Discover Nature, Trails and Culture in Grabenstätt

Grabenstätter Moos and its changing seasons

The Grabenstätter Moos nature reserve covers around 1,250 hectares. Floodplain forests and hay meadows characterize this protected landscape, which is also a popular destination for nature lovers, hikers and cyclists. Its size and varied habitats give the moor a different character from a single viewpoint: here, an entire landscape is the focus.

A special seasonal highlight is the blue and yellow irises that bloom in Grabenstätter Moos in May and June. The exact timing of the bloom can vary. If you are planning your trip specifically to see these plants, it is therefore best to treat the timing as a seasonal guide rather than a guarantee of bloom.

Trails between the village center and Hirschauer Bucht

The Hirschau Circular Trail is a 7.5-kilometer hike in Grabenstätt. It starts at the town hall, crosses the market square, passes St. Maximilian’s Church and St. John’s Church, and then continues into the moor in the direction of Hirschauer Bucht. These named landmarks make the route easy to picture: the trail leads from the village center past the churches and onward into the countryside. Its stated length gives you a specific measure for planning your hike.

Another hiking option starts at Hirschauer Bucht: from there, you can hike past the nature observation tower to the Hagenau observation tower. This gives you two distinct route ideas: the 7.5-kilometer circular trail starting at the town hall, which passes through the village and into the moor, and the hike from the bay to the Hagenau observation tower.

One of the special attractions of the nature observation tower at Hirschauer Bucht is the view of Lake Chiemsee and its wading and water birds. Visitors interested in birdwatching and the landscape will find a clearly marked viewpoint here. Together with the trails through the moor, this offers a nature experience that includes both a single view across the lake and a longer hike.

Roman finds and impact research

The Grabenstätt Roman Museum displays Roman finds and meticulously restored mosaics. The Chiemgau Impact Museum offers a very different focus: it features an interactive display about research into comet and asteroid impacts. Grabenstätt thus brings two very different questions together—what Roman finds and mosaics can tell us, and how impact research investigates comet and asteroid collisions. Check the museums’ current opening hours before your visit.

Local traditions and the wider area

Local club life also features public events: the GTEV “Chiemgauer” Grabenstätt performs in parades and at secular festivals, and holds an annual club prize-plattling competition. If you would like to combine your trip with one of these events, check the local events calendar for suitable dates.

In the wider travel destination of Traunstein, the district offers a broader landscape: Lake Chiemsee and Lake Waginger See are located there, while the Chiemgau Alps are home to more than 170 alpine pastures and peaks reaching up to 2,000 meters. These details describe the district of Traunstein, not Grabenstätt alone. When looking for a holiday apartment, consider whether you want to focus mainly on the places and trails mentioned in Grabenstätt or explore the wider district.

Discover more destinations: Schnaitsee, Trostberg An Der Alz, Chieming, Surberg, Bergen, Kirchanschöring, Tacherting, Grassau.

Back to the main travel overview: Traunstein.