Königssee

Königssee: Lake from the Ice Age

Königssee, a lake which is naturally created is located on the southeastern side of the Berchtesgadener Land, which is positioned in the Bavarian district of Germany. Most of the part of this lake is located in the Berchtesgaden National Park.

Königssee is located in the Berchtesgaden Alps. It is also a part of the Schonau am Königssee which is a municipality of this region. Königssee is the third deepest lake in the entire Germany. Königssee is located in the Jurassic rift and was created by glaciers during the ice age that last occurred. The lake stretches to a distance of about five miles in the north to south direction, whereas, the widest point of the lake is measured about one mile long.

The structure of Königssee is similar to that of a fjord. A fjord is a place surrounded by rising and steep mountains. One of the famous mountain that is included in this geographical setting is the Watzmann, which is located on the western side of Königssee. From the year 1909 to the year 1965, Königsseebahn would help tourists reach to this beautiful location. In the year 1971, the last remaining tracks were dismantled. In the year 2012, the railway station located in Berchtesgaden was completely demolished. The only history that remains of this railways is the railway station of Königssee, which is now transformed into a restaurant. The track is nowadays used as a path for walking.

The translation of the word Königssee might assume like ‘king’s lake’. Although for a fact in German language König does not actually mean. In fact, the last Bavarian king was Louis the German and until the point when Maximilian the First assumed the title of royalty in the year 1806. Therefore, it is strongly believed that the word König is derived from the word Kuno, which stands as a name for the local nobles. The lake’s former name was Kunigsee, which further emphasizes on the naming of the lake after the local nobles.

The lake is most famous in Germany and in the world for its clarity and cleanliness. In fact, the government themselves propagate Königssee as the cleanest lake in Germany. Keeping in view the same, only rowing boats, pedal boats and electricity powered ships for passengers are allowed to ply in the lake since the year 1909. The company named Bayerische Seenschifffart (a Bavarian Lake shipping company) provides services for passengers who wish to visit this mesmerizing lake. Ports of call to use this service are:

• Schnonau or Seelande
• Saint Bartholoma
• From mid of April to mid of October- Salet
• Kessel- which is only provided on request

Seelande is the only place in the lake where swimming is permitted. Due to the beautiful setting of the lake along with the surrounding parklands, this place is particularly popular among hikers and tourists alike. The position of the Lake, surrounded by huge mountains, makes a perfect echo and is particularly known for its clarity. If you are here on a boat tour, the operators make it a point to stop at a place and play the flugelhorn traditionally, in order to demonstrate the clarity of echo which is produced in Königssee. The player trumpets along with the echo, creating an illusion of as much as seven players playing the trumpet.

Saint Bartholoma, which a famous Christian pilgrimage is located on the peninsula which is halfway across the lake on the western side. This pilgrimage consists of a church and an inn located near to the church. Towards the northern end of the lake, Christlieger Island is positioned. Towards the southern end of Königssee is the Lake Obersee. The pilgrimage of Saint Bartholomew can only be reached with the help of a boat. It is highly advised not to visit here during the winters, as the lake is completely frozen during this period of time. In the year 1964, during the winters, two motorists drowned in the thin ice and their car was found in the year 1997 at a great depth of hundred meters.

Places to visit in and around Königssee

• Christlieger

This is the only island located in Königssee. The island is positioned on the northern end of the Königssee Lake. It is also known by the name of Saint John or John’s Island or Johannesinsel. This is named after the statue of John of Nepomuk which is made completely of marble. This statue was erected on this island in the year 1711.

The Christlieger Island is about sixty-one meters long from the north to south and is about twenty-six meters wide. The total is of land covered by this island is about one thousand two hundred and sixty square meters. Dock, located on the eastern side of this island can be used by small boats, whereas, the passenger boats en route to Saint Bartholomew cannot make a stop here.

The statue made in marble of John of Nepomuk is a patron saint against the dangers caused by water. This marble statue is about one hundred and eighty centimetres high. This beautiful statue stands atop a hill located on the northern side of this island. There is a two-meter high pedestal for this statue to stand on. The statue was donated by Johann Anton Zeitlmayer, who was the chancellery’s director. He did this after an incident, in which four people were rescued after a bad boat accident which took place in the same waters. One the statue was erected on the island, the island is also known by the name of Saint John or John’s Island or Johannesinsel. Legend has it that a statue of Bartholomew the Apostle once stood at this very same island.

• Church of Saint Bartholomew

This is a Roman Catholic pilgrimage is located in Berchtesgadener district of the Bavarian region in Germany. This pilgrimage is named after the famous Saint Bartholomew who is considered as an apostle. It is considered that is the patron saint of the dairymen and the alpine farmers. This church is situated on the westernmost shore of the Lake Königssee, located in the Hirschau peninsula. If you want to visit this church, you will have to either do a long hike across the mountains surrounding Lake Königssee or take a passenger ship.

In the year 1134, the Provosts of the Berchtesgaden built a chapel here. In the year 1697, the church was redesigned, and this time, the floor plan was inspired by the Salzburg Cathedral. Two domes shaped like onions and a domed roof which is red in color were added to the church during this redesigning. Joseph Schmidt, a Salzburg artist is responsible for the stucco work and the three apse choir. The three apses are dedicated to Saint James, Saint Catherine and Saint Bartholomew. Annual pilgrimage dedicated to Saint Bartholomew, which is held here every Saturday every year after the twenty-fourth of August.

There is an old hunting lodge located near to the chapel with the similar name. The lodge, which has been erected during the twelfth century has undergone renovation several times. Until the year 18093, this lodge served the purpose for the Prince-Provosts of Berchtesgaden as their private residence. Once the Bavarian Kingdom acquired this portion of land in the year 1810, this place was among one of the favorite places for hunting for the Wittelbach House, who were the rulers of this land, during this period of time.

• Watzmann

The Watzmunn or Watzmann, a mountain, is located in the Alps of the Bavarian region in the Berchtesgaden village. The three of the main peaks located in the north to south, falling along the ridge are the Hocheck, Mittelspitze and Sudspitze. The three peaks have a height of 2651m, 2731m and 2712m. Mittelspitze is the middle peak, whereas, Sudspitze is the Southern peak.

Towards the eastern face of the Watzmann, lies the famous Watzmann glacier. The size of this glacier reduced significantly from the year 1820, as it was split into many fields made of firn. Between the years 1965 up until 1980, the glacier saw significant advancement in its size again. From covering an area of seventy-four hectares in the year 1820, today it occupies a total of twenty-five hectares. Towards the western side of this ice field, if one looks closely, you can observe the remains of the JU 52 transport bomber which crashed into this ice field in the year 1940, during the month of October.

The Eiskapelle or the Ice Chapel is the permanent ice and snow field located here. It is popular because of its simple accessibility from the pilgrimage of Saint Bartholomew.

• Obersee

This is a lake situated on the extreme southeastern side of the Berchtesgadener Land in the Bavarian district of Germany. This is also located near the border of Austria. The entire lake falls under the National Park of Berchtesgaden. The Obersee is located on the southeastern side of the Königssee, which is much larger in size as compared to the Obersee.

A moraine separates these two lakes. It is believed that in the year 1172, a massive falling off, of a giant rock caused the two lakes to separate. Although the lake has no villages in its vicinity, Fischunkelalm, a small dwelling remains occupied every year during the months of summer.

• Berchtesgaden National Park

This park is located in Southern Germany and shares borders with Austria. In the year 1978, this national park was officially established. The central reason behind the creation of this national park was to protect and save the beautiful landscapes of Berchtesgaden Alps. The headquarters if this town is located in the region of Berchtesgaden and UNESCO (United Nations Scientific and Cultural Organization) designated this park as a Biosphere Reserve, in the year 1990.

There is a total of six centers for information within the region of Berchtesgaden, Ramsau and also within the park. There is an extensive trail network within the park through which you can enjoy the natural beauty of the region. Cultural attractions within the park include the Saint Bartholomew Church located on the Lake Königss