Fancy a trip into the mountains? Garmisch-Partenkirchen is nestled amid breathtaking peaks, at the foot of the 2,962-metre Zugspitze mountain.
- Garmisch-Partenkirchen and its history
- The Zugspitze and beautiful hikes
- Garmisch-Partenkirchen: How to get there from Munich
The town at Garmisch-Partenkirchen today came into being in 1936, formed from the amalgamation of the previously independent towns of Garmisch and Partenkirchen – which have nonetheless retained their own distinctive characters to this day. For a particularly lovely stroll, historic buildings from various epochs line Ludwigstraße, many with façades decorated with the frescoes so typical of the region.
The town, located in the Werdenfelser Land region, became world famous when it hosted the 1936 Olympic Winter Games. The Olympic ski jump course remains in use to this day – including for the annual tradition of the New Year’s ski jump (Neujahrsspringen).
Garmisch-Partenkirchen evokes a natural and automatic association with the Zugspitze mountain. But be aware that it’s not necessary to scale the peak yourself: thanks to the new cable car, the cog railway and the Glacier cable car, you can reach the Zugspitze Glacier and panoramic platform without even breaking a sweat.
And if you prefer not to venture up so high, it’s also possible to hike through the rugged, 700-metre-long Partnach Gorge, which has walls that tower as high as 80 metres overhead. If you prefer, you can take a tour of the splendid Königshaus am Schachen (King’s House at Schachen), built in the Oriental style by the Fairytale King Ludwig II, between 1869 and 1872. It can be reached on foot in around three to four hours.
Train connection from Munich: about 1.5 hours. Information at bahn.de
Car: about 1 hour via the A95 motorway
