The quaint German mountain town of Berchtesgaden, close to the Austrian border, basks in the remarkable beauty of the Bavarian Alps. But in contrast to the mountains and mirror lakes, a sinister history lingers – remnants of the Nazi years, including dark-tourism locations such as the Eagle’s Nest. Here’s our guide to the can’t-miss attractions.
Set sail onto one of the most beautiful lakes in Germany, the Königssee. This 8km-long, 1,250m-wide crystal-clear natural lake is formed by glacial waters in the southeast of Berchtesgadener Land. Towering mountain peaks are reflected on its mirror-like water, which has been kept clean and pristine thanks to a ban on any boat that’s not electric. Boat tours usually allow you to get off and explore the photogenic St Bartholomew’s Church.
The Kehlsteinhaus (Eagle’s Nest) stands on a majestic ridge 1,834m above ground – but the building’s history is a dark one. It was commissioned by the Nazis in 1937, as a place to discuss and draw out their regime’s plans. It’s an eerie feeling to take the lift once used by Hitler, and to see the meeting rooms through plate-glass windows. Information about the building’s past is relayed along the wall of what is now a beer terrace.
The salt mine of Berchtesgaden Salzbergwerk, which has been operating since 1517, takes you on a fascinating journey into the world of so-called white gold. Only accessible by guided tour, you’ll learn the history and process of salt mining over the course of an hour or so. The experience is far from dry – you’re given traditional miners’ overalls before riding a train deep into the mine, taking a raft across a salt lake and slipping down an old industry slide.
In summer, there’s one way to take in the Alpine scenery that beats all others – by riding the 600-metre (1,969-foot) luge. You’ll whizz downhill on a metal chute while sitting on a small cart that has a brake in the middle, which allows you to control your own speed – note that under-eights aren’t allowed to ride alone. It’s not something you can do just once, so buy a few rides upfront and go down again and again.
A pilgrimage destination on the lakeshore of Königssee, St Bartholomew’s (Bartholomae) Church has a postcard-perfect spot at the foot of mist-shrouded Alps. It’s made even more striking by its baroque architecture, with red-painted onion domes on top of a pretty stucco building. The church is accessible by boat – it’s located on the Hirschau peninsula at the lake’s west bank – or by a long mountain hike.
The Wimbachklamm Gorge is an eroded section of the Wimbach Valley, carved out by the force of the River Wimbach over thousands of years. You’ll hear the river before you see it – it flows underground before erupting with a roar and crashing down a waterfall into the gorge. You can see this natural wonder on the wooden walkways, accessible from the foot of Mount Watzmann.
A drive along Rossfeld Panoramastrasse is the highlight of any tour of Berchtesgaden. This serpentine road, hugging the cliffs and winding between the pines, is like something from an Alpine storybook. It’s spectacular whatever the season – the dazzling green panorama of summer is transformed into a snowy wonderland come winter. Shooting off the road are hiking trails of varying difficulty, while higher up you’ll find skiing pistes.
9. Take in the history of Dokumentation Obersalzberg
Dokumentation Obersalzberg is a museum of 950 documents, photographs, audio clips, videos and maps depicting Nazi rule and the horrors of the Holocaust. It also traces the morphing of Obersalzberg from a tourist destination to Hitler’s stronghold and back again. It had been the place of Hitler’s holiday home since 1923, and was then expanded to become the second seat of government after Berlin. The museum also hosts special exhibitions and lectures from time to time.
The German War Graves are another reminder of the ugliness of war that once existed alongside this region’s beauty. Townsfolk with no physical remains of their relatives often erected their own memorials and tombstones in existing cemeteries, such as this one at the local Franciscan church. Around the cemetery are 910 graves of German soldiers and 55 graves of German civilians who were killed during World War II – most of which are empty.
Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.
Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.
Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips,Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.
Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.
We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.
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