Photography - Ivan Andrejic
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Garmisch-Partenkirchen Holiday Paradise in Bavaria Quaint little alleys, cosy beer gardens or lively pavement cafés. Impressive mountain summits and blooming meadows. Old churches and traditional shops. Once you take the first look around in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, you’ll quickly realise: This is where I want to stay – at least, for a little while. In Garmisch-Partenkirchen, you’ll feel welcome right away. As if you had been walking the streets and hiking trails here for years already. As if you had enjoyed a cup of coffee with locals and chatted about everything and anything countless times before. Why is that? The answer might remain the market town’s little secret forever. One thing’s for sure, though: Hardly anyone can resist the rustic charm and the almost limitless variety of Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Everyone finds their personal holiday fulfilment here. While skiing or cross-country skiing. While hiking or biking. During health treatments and spa visits. While strolling around, tasting culinary delights and enjoying yourself. Garmisch-Partenkirchen will make your heart beat faster …
Historic Garmisch - Partenkirchen A stroll through historic Garmisch is an engaging journey back in time. The farm houses in Werdenfels with their lavishly embellished balconies tell their own story – just like the quaint little alleys and Lüftlmalerei mural paintings lining the Frühlingstraße. Walk past the Alte Kirche, a church from the 13th century, admire the historic flair of the Polznkasperhaus, and process the new impressions at a shaded beer garden. You’ll see: Garmisch is the perfect place to let your mind wander and relax.
Equally as endearing: the historic district of Partenkirchen. It’s jam-packed with fascinating history as well. The Fraundorfer Inn with its magnificent farmer’s wedding paintings, the Werdenfels Museum or Haus Simon, where Archangel Gabriel with his fire sword and lily is standing guard. Those are living memories of days long past that keep shaping the overall appearance of Partenkirchen still today. A slight breeze, a few rays of sunlight and a cold beer in front of one of the many traditional houses in the historic district of Partenkirchen that’s all it takes for the original Bavarian holiday feeling!
Werdenfels Museum The Werdenfels Museum in Garmisch-Partenkirchen emerged from a private collection in 1895. Today, it’s one of the most important museums of its kind in Bavaria. On five floors and an exhibition area of 900 square metres, you can learn more about the exciting history and culture of the Werdenfels region. Countless originals of folk art, handicrafts as well as items from bourgeois and farm life perfectly portray a time long gone.
The Olympia Adventure World in Garmisch-Partenkirchen In honor of the five rings 1936 – a year in which sports history was written. 17 competitions, 28 participating countries and 646 athletes. The fourth Olympic Winter Games were a true spectacle. The location: beautiful Garmisch-Partenkirchen. The ski jump on the Gudiberg and the Olympic bobsleigh run near Lake Riessersee are still impressive attractions in the mountains of Bavaria. Discover a place where passion for winter sports becomes tangible! All in honor of the five rings.
Lake Riessersee South of Garmisch in the Wetterstein mountain range at 785 metres above sea level, you’ll find a historic gem: Lake Riessersee. The formation of Lake Riessersee goes all the way back to medieval times. That’s when the lake was artificially created in a forest glade. Behind the picturesque body of water near the Zugspitze, you can see the Waxenstein (2,277 metres) and the Kramer (1,985 metres) mountains towering over it. On clear days, the Zugspitz range is mirrored on the surface of the water. The hike around the lake attracts lots of visitors and locals year-round. In summer, relaxation seekers can cool off in the water – in winter, people can go ice skating on the lake. Numerous competitions, among them the Olympic Winter Games of 1936, were held on Lake Riessersee. The world-famous Olympic bobsleigh run is in close proximity as well.
The Partnach Gorge in Garmisch-Partenkirchen The moment when you enter the Partnach Gorge and you find yourself surrounded by massive rock faces hardly compares to anything else. You hear the water rushing through the gorge beneath you. Wild and boisterous. One can only imagine the enormous amounts of water that have hollowed out the mountain over the centuries. While strolling past the impressive rock faces, you’ll be amazed at all the new and breathtaking perspectives that await you along the trail.
The process that creates gorges is equally as impressive as experiencing them first-hand. Several million years ago, meltwater and debris hollowed out the rock leaving a narrow gorge – the Partnach Gorge in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. In 1912, the gorge was declared a natural landmark, but it hasn’t always been as tame and approachable as it is today. Once upon a time, visitors trying to walk through the gorge risked their lives, whilst nowadays there are two safe trails to choose from. Let the wild waterfalls, rapids and tranquil water basins enchant you! You love summer? The days when the temperatures are climbing higher and higher and you want enjoy the nice weather to the fullest? That’s the perfect time to visit the Partnach Gorge! Airy, shaded and refreshing – the Partnach Gorge is a great destination for an exciting excursion.
The Zugspitze near Garmisch-Partenkirchen Up on 3,000 meters above sea level, on Germany’s highest mountain. High above the clouds, surrounded by infinite freedom. Up on the Zugspitze, you’re greeted by a breathtaking 360-degree-view of more than 400 summits. Take your time and breathe deeply. Far away from the everyday hustle and bustle, look off into the distance. Drunk on fresh mountain air, you savour the moment and realize: This impression will stay with you for a very long time. The Zugspitze is a paradise for passionate hikers, action lovers and pleasure-seekers. The Northern Limestone Alps are where Germany’s and Austria’s mountains join hands, with the impressive “Southern Schneeferner”, “Northern Schneeferner” and “Höllentalferner” glaciers all within reach. The first recorded ascent of Zugspitze was on August 27, 1820, when officer Josef Naus, his survey assistant Maier and mountain guide Johann Georg Tauschl set out to conquer the summit by order of the Royal Bavarian Topographic Bureau. The famous golden summit cross towering above the Wetterstein mountains was put up on initiative of local priest Christoph Ott in 1851.
ŠGarmisch-Partenkirchen Tourismus
Hiking in Garmisch-Partenkirchen Hiking is – quite literally – the most down-toearth way to explore a holiday region. Every step takes you closer to the true self of Garmisch-Partenkirchen – and your own! After all, nothing connects you with an environment like feeling the earth beneath your feet and claiming every kilometre at your own pace. Behind every bend, grand views and small treasures are waiting for you that might be overlooked in the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Hiking means: learning to feel yourself again. Clearing your mind with every step and making room for new, fulfilling impressions. A hiking holiday in Garmisch-Partenkirchen offers all the opportunities – after all, the mountain world of Bavaria is known for being one of Germany’s most beautiful hiking regions! Whether it’s the Wetterstein or the Karwendel range, a mountain tour with views of the legendary Zugspitze, or a relaxed family walk around the lake: Hiking in Garmisch-Partenkirchen is like a holiday for your body and soul!