Holiday in Upper Bavaria

About Upper Bavaria

Upper Bavaria, the southernmost administrative district of Germany, is the essence of Bavarian lifestyle: snow-covered alpine peaks, emerald-green lakes, magnificent royal castles, and a deeply rooted folk culture with traditional costumes, brass music, and customs characterize this region, which is one of the most popular travel destinations in Europe. The Zugspitze (2,962 m), as the highest mountain in Germany, forms a dramatic backdrop in the south, while the Königssee, with its fjord-like steep walls and legendary echo, offers a top-class natural experience. Neuschwanstein Castle, King Ludwig II's fairy-tale dream castle near Füssen, is the most visited castle in Germany with over 1.4 million visitors annually and inspired Walt Disney's Sleeping Beauty Castle. Garmisch-Partenkirchen at the foot of the Zugspitze combines alpine flair with winter sports tradition — the New Year's ski jumping at the Olympic Hill opens the Four Hills Tournament. Bad Tölz, Tegernsee, and Schliersee offer Upper Bavarian picture-book idylls with beer gardens right by the water. The Andechs Monastery on the Holy Mountain above Lake Ammer has been brewing its famous Andechs beer for centuries. Mittenwald is the violin-making town, and Berchtesgaden is the gateway to Germany's only national park in the Alps. The Upper Bavarian cuisine with pork knuckle, Obatzda, pretzels, and mass beer in the shady beer garden under chestnut trees is a living tradition. Almabtriebe in September, Christmas markets in December, and Leonhardifahrten in November shape the annual cycle.