Chiemgau-Salzburg Route

South-East Bavaria, the Chiemgau and the Berchtesgadener Land were beautifully sculpted by the ice age to resemble an oversize open-air theatre. This route begins in Kufstein, the city with the fortress high above the Inn. Through the Priental (Prien Valley), we take you to the Chiemsee and onward to the Königssee via the German alpine highway. The route ends at the fortress and festival city of Salzburg, one of the most beautiful cities in the Alps.

Length of the route: Approximately 120 km
Excursions: Chiemsee boat crossing to the islands

Brief history of the route:
Please click on the 1st image and scroll through the route.

Kufstein, the pearl of Tyrol

For centuries the Kufstein fortress has stood majestically over the city on the Inn as its emblem. The fortress on the jagged cliffs is accessible by glass elevator or a roofed passageway. First mentioned in 1205, the castle was taken from Bavaria by the Austrian emperor Maximilian I in 1504. Although it was considered impregnable, the Austrians took it by storm. At a height of more than 90 meters, the Kaiserturm was completed by 1522. As you are touring the city, you should keep an eye on the time since the Heldenorgel (an organ) in the Bürgerturm can be heard across town each day at 12:00 noon (and also at 5:00 pm in the summertime). With 4,307 pipes, it is the largest outdoor organ in the world.

Sachrang, the village of Müllner Peter

The small Bavarian village at the top of the Priental looks back on a lively history. It became part of the Chiemsee diocese as a gift in 1216. Around 100 years later, it was transferred to Lord von Hohenaschau as a fiefdom before being purchased by the Hohenaschau seignorial court in the year 1529. At the end of the 17th century, the Graubündner brothers Giulio and Pietro Zucalli gave St. Michael parish church an especially magnificent flair one would not expect in a small village on the border. Author Carl Oscar Renner dedicated a novel “Der Müllner-Peter von Sachrang” to the most famous son of Sachrang Huber Peter (1766-1843), called “Müllner” after his trade. Sachrang became legend after a movie based on the novel was released.

Aschau in the Chiemgau

Along with the two onion domes of the Baroque parish church “Darstellung des Herrn”, the Aschauer Priental (Prien Valley) is defined by the mighty Schloss Hohenaschau (Hohenaschau Castle) (12th century). The palace chapel was remodelled in the Baroque style at the end of the 17th century. The altarpieces of the two side altars are works of Johann Babtist Zimmermann. For centuries the castle was a hub and seat of the seignorial court until the year 1848.
Tip! The Kampenwand (1,668 m) and the mountain lookout point in Chiemgau. (Accessed by cable car from Hohenaschau.)

Urschalling

The small, simple village church (castle and church of the Falkensteiner in the 12th century) is home to one of the greatest church paintings in the Alps. This Gothic-Romanic series of frescoes originated in the 12th to 14th centuries. Viewed in sequence, the frescoes represent a distinct biblical concept. The oldest of the paintings, illustrating the fall of mankind on the left-hand side of the sanctuary, was created in the 2nd half of the 12th century.

Chiemsee, the Bavarian sea

As a vestige of the last alpine glacier, Bavaria’s largest lake (84 square kilometres) was formed nearly 15,000 years ago. Its biggest tributary is the Tyrolean Ache. As a nature reserve, the river delta of the Ache is a paradise for birds. Attracted by large stocks of fish, Celts and Romans built settlements along the shores of the lake and on the islands. Three captivating islands – the Herreninsel, Frauenwörth and smaller Krautinsel – dot the lake. Crossings to the islands from Prien, approximately 3 km from Urschalling, are offered by Chiemsee Schiffahrt.

Herrenchiemsee an island in the Bavarian sea

The former Augustine monastery of canons is also known as the “old castle”. Its founding goes back to Duke Tassilo III, a member of the Agilolfinger dynasty in the 8th century. The Augustine monastery of canons was established in 1130. In 1215, the Salzburg diocese set up the Chiemsee suffrage diocese. Like most medieval monasteries, Chiemsee became a key cultural organisation with an economic and a political centre. The monastery and especially the “Fürstenstock” are among the most impressive Baroque structures from the 17th and 18th centuries.

Herrenchiemsee King Ludwig’s Versailles

Even before he acquired the Herreninsel, King Ludwig II had plans for a castle modelled on Versailles. Architect Georg Dollmann implemented his plans (construction commenced in 1878) and designed an even more perfect Versailles. At a length of 98 metres, the hall of mirrors (17 mirrors) is even larger than the gallery of mirrors in Versailles. In those days the 1,848 candles on 44 candelabra and 33 chandeliers were lit for the king alone. Construction stopped on May 5, 1886. The king passed away at Starnberger See on June 13, 1886. “If I cannot build, I cannot live.”

Frauenchiemsee, the most beautiful village in Bavaria

The convent on the Fraueninsel was founded around 860 by Emperor Ludwig the German. His daughter Irmingard was the first abbess. The Marienmünster is a late Ottonian structure from the early 11th century. Murals from the early 12th century are the most prized possession (exhibition in the atrium). The door frame with the tympanum is most likely from Carolingian times (9th century). The Campanile next to the church is the emblem of Chiemgau. With its octagonal shape, it was originally constructed in the 10th / 11th centuries as a defence and flight tower. The current onion dome replaced the old steeple in 1572. This onion dome is the oldest in Bavaria.

Next to the convent founded by Ludwig the German in the 9th century is the oldest “high building” in Bavaria, the Romanic atrium of the Carolingians and the oldest section of the convent. The open hall with its barrel vault represents one of the oldest types of vaults and is known from Grecian and Etruscan architecture.

Fretwork friezes and representational murals were uncovered in the Michaelskapelle on the second floor. The monochrome angels drawn with red lines date back to the early 9^th century.
Before leaving the island, you should take the time to try some Chiemsee fish and drop by the island potter. Next to fishing, pottery is one of the oldest traditions on Frauenwörth.

The German alpine highway

The German alpine highway runs from Lindau to Salzburg. You can follow this road to Berchtesgaden from Chiemsee via Bernau, Grassau, Reit im Winkl, Ruhpolding and Inzell.
One of the most beautiful views along this alpine route is found in Ramsau. The famous church by the wayside (St. Sebastian, 1512) with a view of the Hochkalter (2,608 m) is found along the old salt route from Schellenberg to Lofer. But not only the salt sumpters passed by this way for centuries; the Celts also took this route across to the Pinzgau. More information about St. Sebastian is found in the detailed route description which is available for download.

Maria Gern Pilgrimage Church

Maria Gern Church (1708) is among the most beautiful Baroque pilgrimage churches in Southern Germany. As pilgrimages continued to increase at the end of the 17^th century, the predecessor church soon became too small. The church features surprising festive Baroque and a delightful stucco ceiling.
Going for a hike up here in Maria Gern is highly recommended. The site of the church between Untersberg and Watzmann is unique and very picturesque.

Berchtesgaden

Berchtesgaden gave its name to the entire region. With the opening of the rail line in 1888, the Berchtesgadener Land received a major boost – especially through tourism. But first came the painters who wanted to capture the landscape at the foot of the second-highest mountain in Germany – the Watzmann at 2,713 m – on canvas for posterity. A stroll through the city offers numerous captivating views of the majestic mountain landscape. Nevertheless, you should pay attention to the façade murals on houses in the typical Salzburg style. The earliest façade mural, which dates back to around 1610, is found on the former guesthouse “Zum Hirschen”. In whimsical scenes, monkeys represent the vices of humanity.

An 11th-century hunting lodge called “Perther” (Gaden means house) gave the community its name. Count Berengar von Sulzbach founded an Augustine monastery of canons in 1105. The monastery received the salt monopoly from the German rulers in 1156, followed by worldly jurisdiction in 1194. Starting in 1245, the monastery of canons which first attained wealth from salt mining reported directly to the pope. From 1594 to 1723, the Wittelsbacher were also lords provosts of Berchtesgaden.
In the middle of the 15th century, the Romanic nave of the St. Peter and Johannes monastery of canons was replaced by a late Gothic church with three naves. The foundation walls of the double towers date back to Romanic times. Note the Romanic cloister dated around 1220 / 1250; it is one of the most famous in Germany. Next to the collegiate church, the castle museum in the former Wittelsbacher Castle with an extensive collection from Crown Prince Ruprecht of Bavaria is worth a look.
The historic Nonntal is the oldest street of houses in the city and features the typical alpine style. It goes back to the former Augustine convent. Starting with the Schlossplatz and the collegiate church, you will also find the old cemetery (from 1685, protected as a historic monument), the town hall, the provost's house (1560) and the museum of local history on this street. This street also leads to the salt mine.
Worth a visit: Berchtesgadener museum of local history, Berchtesgaden salt mine (a visit to the mine is worthwhile and enjoyable, not just for children).

The Königssee and Bartholomä

You can comfortably reach the Königssee on foot, by bike or by car. Motor vessels (now with regular all-round electric boat sailings) have been travelling the lake since 1909. Tourists can cross to the world-famous St. Bartholomä church, the emblem of Königssee, which is frequently painted and photographed. At the foot of the Hachelköpfe and the lesser Watzmann, boats sailing to the peninsula make a stop at the echo wall for the famous echo of trumpets that mystically sounds across the lake. Dedicated to the Holy Trinity, the “Basilica Chunigesse” was build around 1134. A chapel of Bartholomew is first mentioned in 1522. St. Bartholomew is the patron saint of alpine farmers, dairymaids and shepherds. St. Bartholomä Church was also remodelled in the Baroque style in 1698 and, at the beginning of the 18th century, connected to the hunting lodge by an addition (rotunda).
A trip on the Jennerbahn to the mountain station at 1,800 m above the sea and Königssee promises glorious views of Berchtesgaden National Park.

Kehlsteinhaus

The Kehlsteinhaus offers a grandiose view of the Alps from an elevation of 1,834 m. It took a mere 13 months to complete the road to the summit (not open to the public). It is a true masterpiece of road engineering. An elevator takes you to the mountain station from the bus turning area. The elevator travels a distance of 124 m in just 41 seconds.

Reichenhall

The region around Reichenhall was already settled in the Bronze Age – probably due to the salt springs. (Archaeological finds in the museum of local history!) 700 salt pans were in use around the year 700. Salzburg and Bavaria fought over the salt, which led to a defence wall for Reichenhall in order to protect it. 190,000 l of the brine with its high salt content (24%) were produced daily. The discovery of its healing powers in the 19th century marked the beginning of a highly successful period for the city. Reichenhall is one of Germany's major spa towns.

Bad Reichenhall the spa town

The largest open-air inhalatorium in Germany (1912, 720 m in length, wood construction) is found in the Reichenhall spa gardens. Every day, 2-3 percent alpine brine trickles down over approximately 100,000 bunches of blackthorn which finely disperse the brine. The brine promotes circulation and eases breathing.

In the old salt works, the machine shop is particularly significant from a technical point of view. Two large water wheels were erected over the main well shaft built in 1507.

Worth a visit: The former St. Zeno Augustine monastery of canons (1136). Its oldest section is a Romanic cloister. St. Zeno Cathedral was the largest of all Romanic basilicas in Upper Bavaria.

Tip! The Predigtstuhl mountain railway takes you to the landmark Reichenhall mountain in just 10 minutes. From the mountain station (1583 m), an easy mountain hike or climb takes you to the peak (1613 m). The view of Bad Reichenhall, Salzburg and the mountain panorama is unique.

Salzburg

Salzburg. This city on the Salzach is a giant, lively open-air museum. From Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart to the singing von Trapp family from the world-famous musical “The Sound of Music” – recipient of 5 Oscars – the city is music. Who hasn’t heard of this beauty of the Alps, or shall we say of Europe? Discovering Salzburg means rising early and taking the time for a leisurely stroll through the city. Horse drawn carriages awaiting visitors at the Residenzplatz offer a more comfortable option.

In Roman times the city was called “Juvavum”. This name, which was retained by the Celts and Romans, originally came from the Illyrians. The meaning of the name “Seat of the Heavenly God” leaves nothing to add. Salzburg was declared a World Heritage Site in 1997. From the Romanesque to the Baroque, the diocese city has amassed ample treasures: Hohensalzburg fortress (1077), a residence, a magnificent cathedral (the first early Baroque church of the Northern Alps, 1614-28; tip: the cathedral museum), Monastery of St. Peter (690, picturesque view of the ancient St. Peter’s cemetery), a castle (Mirabell in the new town), a large and a small festival hall, a cliff riding school, a shopping district (Getreidegasse) and much more… As mentioned above, allow plenty of time to explore this unique and beautiful city.

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Our hotel recommendations for this route

Alm- & Wellnesshotel Alpenhof Bavaria - Berchtesgaden / Königssee: The Alpine hotel falls out of the ordinary with its exeptional offers and its special familiar ambience.  More...

Ebner's Waldhof am See Austria, Salzkammergut: The lakeside hotel near Salzburg. Just imagine lying in the middle of a lush lawn on a soft blue towel...  More...