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There is no finer holiday area in Germany, summer or
winter, than the Berchtesgadener Land – that
breathtakingly beautiful region of mountains, woods,
meadows and lakes in the heart of the Bavarian Alps. Few
places offer such spectacular mountain scenery, and none
have anything quite equalling the sublime beauty of the
Königssee, Germany’s cleanest, clearest lake.
All these attractions are within the boundaries of the
National Alpine Park, an environmentally protected area
and a naturalist’s paradise with its rich flora and
fauna. Berchtesgaden itself, only 90 miles from Munich,
is situated between Salzburg, the city of Mozart, and
Bad Reichenhall, with its world-famous salt-water health
spas.
History buffs will be fascinated by the ruins of the
Obersalzberg, Hitler’s holiday home, and by the
panoramic view from the “Eagle’s Nest”, now a mountain
restaurant perched on top of the 6,000 ft Kehlstein
Mountain. There are wonderful hill walks along
well-mapped trails, or boat trips across the tranquil
Königssee.
Then there is a tour of the 450-year-old salt mine, the
original source of Berchtesgaden’s wealth. There,
dressed in traditional miner’s clothing, you travel
2,100 ft into the heart of the salt mountain and sail
across an underground salt lake.
Not surprisingly, Berchtesgaden caters well for the
individual traveller by offering guided sightseeing on
English-speaking mini bus tours.
You can see the Gothic and Rococo wonders of the Royal
Castle, holiday home of the Kings of Bavaria; visit the
“Heimatmuseum” where traditional carved wooden toys and
handicrafts are displayed; drink the local Schnapps at
Germany’s oldest gentian liqueur distillery and try the
local beer and cuisine at a ‘Bavarian evening’. And
that’s just the summer! In winter, Berchtesgaden, under
its mantle of snow, becomes a true “winter wonderland”.
It offers good ski areas with un-crowded slopes for the
sportsman – but much more be-sides. A landscape
transformed, silence in which to reflect on the winter
beauty of the countryside, cosy evenings round an open
fire, companionship and true recreation – all can be
found in Berchtesgadener Land.
But winter is not only for skiers. And in its holiday
facilities for non-skiers, Berchtesgaden comes into its
own. For anyone who likes to don their walking boots in
winter, there are many miles of cleared walks. And to
hike across the frozen vastness of the Königssee in
clear winter sunlight is an experience no walker will
ever forget.
As well as downhill skiing, Berchtesgadener Land offers
ice-skating on an ice-rink or on the Hintersee. There
are several curling rinks, many mapped cross-country ski
trails and there are also several toboggan runs.
And if all this activity just makes you shiver, you are
welcome simply to stand and stare: at the downhill
skiing, on the cross-country ski trails, at the foot of
the ski jump or on the stands at the bob-sleigh run. If
you want to wrap your winter holiday up in an
unforgettable experience, you can simply book a trip in
a hot air balloon.
And all this time you are enjoying the “hidden extras”
of a holiday in Berchtesgadener Land – the fresh
mountain air, the breathtaking scenery and the
friendliness of people who have had generations of
practice in the art of true Bavarian hospitality. |
