Berchtesgadener Land: Mountains, Salt and Culture

In the Berchtesgadener Land, high-alpine mountain landscapes meet gorges, lakeshores and striking evidence of the region’s salt-mining history. In southeastern Bavaria, in Upper Bavaria, the region stretches from the gently rolling Rupertiwinkel in the north to Berchtesgaden National Park on the border with Austria. In the south, the mountains and the natural surroundings of Königssee shape the landscape. The Berchtesgadener Land Biosphere Region encompasses the entire district.

Mountain trails, gorges and exceptional views

Berchtesgaden National Park has a 260-kilometre network of hiking trails and alpine routes. At the Haus der Berge, you can experience the landscape from a different perspective: the panoramic trail around the building brings the materials and plants of four habitats—water, forest, alpine pasture and rock—to life. It also offers views of the Watzmann, Hochkalter and Jenner mountains.

The gorges also reveal different sides of the region. In Ramsau, a short walking trail leads through Wimbachklamm alongside steep rock faces; the path is about 200 metres long, crossing bridges and walkways. The hike through Almbachklamm runs over 29 bridges and walkways and up 320 steps. The route also includes a tunnel blasted through the rock. The gorge is open seasonally and may close due to weather; check conditions before your visit.

At the entrance to Klausbachtal, in the national park community of Ramsau, stands Klausbachhaus. It is the starting point for many hikes into the national park, and an accessible circular trail also begins there. If you prefer to explore by bike, the Berchtesgadener Radstern offers four signposted routes radiating out from Berchtesgaden through the Berchtesgaden Valley.

Experience salt—underground and at the distillery

At the Berchtesgaden Salt Mine, visitors cross the underground Mirror Lake on a raft, 130 metres below ground, and see glittering salt crystals. The mine also offers insight into the journey of the brine: from its extraction in the mountain and transport to Bad Reichenhall to its processing into high-quality table salt. The salt mine has been in operation for more than 500 years.

Another place to discover regional specialities is the visitor centre of the Grassl Distillery in Unterau. During opening hours, a signposted tour takes you through the distillation of gentian, juniper, gin and masterwort. A free tasting of 40 specialities is also offered during opening hours.

Churches, collections and contemporary history

On Königssee, the pilgrimage church of St. Bartholomew, built in 1134, stands on the Hirschau peninsula in Berchtesgaden National Park. You can visit the church by boat from Schönau am Königssee; check the seasonal timetable before travelling. The Royal Palace of Berchtesgaden also brings together art and history, with valuable art collections and the deer collection of Duke Albrecht of Bavaria among its offerings. The small rose garden is open to visitors depending on the weather.

The Obersalzberg Documentation Centre explores the history of Obersalzberg and the Nazi dictatorship through multimedia exhibits. The historic bunker complex is accessible as part of the permanent exhibition. High above Berchtesgaden, the Kehlsteinhaus is a special day-trip destination, offering panoramic mountain views and insights into history.

Choose the right base for your trip

When looking for accommodation, it is worth first considering what matters most to you: do you want hiking trails and mountain scenery to be the main focus, or would you also like to make time for the history of salt, collections and historic sites? The experiences offer different highlights. Decide which ones matter to your trip, then compare the locations of specific accommodation with the places you have chosen to visit.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Bad Reichenhall, Bayerisch Gmain, Berchtesgaden, Ramsau bei Berchtesgaden, Bischofswiesen, Schönau am Königssee, Piding, Laufen, Marktschellenberg, Freilassing, Anger, Ainring, Schneizlreuth, Weißbach a. d. Alpenstraße, Teisendorf, Saaldorf-Surheim, Eck.

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