Schnaitsee: Church Towers, Weitsee Lake and Trails

Distinctive church towers, a lido on Weitsee Lake, hiking trails and a cycling loop give Schnaitsee several different facets. Historic traces in nearby Kling add to the character of the area. If you are planning a trip with varied interests, you can focus on churches and history, time by the water, or outdoor activities.

Churches, Towers and History

With its distinctive double onion dome, Schnaitsee’s church tower has long been a landmark of the town. The small subsidiary church of St. Elisabeth stands to the southwest, near the parish church, and was built in 1495 as a foundation of the Elisabeth Brotherhood. The tower of St. Elisabeth’s Church is pointed; St. Anna’s Church has a roof turret. For those interested in churches, the different tower shapes offer specific details to look out for in the townscape. Panoramic maps are displayed on the observation tower in Obernhof.

In Kling, near Schnaitsee, a few sparse remains of a large castle can still be viewed. From 1248, the castle was the seat of the largest district court in Bavaria. Its visible remains and historical significance add a distinct historical note to an excursion in the surrounding area.

Views, Water and Trails

When visibility is good, the view extends south across the Chiemsee basin to the Central Alps and the Großglockner. The lido on Weitsee Lake has a spacious sunbathing lawn, jetties, a kiosk, play and sports areas, a diving tower, and a shallow bathing area for children. At this named bathing spot, sunbathing space, a range of play and sports facilities, and a shallow area specifically intended for children are all available side by side.

Starting in Schnaitsee, the Schnaitsee cycling loop is about 37 km long. It runs mostly along side roads, which are generally paved and partly gravel. When planning a cycling trip, both the approximate distance and the described road surface can help guide you; road conditions may change, so it is worth checking the latest conditions before setting out. Hiking trails in Schnaitsee start at the town hall or the television tower. These two named starting points can help you find your way when planning a hike.

Churches and historical topics can also shape your stay.

Traunstein in the Wider Region

Looking beyond the town takes you to the wider destination of Traunstein. Traunstein district is home to Lake Chiemsee and Lake Waginger, as well as more than 170 alpine pastures and peaks reaching elevations of up to 2,000 metres in the Chiemgau Alps. The Seeon Lakes are listed as a nature reserve in the district, while Lake Waginger and Lake Tachinger are listed as a landscape conservation area. The district’s officially designated protected areas help preserve biodiversity, safeguard rare habitats, and protect the natural and cultural landscape.

The city of Traunstein also has its own cultural attractions. The historic city walk passes the Kulturforum Klosterkirche and then continues to the Salinenkapelle, the saltworks houses, and the Salinenpark, built in 2019. The surviving saltworks houses and the Salinenkapelle offer a glimpse into Traunstein’s significant salt history; the Salinenkapelle is the largest chapel in Germany.

Near the Jacklturm, the brewery museum is part of Hofbräuhaus Traunstein. The Heimathaus houses a city and toy museum with exhibits on bourgeois culture, sacred art, and the history of the saltworks. The cultural attractions in this wider destination thus range from buildings and city history to collections covering a variety of subjects.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Siegsdorf, Trostberg an der Alz, Kirchanschöring, Petting, Marquartstein, Seeon-Seebruck, Reit im Winkl, Inzell

Back to the wider travel overview: Traunstein.