Garmisch-Partenkirchen: Mountains, Culture and Activity

Partnach Gorge and Hiking Mountains

Visitors can walk through Partnach Gorge and experience its massive rock walls and the water rushing below them. The gorge was declared a natural monument in 1912 and opened to visitors. This brings an immediate experience of the landscape together with a historic connection in the same place.

At 1,780 metres, Wank is Partenkirchen’s local mountain and is well suited to leisurely mountain hikes with far-reaching views. The Wank cable car takes you directly from Garmisch-Partenkirchen to the summit. The 1,237-metre-high Eckbauer can also be reached by cable car; it is suitable for hiking in both summer and winter and is considered a versatile hiking area. When planning, take the operating conditions of the mountain railways into account.

At the foot of Kramer lies the Kramerplateauweg, a panoramic trail with well-maintained walking paths and gentle gradients. This means the hiking options can be considered in terms of different features: Wank is known for leisurely mountain hikes and far-reaching views, while gentle gradients are an explicit feature of the Kramerplateauweg’s route description. If you are looking for a holiday apartment, consider which kind of hiking experience you would like to shape your holiday.

Local Culture and History

The Richard Strauss Institute is housed in the historic Villa Christina in Partenkirchen’s spa gardens. It features a permanent exhibition about the life and work of Richard Strauss. The Richard Strauss Festival takes place every June in Garmisch and includes performances of his works. The exhibition and festival have different focuses: the festival takes place in a specific month, and its programme may change. So check the current dates before travelling in June.

The Werdenfels Museum in Garmisch-Partenkirchen was founded in 1895 from a private collection and is now one of the most important museums of its kind in Bavaria. In the Zugspitze room, you can see the original 150-kilogram summit cross from Zugspitze. You can also encounter culture while out for a walk: look for the famous Lüftlmalerei murals on the house façades.

Associated with the 1936 Winter Olympics are the Olympia Ski Stadium in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, the ski jump on Gudiberg and the Olympia bobsleigh track near Riessersee.

Walking, Cycling and a Garden for the Senses

A walk through Partenkirchen leads from the Garmisch Tourist Information Centre along Ludwigstraße to the pilgrimage church of St. Anton. Cyclists can choose from a well-signposted network of routes spanning more than 453 kilometres. It includes both leisurely excursions and challenging mountain tours and downhill trails. The total distance may change if routes are added or modified.

In Michael Ende Spa Park, the Garden of the Senses offers an experience for the senses of smell, taste, touch, sight and hearing. Werdenfelser flower salt is listed as a regional product of Garmisch-Partenkirchen: its production emphasises local production, traditional methods and local raw materials.

When choosing a holiday apartment in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, the kind of days you want to spend can help guide you: would you like to focus on mountain hiking and cycling, or also set aside time for museums, music and local history? The walking routes and cultural attractions described here offer concrete ideas, without requiring every day of your holiday to follow the same theme.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Murnau Am Staffelsee, Oberammergau, Oberau, Wallgau, Seehausen Am Staffelsee, Saulgrub, Ohlstadt, Unterammergau, Uffing Am Staffelsee, Riegsee, Bad Kohlgrub, Ettal, Farchant, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Grainau, Krün, Mittenwald.

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