Oberammergau 7 to

admire the façade paintings. Stop at

Ettal 8 to see the Baroque abbey.

From Wieskirche, follow directions to

Oberammergau, take the B23 to Ettal.

Lakes and mountains

Head to one of Bavaria’s most

beautiful lakes, the Walchensee q,

then stop by the Kochel am See w.

Next, visit the Tegernsee t and its

pretty neighbor, Schliersee y.

Follow the B11 to Kochel am See. Go

past Benediktbeuern to the B472 to

Bad Tölz. Take the B13 and B307 to

Tegernsee. Follow directions to Schliersee.

Historical associations

Learn about Berchtesgaden’s d salt

mining history, then visit the Nazi’s

holiday retreat at Obersalzberg f.

Follow Salzbergstrasse from

Berchtesgaden to the

Dokumentation Obersalzberg.

DRIVE 24: The German Alps

d Berchtesgaden
Bavaria; 83471
Berchtesgaden was once an
indepen dent Prince-Bishop ric living

off the proceeds of the Salzbergwerk,
or salt mine (Bergwerkstrasse 83, 83471;
open daily; http://www.salzzeitreise.de)..) The
village has the atmosphere of a
minia ture capital city, notably on
Schlossplatz, which is dominated by
the Stiftskirche and the façade of the
Königliches Schloss (mid-May–mid-Oct:
open Sun–Fri; mid-Oct–mid-May: open
Mon–Fri), a former bishops’ palace that
now belongs to the Bavarian royal
family, the Wittelsbachs.
ª Continue on the Salzbergstrasse, up
the steep ascent to Obersalzberg. Park

at the Dokumentation Obersalzberg.

f Obersalzberg
Bavaria; 83471

A favorite holiday retreat of high-
ranking Nazis, the mountain village
of Obersalzberg is home to the
Dokumentation Obersalzberg (Apr–
Oct: open daily; Nov–Mar: closed Mon).
This museum occupies the site of
Adolf Hitler’s former mountain home

g Schönau am Königsee

Bavaria; 83471

Around 2 miles (4 km) south of

Berchtesgaden lies Schönau am

Königsee, which is home to the 5-mile

(8-km) long fjord-like lake, Königsee.

The lake lies in the shadow of the

8,901-ft (2,713-m) Watzmann at the

eastern limit of the Deutsche Alpen-

strasse. The chapel of St. Bartholomä,

which stands at the foot of the moun-

tain, can only be reached by boat. Tour

boats (daily, except 24 Dec) depart from

the village of Schönau for the chapel.

EAT AND DRINK

AROUND CHIEMSEE

Mühlberger expensive

This Michelin-starred restaurant

also has regular cooking courses.

Bernauer Strasse 40, 83209 Prien

am Chiemsee (west of Chiemsee);

08051 966 888; http://www.muehlberger-

restaurant.de; open Thu–Mon

BAD REICHENHAL

Axel Stüberl moderate

This restaurant boasts a refined take

on the cooking of the region.

Radisson Blu Axelmannstein Resort,

Salzburger Strasse 2–6, 83435;

08651 77 70

BERCHTESGADEN

Hubertusstuben moderate

Specialities served here include

venison with creamed mushrooms,

and Spätzle (Swabian noodles).

Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten

Maximilianstrasse 20, 83471;

08652 95 20

Eat and Drink: inexpensive, under €20; moderate, €20–€40; expensive, over €40

http://www.alte-saline-bad-reichenhall.de),,) with
brine springs and a tunnel system.
ª Return on the B21 to
Unterjettenberg, turn left on to the
B305 for Berchtesgaden. Park in the
parking lot at Kur-und Kongresshaus.

Above left Berchtesgaden, with the Alps in

the background Above top right Chalet in

Ruhpolding Above right River boat on Bavaria’s

largest lake, the Chiemsee Center left

Kehlsteinhaus or Eagle’s nest, Obersalzberg

and docu ments the rise, fall, and

crimes of the Nazis. It ends with a visit

to the warren of tunnels in which the

Nazis planned to make their last stand.

In summer, buses depart from the

adja cent terminal for the ascent to the

Kehlsteinhaus, or Eagle’s Nest, the

dic tator’s mountain-top tea room.

ª Return to Berchtesgaden. Turn left

on to the B305, then left at the round-

about on to the B20 to Schönau am

Königsee. Park away from the lake

and complete the journey on foot.