Discover Bischofswiesen: churches, moorland and winter trails

In Bischofswiesen, a variety of experiences are close together: church art in Loipl and in the village, the raised bog near Strub, views of the Watzmann and cross-country skiing and downhill skiing. Nature and cultural experiences thus meet winter activities. When choosing accommodation, it is worth first considering which of these aspects you would like to shape your stay.

Churches and art in Bischofswiesen

The pilgrimage church of Maria Hilf is located in the high-altitude district of Loipl. It was completed in 1798/99 and is the oldest church in Bischofswiesen. The Church of Creation in Bischofswiesen makes a different architectural statement: its timber-beam structure extends far into the church interior. The wooden panels in warm colours were created in 2008 by Schönau artist Christoph Merker. Together, the churches show different facets of the village—from the history of Maria Hilf to the design of the Church of Creation.

Cross-country skiing and downhill skiing: two different focuses

The Aschauerweiher cross-country skiing centre offers eight trails of all difficulty levels, totalling 16 kilometres. One specific feature is the stadium loop: weather permitting, it is covered with machine-made snow and floodlit from Tuesday to Thursday until around 8 p.m. Planning therefore depends both on the weather and on the time of day you prefer; check the latest information on trail operations.

The Götschen ski area serves as a training and competition venue for elite athletes, as well as a family ski area for locals and visitors. Götschen Ski School offers professional ski and snowboard lessons. If lessons are important to your stay, enquire directly about current availability. The cross-country skiing centre, ski area and ski school each have a different focus—the right choice depends on whether you want to prioritise trails, skiing or lessons.

Raised bog, views and play

In the district of Strub, Böcklmoos, together with the neighbouring Dachlmoos, is considered the largest and best-preserved raised bog in the Berchtesgaden Alps. The viewpoint at Kastensteinerwand offers views of the Watzmann. These two attractions offer a different perspective on Bischofswiesen from its churches and winter sports: one is a moorland landscape, the other a striking mountain view.

The adventure playground near the school in Bischofswiesen features play huts, a climbing net, a swing, a balance course and water play equipment. Its various features range from climbing and balancing to playing with water. Alongside nature and culture, it also offers a specific place for play and exercise in the village.

Berchtesgadener Land as the wider setting

The wider destination of Berchtesgadener Land stretches across southeastern Upper Bavaria, from the gently rolling Rupertiwinkel in the north to Berchtesgaden National Park on the border with Austria. The Berchtesgadener Land Biosphere Region covers the entire district. The national park offers a varied network of 260 kilometres of hiking trails and alpine paths.

The routes also differ in their described features: through Wimbachklamm in Ramsau, a walking path of around 200 metres leads over bridges and walkways alongside steep rock faces. The hike through Almbachklamm, by contrast, crosses 29 bridges and walkways, 320 steps and a tunnel blasted through the rock. Seasonal opening times and weather-related closures at Almbachklamm may change; check conditions before your visit.

Other regional cultural and nature attractions include the pilgrimage church of St. Bartholomä, built in 1134 on the Hirschau peninsula in Berchtesgaden National Park on Lake Königssee. A visit to the Berchtesgaden Salt Mine illustrates 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 active for over 500 years; underground, visitors cross the Mirror Lake on a raft 130 metres below ground and see sparkling salt crystals.

Discover more destinations: Bischofswiesen-Engedey, Stanggaß, Schneizlreuth, Bayerisch Gmain, Eck, Saaldorf-Surheim, Bad Reichenhall, Freilassing.

Go to the wider travel overview: Berchtesgadener Land.