Piding: Bee Trail, Church and Mountain Views

Church frescoes from the 14th century, a walking trail through mixed woodland and flower meadows, and alpine activities showcase different sides of Piding. The town offers things to discover for culture-minded travellers and for families who want to enjoy the outdoors together: from historic Johannishögl to the trails on the Högl and the Piding via ferrata.

Church, traditions and nativity scene

St. John’s Church stands on the Johannishögl in Piding. Its features span several periods: these include 14th-century frescoes and Romanesque walls, as well as a late Gothic vaulted ceiling and a Baroque tower. The architectural styles and wall paintings give the church a distinct historical character.

Every year on 24 June, the feast day of the church’s patron saint is celebrated at Johannishögl, followed by a church consecration festival at the neighbouring inn after the service. A traditional St John’s fire is then lit and kept burning until evening. The day thus runs from a religious occasion to a celebration at the inn and an evening custom.

Another cultural discovery is the year-round nativity scene in the Old Rectory, above the Piding Tourist Information Office. It is arranged in an Alpine style and has been housed there since 2013. Wally Nitzinger created the nativity scene with more than 220 figures, 60 birds and native wildlife such as chamois, deer and ibex. The many figures and animals make this installation a different experience from the church’s historic architecture.

Walking trails and scenery on the Högl

The Piding Bee Trail is an enjoyable walk for the whole family. It leads from the Neubichler Alm through mixed woodland, past fruit trees and across flower meadows to the Johannishögl mountain inn. Along the way, visitors can learn about the importance of bees to natural and cultural landscapes, as well as to food and health. The trail thus combines a walk with topics rooted in the landscape and everyday life.

The Högl Circular Hiking Trail offers a different perspective. It starts at the Högler Straße hiking car park in Piding. Highlights along the route include the small monuments Haasen-Taferl and Högl-Steinbruch. The loop offers panoramic views of the Berchtesgaden mountains. While the Bee Trail focuses on the importance of bees, the Högl Circular Hiking Trail takes hikers past small monuments and mountain panoramas.

Mountain views and an alpine route

The Johannishögl inn stands on the Högl in Piding and offers views across the whole of Salzburg. For a more active outing, the Piding via ferrata is another option: it runs along the north face of the Hochstaufen. The via ferrata can be reached from Piding or Urwies via a forest road and a subsequent hiking trail. Check the latest route conditions before setting out.

The local destinations differ in both theme and type of route: a walk exploring the importance of bees, a loop with small monuments and panoramic views, or a via ferrata on the Hochstaufen. Which of these suits your trip depends on whether you want to focus on culture, a walk together or an alpine activity.

Getting there and choosing accommodation

Piding has its own railway station on the Freilassing–Berchtesgaden line. Check the current timetable for your travel dates.

Regional products are also among Piding’s discoveries: the dairy shop at the Berchtesgadener Land dairy’s production site in Piding offers its own dairy specialities, regional delicacies and fair-trade products. Check the latest opening hours before visiting.

If you mainly want to explore the church, the nativity scene and Piding’s trails, use Piding as your search location. If your itinerary also includes destinations elsewhere in the wider Berchtesgadener Land, consider the location you want within the region as well.

Piding within the wider Berchtesgadener Land destination

Berchtesgadener Land, in the southeast of Upper Bavaria, stretches from the gently rolling Rupertiwinkel in the north to Berchtesgaden National Park on the border with Austria. In the south, the region is shaped by high-alpine mountain landscapes and the natural setting around Lake Königssee. The Berchtesgadener Land Biosphere Region encompasses the entire district. The national park has an extensive network of 260 kilometres of hiking trails and alpine paths. These regional landscapes and trails offer a broader setting than the local experiences in Piding.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Bischofswiesen, Schneizlreuth, Eck, Ramsau bei Berchtesgaden, Laufen, Bayerisch Gmain, Saaldorf-Surheim, Schönau am Königssee.

Go to the overview of the wider destination: Berchtesgadener Land.