Berchtesgaden is lovely located in a valley surrounded by mountains on three sides. The town itself is pretty but it is really the mountain surroundings that lift it above the average to one of the most popular holiday destinations in Germany. It is a year-round destination with excellent winter sports facilities and equally fine hiking and cycling opportunities in warmer seasons. Although natural beauty is the main draw, it also has a few cultural and historical sights and if these do not suffice, marvelous Baroque Salzburg is only a twenty-minute bus ride away.
The small old town is pretty and the constant backdrop of the Alps enhances the atmosphere. In all honesty, the indoor sights here should be reserved only for a very rainy day. They are fine but the natural beauty of the area is simply so much more impressive. The Schloss was a residence of the Wittelsbachs, Bavaria’s former ruling family, up to the late twentieth century and although a fine palace, what is on offer compares badly to say the Residenz in Munich that charges the same admission of €7.
One of the most photographed sights in Berchtesgaden is the small pilgrim’s chapel Maria Gern. Driving there from downtown is quite a joy – the route is well signposted but roads are small and winding going through beautiful suburbs and wooded areas. The parking lot at the chapel is minuscule but that turned out to be less of a disadvantage than envisaged. The chapel is minuscule too and the interior can only be seen through the railed-off portal. It can literally be seen in a few minutes and it is the lovely location more than anything inside that is the main attraction.
The best Alpine views can be enjoyed from the Roßfeld Panorama Straße – a toll road just outside Berchtesgaden that is the highest public road in Germany. Ample parking opportunities allow drivers to enjoy the views in safety and also to stroll around in the mountains and forests.
Back in the valley, just below the Watzmann peak is the small village Ramsau. It has typical Alpine architecture using ample amounts of wood in all buildings. Streams are guided and the local church has a location as lovely as Maria Gern but without the parking problems. The restaurant just above the church serves local cuisine as well as coffee with huge cakes.