Lake Königsee in Berchtesgaden

Lake Königssee in Berchtesgaden

Lake Königssee, an aqua-green simmering jewel in the Berchtesgaden National Park, is surrounded by an impressive natural landscape.

The gigantic Watzmann towers 1,800 meters into the sky, providing a stunning backdrop for the boat trip over the idyllic Königssee to St. Bartholomä. The Königssee is up to 190 meters deep and fills the entire valley. The world-famous pilgrimage church of St. Bartholomä is located on an approximately 85-hectare peninsula, and parts of the chapel date back to the 12th century. It can be reached by excursion boat in about 35 minutes.

The picturesque view of St. Bartholomä has inspired many landscape painters and captivated visitors from all over the world. In the former hunting lodge of the Bavarian kings on the island, specialties from the regional cuisine are now served. Here, you can relax, explore the area, and enjoy life—until it’s time to take the boat back to Schönau. From Grödig, you can reach the Königssee in just about 15 minutes. A trip to Schönau am Königssee is definitely something you should include in your vacation plans!

For more information: www.koenigssee.com

Königssee

The special feature of the Königssee is that it can only be explored by boat. The steep rock walls drop down to the shore, so there are no roads, footpaths, or bike trails around the lake. There is much to see and experience: The first stop, St. Bartholomä, is reached by boat after about 35 minutes. Here, a visit to the world-famous baroque pilgrimage church is a must, as well as a cozy stop at the historic inn. Freshly smoked fish can be found right next door from the fisherman of the Königssee. A light, varied circular hiking trail leads from here, taking about 45 minutes through the forest and over the Eisbach stream back to the boat dock. Depending on the season, a hike to the so-called Ice Chapel is also recommended from the St. Bartholomä stop – not a building, but a permanent ice field at the foot of the Watzmann's eastern face. The walk to the Ice Chapel takes about 2 1/2 hours round trip.

Lake Königsee in Berchtesgaden

A trip to Schönau in Berchtesgaden

Lake Königssee in Berchtesgaden

Königssee