Marquartstein: Mountains, Trails and Local History

Marquartstein connects the gravel banks of the Tiroler Ache with the peaks of the Chiemgau Alps. Hochplatte is the local mountain and a starting point for hikes to mountain pastures. There are also cycling and hiking trails, an adventure park and churches with their own local and cultural history. This gives you a choice when planning your trip, from active days in the mountains to seasonal experiences and cultural discoveries.

Hochplatte, Hiking Trails and Winter Tobogganing

The family-friendly Hochplattenbahn double chairlift takes visitors from Marquartstein up to an altitude of 1,040 metres. In summer, varied, well-marked hiking routes lead from its mountain station to Piesenhauser Hochalm. Operating hours may vary by season. If you want to focus your stay on summer hikes to mountain pastures, this is a specific starting point for your excursions.

The Staffen forest adventure trail, an easy 4-kilometre circular route, starts at the same point. The natural toboggan run offers a different kind of outing: it starts at the Hochplattenbahn mountain station at 1,040 metres and descends through the snow-covered mountain forest to the valley station. The route is around 3.5 kilometres long. Snow and operating conditions may vary; the toboggan run offers a winter activity, while the circular route is described as an easy hike.

Adventure Park and Cultural Heritage

The Märchen-Erlebnispark Marquartstein has a summer toboggan run, a petting zoo with goats and a wildlife enclosure with red and fallow deer. This complements the mountain and trail activities with a focus on rides and wildlife watching. Opening periods may vary; if you plan to visit, check the dates for your travel period.

The Catholic parish church “Zum kostbaren Blut” was built in 1936 in the centre of Marquartstein. Its interior features paintings by artist Werner Schön, who came from the district of Piesenhausen. The year it was built, its design and the artist’s local roots give the church a specific connection to local history.

Richard Strauss is also associated with a historical event here: on 10 September 1894, he married singer Pauline de Ahna at St. Veit Castle Church.

Schnappenkirche is located within the municipality of Marquartstein. It was built between 1637 and 1640 at the behest of the provosts of Herrenchiemsee Monastery, to plans by Wolfgang König, the municipal master builder of Traunstein. From the church, the view stretches across the Chiemgau mountains to Lake Chiemsee—a vantage point that connects the landscape with the history of the building.

Trip Planning and Finding Accommodation

Marquartstein has a network of cycling and hiking trails. Its varied attractions help you choose the destination to suit your plans; seasonal conditions are particularly relevant for the lift, the park and the natural toboggan run.

For a broader regional overview, it is also worth looking at the wider destination of Traunstein. Chiemsee and Waginger See are in the district of Traunstein, which is also home to more than 170 mountain pastures and peaks of up to 2,000 metres in the Chiemgau Alps. This makes it possible to distinguish Marquartstein as a specific local destination from the wider perspective of the district.

Subordinate destination: Staudach-Egerndach. Discover more destinations: Ruhpolding, Übersee, Schleching, Seeon-Seebruck, Siegsdorf, Tacherting, Schnaitsee.

Back to the regional travel overview: Traunstein.