Garmisch-Partenkirchen is the sporty and energetic mountain resort town seated in Bavaria, south Germany. The place is the jurisdictional place of Garmisch-Partenkirchen district in the region of Oberbayern. It is the biggest alpine resort of Germany, having a dual personality. No, not because of the towns Garmisch and Partenkirchen that got together after Winter Olympics in 1936, but the fact that the mountain-resort is both a top-notch ski resort as well as an excellent summer vacation playing field.
There are seven months of snow, and it is the time for winter sports and activities, and the enthusiasts around the world come here to experience the real snow slopes befitting every skiing ability. The elite resort which is the world’s modern ski-jump is the kingdom of winter sports. When the skiing season says goodbye for time-being, the place turns itself the best place for hiking, mountain climbing, cycling, high altitude sunbathing, camping, spas and much more. The two different market towns have alluring ancient places to explore, rich in culture and heritage and good old Bavarian friendly natured people amongst the picturesque nature around. Together they rock as the best place for visiting in Germany.
Garmisch-Partenkirchen being an amazing place to explore for nature lovers, mountain climbers, skiers, strollers and sports enthusiasts, it isn’t unsuccessful in surprising us with its traditional Bavarian hospitality, ancient architecture, and mythology taking us into a world-class adventure and a different perspective to the world. The places it has in its surroundings, like the mountains, valleys, the waters, beautiful skies have the calming attitude making us feel the same.
Location:
Garmisch-Partenkirchen, the mountain resort is located at the foot of the Germany’s highest mountain Zugspitze in the Loisactah valley. The valley, when combined with surrounding mountains altogether, is named as Werdenfelser Land, while the range is called the Wetterstein. The place is the jurisdictional center of the district of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, which is situated in the Bavarian Alps, set in the south region of Germany. The district shares its border with Austria. The towns are seated in the valley in north ridges of the Wettersteingebirge and the Karwendelgebirge rise and the river Isar in the middle gushes to the north. The place is about 45 minutes drive away from Munich, which can be easily traced with various accommodations provided in the area.
Weather:
The town leans towards the oceanic climate part, and the mountainous locality does not bring that much warm summer while the winters are much cooler which is correlated with continental climates. The relative climate is wet and snowy with high precipitation all year around. The seven months of snow with glacial slopes makes it the best resort for winter sports. The winters are not strangely freezing, though. The very cold months-January and February have the temperature around the freezing point, but the skiing conditions are just accurate. So, if you’re an avid ski lover, winters offer the best weather to head out to this amazing place and enjoy skiing.
Due to the high elevation, the summer temperatures never cross above 40 degrees Celsius. Though one cannot see the place as the fun zone for hot fun, the sunny days are observed in the area and thin air travels around making all the tan possible, and even sunburns. Thus, this climate makes the best one for all the summer sports activities in the sun, camping, sunbathing, and spas too. The climate is examined as the alpine climate, and the air quality is unbelievably high. Because the place is in the high elevation zone, they boast as the ‘allergen-free zone’ due to the absence of allergens. Thus, the dual personality climates are perfect for both skiers as well as the spa goers. So, if you’re either of these, head out to this amazing tourist destination and have a great time with your friends.
History:
The towns where Garmisch, which is in the west while Partenkirchen in the east were independent for many centuries and still do maintain their unique identities. The history of the towns dates back where Partenkirchen was initiated as the Partanum(Roman town) which was on the trade route between Venice and Augsburg, mentioned in the year 15 A.D. The main street of this town still follows the original Roman road. The partner- Garmisch was first acknowledged roughly 800 years later as Germaneskau (‘District of Germany’).
The Romans ruled the area for about 500 years and did not use the area as much more than a route to other cities connecting one another. Later, the true Bavarian people stepped in around 6th century A.D and still; the Partenkirchen and Garmisch were entirely different villages. The places received some name in the later 1100s when they made the Werdenfels Castle. During the Middle Ages, the towns flourished due to commercial trades and the money kept gushing in. But, with the beginning of the 20 years War, the trade was suffering and eventually halted altogether. The conditions went drastic when the wars traveled underway during Napoleon’ area. The towns got back on their feet in the late 1800s because of the train route that was running through Munich, and the beauty of the area was unexpectedly exposed and was reachable for visitors.
Later in 1935, the respective mayors of the towns were forced to conjoin by Adolf Hitler in the outlook of the 1936 Winter Olympic Games. The modern day towns which are still leniently united and referred to Garmisch, much to the disappointment of the local people of Partenkirchen. One can notice the tinge of modern look and feel of Garmisch while Partenkirchen offers the feel of the early times with the cobblestones streets. In the World War II, Garmisch-Partenkirchen was the main center for hospitals for the German military. After the war, the I.S military that was in Europe with their families utilized it as a recreation center.
Surroundings:
The towns will lead you back in time with the interesting historical Ludwigstrasse, which is placed in the heart of Partenkirchen. It makes a pleasing intermission, and the area is perfect for strolling, shopping, devouring food in and world-class restaurants and resting in the Alpine Inns. The nightlife is as lively and energetic as the day in the place with bars, clubs, discos and casinos all around.
The surrounding area where Mount Zugspitze is situated is the fantastic destination for the people loving nature and art, sunbathing, walkers and skiers. The Lake Eibsee can be the start to reach the summit and enjoying the adventures around, and the top of the mountain has the breath-taking view of the Alps unwrapping in your front. The place will also be a beautiful experience for art loving people as the art gallery stands near the mountain covering the 450-meter square area of the mountain for us to enjoy the lavish panoramic view – an extravagant platform for works by significant artists of today. The whole world hasn’t seen anything like this at the altitude of 3000 meters.
Traveling the area:
The town is being served by the B 2 as a continuation of A 95 motorway, which limits at Eschenlohe, 16 kilometers north of the town. The station is right o the Minich-Garmisch-Partenkirchen line and Mittenwald Railway.
A number of hiking trails are also there which are low-level and have fantastic views. The drive from Munich to Garmisch takes less than an hour, and people coming from all over the world to Munich International Airport can rent the car, and the autobahn will get you to this beautiful town in no time. One can also come through Innsbruck, Austria’s International Airport, which also takes less than an hour with some spectacular mountain views in between.
The trains too are a convenient option with its fast, cheap and reliable services. The trains from Munich to Garmisch-Partenkirchen leave after every hour and a half whereas, from Innsbruck, the trains run every two hours.
Why visit?
The split personality mountain resort is incredibly a popular hang-out for the people loving the outdoor activities all the time. The beautiful and renowned holiday spot is located in the middle of the beautiful sight of the mountains and is blessed with the setting of perfect snowfall from the Alps. The area is the king of winter based sports and the queen of Hiking, mountain climbing, spas and summer activities. Thus, visiting the area in both the seasons is a pure bliss and filled with total enthusiasm and energy. The towns offer an incredible and unique experience with the lovely nature making you live in the arms of mountains and valleys and waters and skies. The contradictory towns where one gives a modern-day feel (Garmisch) while the other an old-Alpine village feel (Partenkirchen) makes you breathe in both past and the present day towns.
You can discover the true nature by visiting the town and enjoying the richness of Mother Nature around. It has the influential historical places, beautiful artwork, and friendly inhabitants give the town a free environment and the sense of joy and calmness altogether as you reconnect your soul with the pure and unspoiled nature. So if you’ve long been planning to explore various exotic places of the world, this place seems the best one to start with.
Major attractions:
- Zugspitze-which is Germany’s highest mountain, perfect for the hiking mountain climbing and experience the richness of nature and the beautiful Alps at the summit. The art gallery is a must go place for the artists around the world.
- Partnach Gorge is the unique geotope where Partnach river gushes through narrow space between limestone cliffs.
- The King’s House on Schachen is a small castle built for Bavaria King Ludwig II, a beautiful architecture with alpine botanical garden.
- The recent ski jump in the world is the Mecca for Winter sports enthusiast attracting the international skiers all around the world.
- The climatic spa for summer loving people.
What else around?
- Füssen- it is a fantastic Castle which looks like it came right out of the fable.
- Seefeld in Tirol- a famous tourist attraction of Tyrol in Austria for both winter and summer holidays just like Garmisch-Partenkirchen.
- Innsbruck- Tyrol’s capital city in Austria.