Berchtesgaden highlights

Berchtesgaden 12-15/6/2014

OK – here are some highlights; Berchtesgaden is a little gem of a place in the southernmost bit of Germany, almost on the Austrian border.

 It is Germany’s only Alpine national park, and has several lovely Alpine lakes with the clearest water, and gorges which are beautifully maintained with wooden walkways and bridges, and one has to pay a small toll fee to get in and walk up the gorge. "Show us your coin then guv.." (If you are having a good time, David)

The walk up Wimbachklamm gorge took us about 45 minutes, and we should have done a circle except that I thought we should go back the way we came, when we came to a one directional turnstile. 

Ok this is an experiment in sewing together photos to give you an idea of one of the waterfalls flowing into the gorge.... not perfect I know...

In town....

On a Monday evening, from June through the summer, there is music and dancing in the town square. This is a bit of German slap and tickle, or maybe just slap and more slap, of the lederhosen and shoes. 

It looks a bit like Irish dancing with the feet moving in a wild rhythm, while a squeeze box accompanies the dancing. 

Some of the boys slapping their thighs and shoes were only between 6 and 10 years old. Then came the dancing pairs, with girls twirling in their dirndls and showing off some rather pretty white bloomers. 

Afterwards it was time for an ice cream all round for the kids, 

while we sank a few more beers, thanks to the happy barmaid.....ever keen to please!

Later came the bands, playing traditional band music, and Bavarian folk music, and we persuaded the tuba player to pose with the two Carols. “My you do have a big one!!!!” said Carol.

There is a cable car that ferries people up one of the mountains; Jenner is 1850 metres or so, and the cars take just two people each. Jenner bahn is the station for the cable car.

It was a bit colder at that altitude, and we kept our jackets on. From Jenner there are fantastic views and there is also a nice tea room for one of my favourite pastimes. MMMMmmm

No visit to Berchtesgaden would be complete without a trip to the Eagle’s nest, which is just above our campsite, and can be seen at the top of a rocky outcrop. You leave your transport at the carpark, and take a bus up. Bikes are parked free, bonus!

Obersalzburg is Eagle's nest. Here is the tea-room at the top.

This is also at about 1800m, which is about the level of the ice and snow. 

The Eagle’s nest tea room is only reached by buses which negotiate the single track road, complete with hairpin bends, all 6 km of it. 

I suggest antinausea meds before setting off – the woman opposite me kept her eyes tight shut almost the whole way up. I preferred the views and the stomach-flipping drops.

When the bus drops you at the top, you have to book your ride back down; they give you 2 hours, which is enough time to walk around and have a beer and a bite to eat. The tea room has been preserved since Hitler’s time – it was a gift to him for his 50^th birthday as a mountain retreat, and although it was used to impress visitors, Hitler never used it! He and his generals did have their own houses in the Berchtesgaden region, but they were all bombed and none survive. 

The builders did put in some glamorous touches, like the faced stone tunnel and a brass elevator, which is the only way to reach the tea room after the bus drops you off.

This is the best view, and our camp site is at the bottom....