Gstadt on Lake Chiemsee – Swimming shores, islands and nature trails
Accommodation in Gstadt am Chiemsee
Gstadt on Lake Chiemsee combines waterside activities at Hofanger with gardens, nature trails and island connections. There is also a surf school offering windsurfing courses and the long architectural history of the branch church of St. Peter. This raises a practical question for planning your trip: should your stay focus primarily on Lake Chiemsee, on paths through the landscape, or on cultural attractions?
Water and gardens at Hofanger
At the shore of Hofanger in Gstadt, you can swim in Lake Chiemsee, play beach volleyball, sail and surf. The surf school in Gstadt has offered windsurfing courses for beginners and advanced surfers since 1981. Courses and seasonal operations may change, so check the latest offerings before planning your trip.
Hofanger Nature Park features a rose garden, a medicinal plant display garden and herb beds. A small stone labyrinth marks the “Path to the Center.” The park brings together different garden themes and also offers a distinct path, explicitly named by its labyrinth.
Nature trails with different themes
The signposted nature trail passes through glacial landscapes along the northern and western shores of Lake Chiemsee and by the Eggstätt Lakes. Its outer loop is about 42 kilometers long; from Gstadt, you can join parts of the nature trail route. The Mund-ART Trail in Gstadt has a different focus: it is an easy trail about flora and fauna, with six stations at Hofanger Nature Park in Gstadt.
For planning excursions, these offer two different options: a route with an outer loop about 42 kilometers long and an easy themed trail with six stations. The Lake Chiemsee Circular Trail also passes Keilbacher Bay and MĂĽhlner Winkel on its way to Gstadt. These trails offer different ways to explore the landscape and its themes.
A church built in several phases
The branch church of St. Peter in Gstadt is one of the oldest places of worship in the Chiemgau region. Its original structure is Romanesque. Around 1500, it gained a Gothic choir, and around 1778, delicate Rococo ornaments were added. The church thus brings together artistic influences from different periods.
To the islands by boat or kayak
Passenger boats run year-round from Gstadt to Fraueninsel and Herreninsel. The onward journey to Prien takes 15 minutes. In summer, there is also a direct connection from Gstadt to Herreninsel. Check the timetable before setting out so you can plan your island visit accordingly.
A kayak offers a different way to travel: from the surf school in Gstadt, you can paddle alone or in a group to nearby Fraueninsel or to uninhabited Krautinsel, right next to it. Water conditions and operations may change; check the latest conditions before your trip.
When choosing accommodation in Gstadt, your planned activities may be the deciding factor. Boat connections, water sports, nature trails and architectural history offer different focuses for your stay.
Discover more destinations
Discover more destinations: Prien on Lake Chiemsee, Bernau on Lake Chiemsee, Samerberg, BruckmĂĽhl, Kiefersfelden, Babensham, Stephanskirchen, Prutting
Back to the main travel overview: Rosenheim.
