The town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen in the Bavarian Alps should definitely be on your to-do list when you visit Germany. Try out this relaxed route to discover this idyllic neighborhood and feel the spirit of Bavarian tradition and history.
Tour Info
Difficulty level: moderate
Tour length: approx. 10 km
Ascent: 700 m
Descent: 700 m
In 1935, the localities Garmisch and Partenkirchen had to merge together due to the upcoming Winter Olympics - a political decision that was very unpopular with the locals. After more than 80 years, their residents still call themselves 'Garmischers' and 'Partenkircheners'. Apart from the common railway station and clinic, each district still has its own facilities, from churches and cemeteries to museums, swimming pools, cablecars or stadiums, as well as their own pedestrian zones or town centre areas. Local associations include a 'Garmisch Sports Club' and a 'Partenkirchen Sports Club'. And who would be surprised that each community has its 'own' mountain: Mount Wank is primarily Partenkirchen's domain, while Mount Kramer is the one for Garmisch. This informal competition goes on at high altitudes as well: the 'Garmisch' chalet St. Martin am Grasberg and the 'Partenkirchen' chalet Tannenhütte are located at the same altitude (approx. 1,000 m), both offer a great view of Garmisch-Partenkirchen and the Wetterstein chain, great cuisine and almost limitless opportunities for easy walks and public events.
Arrival
If you are physically fit, try hiking or cycling from the Hotel am Badersee in Grainau to Garmisch: the 7 km long route is a great option for a scenic walk or a relaxing bike ride. For pedestrians, two different routes are possible: via the Hammersbach Trail ('Hammersbacher Fußweg') or via the Kramer Plateau Trail ('Kramerplateauweg'). Naturally, you can get there by public transport or by car as well. For instance, our Eibsee bus from Grainau ends at St. Sebastian's Chapel ('Sebastianskirche') and thus brings visitors directly to the Partenkirchen pedestrian zone. Here we would start our excursion.
Enjoying the sun in Partenkirchen
In Partenkirchen we recommend the route via Sonnenbergstraße, along Floriansbrunnen and Brunnhäuslweg to the pilgrimage church of St. Anton (link in German). Continue along any of the numerous streets and paths that lead above Partenkirchen to the Tannenhütte chalet, to a viewpoint (e.g. to the so-called 'Josefsbichl'). With their old houses and typical architecture, the streets of Partenkirchen here on the slope let the hiker experience the rustic atmosphere and the Bavarian history to the full. On the way back, stroll through the famous Historic Ludwigstraße that lies in the heart of the Partenkirchen pedestrian zone. Here you would not only enjoy the traditional architecture, but also be able to choose from a number of good restaurants.
Detour to Tannenhütte Chalet
A hike to the Tannenhütte chalet on Mount Wank (link in German) is a highlight for any traveler visiting Partenkirchen. You should plan additional 2 to 3 hours for the hike, depending on how fast you are. The chalet is located at approx. 1,000 m altitude just below the middle station of the Wankbahn cablecar. It can be easily reached from Partenkirchen on several easy routes through the light mountain forest. Walking time for these relaxed routes with only some 300 vertical meters lies between 40 minutes and 1 hour, depending on your physical condition. On the way you can take a break on one of the numerous benches and enjoy the view of the Zugspitze and Wetterstein range in peace and quiet. Another attraction next to the Tannenhütte is the Hacker-Pschorr suspension bridge. The food at the chalet is commendable as well. In fact, the trail that runs along the south face of Mount Wank counts as sunbathing in good weather. Also, the Tannenhütte offers a large sun terrace with a magnificent view of Garmisch-Partenkirchen.
From Partenkirchen to Garmisch
Back in the valley, we walk past the Sebastian's Chapel and a small park behind it and then through Hindenburgstraße. Here the St. Irmengard Girls' School located in an old convent building is the local attraction. The school has recently undergone an extensive renovation. Its famous graduates include the German biathlon stars Laura Dahlmaier and Magdalena Neuner. Next to the school, you cross the main road at the traffic lights and find yourself in Kankerweg. The banks of the Kankerbach torrent were reengineered as part of the flood protection measures after the massive damage caused by the floods in 1999 (the water stood as deep as 1 metre on the main road in Partenkirchen!). Follow the modern stone promenade and turn left a short time later to the bridge. Here you can take the small footpath to Enzianstraße, which leads you through the quiet residential area into the centre of Garmisch. Here you would also cross the Partnach river, which served as the town border between Partenkirchen and Garmisch in the past. The current boundary between the both districts is along the railway tracks.
Through Garmisch city center
Along the shopping street Chamonixstraße (named after the French town of Chamonix, the Alpine twin town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen), you would reach the Garmisch pedestrian zone. This area is typically used for open-air events, like the White Night in summer or the City Biathlon late in December, when the entire pedestrian zone is transformed into a biathlon track. A brief detour to the Michael Ende Park is a nice match to a coffee in the traditional local Café Adlwärth or at the historic confectionery Konditorei Krönner. While the numerous shops in the pedestrian zone are an attraction for tourists, let's enjoy the architecture and the atmosphere. As we move along, we arrive at the historic Mohrenplatz with its Polzenkasper farmer's garden (which becomes a skating rink in winter!) and later at the Old Pharmacy ('Alte Apotheke'), which has long been a landmark of Garmisch. By the way, the parish church of St. Martin, located here in Marienplatz, was built with the stones looted from the Werdenfels castle ruins. From Marienplatz, turn right into Griessstrasse to reach the 'old' centre of Garmisch. Take a walk around the small alleys here to enjoy the historic buildings.
Below Mount Kramer
Continue along Kramerstraße, and you would come to a beautiful wooden pedestrian bridge built in the typical Bavarian tradition. Here you can cross the Loisach river to find yourself in the old residential area of Garmisch. The local highlights include old traditional buildings like the Bayernhalle and the Garmisch brewery (Garmischer Brauhaus), as well as historic villas, like the Strauss Villa. At the Maximilianshöhe you can have a meal at the Almhütte Chalet, the restaurant is located directly on the Kramer Plateau Trail. Many hikes to the Ammergau Alps start here - especially to the Stepbergalm and to Mount Kramer. The easiest route is to the St.Martinshütte Chalet (1,040 m). Depending on your physical condition, the ascent may take some 40 minutes to 1 hour.
The right starting point for this tour is the 'Bayernhalle' in Brauhausstraße, so a visit to the St. Martinshütte would be a great addition for your walk through Garmisch. The chalet is easy to reach from Grainau as well. In winter you can try out the toboggan run from the chalet, which is the oldest and also the longest toboggan run in Garmisch. During the summer season, the chalet is the starting point for numerous hikes - e.g. to the Felsenkanzel viewpoint (easy tour, approx. 45 min.) or to the Königstand, one of the peaks on Mount Kramer (easy to moderate tour, approx. 1.5 hours). The chalet itself dates back to the 1920s, it used to be one of the first alpine chalets in the area and has retained its atmosphere to this day. The place where the chalet stands today was actually discovered by the Bavarian King Max II during his hunting trips to the Königstand. Here the monarch sometimes enjoyed his breaks on a bench built for him.
Back in Garmisch, you can simply walk back to the hotel at Badersee (another 7 km). If you feel it's time for a break, the Eibsee bus stops at Marienplatz next to the Pizza Hut restaurant.
Tips & Infos:
- From the Hotel am Badersee you can easily reach Garmisch town centre on foot via the Kramer Plateau Trail or the Hammersbach Trail.
- Alternatively, you can rent mountain bikes or e-bikes, go to Garmisch-Partenkirchen and make stops to explore the neighborhood. The easiest way to get there by bike is on the Hammersbach Trail, along Hausberg and then to the train station. There are numerous parking facilities for bicycles in the centre. Please note that cycling is not allowed in Garmisch pedestrian zone from 10 am to 8 pm.
- The Eibsee bus starts from the bus stop at the Hotel am Badersee to the centre of Partenkirchen ('Sebastianskirche').
- Learn more about history and architecture: List of architectural monuments in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.
- For a rainy day: Visit the Werdenfels Museum in Partenkirchen and the Aschenbrenner Museum in Garmisch.
- Tannenhütte - Website
- St. Martinshütte - Website
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