Known as Deutschland and the Father Land by many this relatively modern country was founded on land spanning thousands of years of history and inhabitation Kingdoms have both risen and fallen—empires have thrived and crumbled—but what remains constant is Germany's famed beauty Whether that is its rolling green hills of Hochsauerlandkreis or the deep green forests in Bavaria the towns of Germany surrounded by its impeccable beauty continue to draw many to this day Germany is the perfect place to quietly settle down and it is home to the most welcoming towns to retire On a small island halfway between the German mainland and Denmark Burg auf Fehmarn sits cozily as a perfectly preserved town filled with ancient architecture being the largest town on this tiny island has only about 6,000 inhabitants from a 2021 estimate there is no doubt that you will appreciate its surreal beauty Burg auf Fehmarn houses a variety of activities and entertainment one of which is a well-known indoor zoo known as Schmetterlingspark Fehmarn a local hotspot and comfortable small space—filled with plenty of butterflies and a collection of reptiles that make for a calming experience The indoor zoo is also a perfect representative of the museum town Burg has already become coupled with the eccentricities of Brandung near the shores and this community is never a place that fosters boredom but a slow and meaningful living Yet what makes Burg auf Fehmarn a great place to retire specifically? Burg simply is a well-rounder: it has a hospital in town (AMEOS Klinikum Fehmarn), a moderate to moderately high range of rent expenses (3,000~ euros a month), with all the scenic views of the Baltic Sea in between. Mittenwald is a highly desirable place, but to retire there in the mountains along with its other 8,000 residents is still feasible, albeit for a pretty penny. According to rentberry.com, the average rent for Mittenwald is nearly 6,000 euros. Bavaria itself is one of the most expensive regions in the entire country—but what is the price of Mittenwald? For its culture and scenery, it's invaluable. South and by the shores of the dark blue lake, Tegernsee, rests Rottach-Egern, a town that looks straight out of a fairytale. Situated at the bottom of a basket valley, many hikers, locals, and tourists alike take the trolley leading to Mount Wallberg and bask at its high-mountain views with fields, clifffaces, and forested paths below—all the way down to the Rottach Waterfall. The nearby lake provides many opportunities to also sunbathe and enjoy the cold water. The town also has the necessary modern amenities, such as a medical clinic (Medicum Tegernsee Medical Center) and a nearby hospital (Privatklinik Jägerwinkel) in Bad Wiessee. For those with the means to live a life of luxury and quietude, Rottach-Egern is a solid pick. A true holdover from the Middle Ages, Rothenburg ob der Tauber has a mere 11,000 people walking its cobblestone streets, nearly double from its medieval population status of 6,000 a few centuries ago. Today, while Rothenburg ob der Tauber is known for its celebration of medieval life and tourism, it also happens to be a great place to live. In addition to its niche and culturally rich atmosphere, the town has easy access to a nearby medical facility, ANregiomed clinic Rothenburg ob der Tauber. A more mature, and perhaps in line with German culture, the well-known distillery is around the corner. Family-run and operated, the Brennerei & Weingut Wild is surrounded by vineyards and the greenery of the Black Forest Mountain range. Indeed, with all available in this tiny haven, rent prices are in a moderate range of around 2,000 euros and above (according to rentberry.com). Barely breaking 7,000 residents, this once historic resort town ("bad" meaning bath in German) is surrounded by tall grasses and meadows watered by the long and flowing river of Neckar. Home to the majestic Wimpfen Imperial Palace, a must-see site with available guided tours by costumed and experienced locals, there is no doubt that Bad Wimpfen is considered a beautiful and historic town resting by the water—one that, while having tourists, is admittedly less known to them. Dinkelsbühl, the main town of really a connection of three others—including Alstadt, Grillenbuck, and Schelbuck. Though so close to one another, they are each distinct but seem to mingle and coalesce right in the middle of Dinkelsbühl. By itself, the population is roughly 13,000 people, and with the sheer amount of things to do and places to see, that number is quite small. All maps, graphics, flags, photos and original descriptions © 2025 worldatlas.com HomeDestinationsInterestsTop Places to Travel by MonthSearchMenuBest time to go to Bavaria the locals greet them and celebrate their return the cattle are brought down to the villages from their summer alpine pastures This traditional event is called the Viehscheid Thousands of cows are treated like real celebrities on the way back home to their owners Happy locals dress up in traditional costumes and celebrate this event with ‘oompah’ music and Schöllang & Oberstdorf in the Allgäu region are all worth visiting for their Viehscheid celebrations Cows are herded to the mountain meadows (Alpe) at the beginning of summer when the vegetation is at its best They are looked after by a cowherd or team of cowherds and their dogs This tradition is still widespread in Eastern Europe and Germany; it includes about 50,000 cows People celebrate that there are no injuries or cattle losses A big party awaits all the locals and visitors with fresh cheese tasting and so much more so the dates should be checked depending on the area you are visiting Some of the best places to observe this unique colorful tradition are Wertach in the Oberallgäu district and Pfronten and Oberstdorf in the Allgäu region Schöllang's cowherds lead the cows down first on September 12th come down to the Viehscheidplatz for exciting Bavarian music kicks off its cow descent on September 13th at 9 am Almost a thousand cows are usually led to the Nordic Zentrum and given back to their owners to the cheers and bustle of spectators You can stay longer for the celebration to taste delectable local brews and enjoy traditional folk music The town of Mittenwald boasts picturesque mountainous landscapes due to its close proximity to the Alpine peaks The municipality fills with the sound of cowbells during the Almabtrieb The cows start coming down from the mountain at 11:30 am or noon and parade through the town center to the Riedboden fairgrounds This marks the start of a lively outdoor bash which brings together locals and visitors to celebrate the successful herding season Nestled in the luscious greenery of the German Alps the town of Wertach boasts one of the oldest cattle drive traditions in the region The event is always held on September 18th Viehscheid is rescheduled for the next day start coming down from the Alps at 8:30 am with the procession lasting up until 11 am Grüntenseestraße serves as the main road for the cattle drive The most beautiful cow is usually chosen as the head of the herd and is adorned with a flower wreath Viehscheid in Wetrach is known not only for its traditional cattle drive during which numerous local vendors sell fresh produce boasting charming Barmsee and Geroldsee lakes Bavarian costumes and music fill the streets of the village announcing the beginning of the cattle drive the cows descend from the Alps along Karwendelstraße and Schöttlkarspitzstraße greeted and cheered on by the residents along the way Local vendors use Viehscheid as an opportunity to offer culinary delights along the route Join us at the Akustika Fair at the Nuremberg Exhibition Centre from April 4-6 Meet The Strad team at stand F08 and pick up a free copy of the magazine The Strad Directory Jobs The prestigious lutherie event in the south of Germany takes place every four years  Read more lutherie articles here The town of Mittenwald in south Germany has hosted its ninth International Violin Making Competition 161 violin and bow makers from 25 countries participated in the contest in that separate categories were created for ‘replica’ instruments those that had been artificially aged by the luthiers each instrument had its own ‘replica’ category French luthier Roland Belleguic took first prizes for violin and replica viola The 32-year-old studied violin making at Mirecourt and then served as an apprentice with Patrick Robin ‘I have always loved to “travel” with my hands to design and transform an image in my head into reality,’ he said ‘I loved working with wood and at the age of 16 I became a carpenter At that time I discovered my passion for jazz guitars And so the desire to build instruments arose.’ Belleguic is now based in St Sulpice sur Loire First prize for a viola was won by German luthier Ulrich Hinsberger who also came second in the violin category Polish luthiers took third place in both categories: Paweł Kubacka for violin Read: Violin and bow makers honoured at 2022 VSA Violin Making Competition Read: My Space: Rainer W. Leonhardt of Mittenwald Read: European violin makers dominate prize board at Mittenwald competition Other prizewinners included: Monica Fortin Melina Polizzi and Meike Finckh for replica violin (joint 1st); Florian Zinkhahn for replica violin (2nd); Angela Hünig for replica viola (3rd); and Andreas Haensel for replica cello (2nd) Prizewinning bow makers included Yongmin Na 195 instruments and 38 bows were submitted for the competition The jury was headed by luthier Hieronymus Köstler and included Andrea Frandsen Josef Gabriel and Eric Grandchamp assessed the bows The town of Mittenwald has been a violin making hub since 1700 when Matthias Klotz was the leading instrument maker The young Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was among those who performed on an instrument made in Mittenwald Photo: Angelika Warmuth / Alpenwelt Karwendel Read more lutherie articles here The Federal Ministry of Economics aims to save the prize money of €60,000 annually but the German Music Council believes abolishing the prize would be a blow to the country’s cultural heritage and economy prizes were awarded to professional luthiers and up-and-coming student violin makers Lee was the first teacher and former director of the Chicago School of Violin Making The violinist has been appointed artistic director of Clarion Concerts which provides chamber music concerts and experiences in New York’s Hudson Valley The Astatine Trio and Novo Quartet join the scheme from 2025–2027 Ten ensembles will compete for the chance to win the top prize package at this year’s competition from 25 to 31 August Site powered by Webvision Cloud the competition will now be held from 28 October until 13 November 2022 The 9th International Violin Making Competition will now be held in the autumn of 2022 The postponement will make way for the G7 Summit preparations which will take place from 26 - 28 June at the Schloss Elmau The new dates for the violin making competition will be 28 October - 13 November 2022 the International Violin Competition has been running since 1989 commemorating the region’s rich history of violin making.  More information can be found here Read: Jeff Phillips named Chicago School of Violin Making associate director Read: Inaugural Brandenburg Violin Making Workshop 2021 Read: Violin making at Beijing’s Central Conservatory of Music Read: Making its mark: How violin making began in Markneukirchen, Germany The prestigious lutherie event in the south of Germany takes place every four years  women from all walks of life have been reporting incidents of sexist behaviour in their workplaces Femke Colborne discusses the question with a range of female luthiers A total of 89 cellos were submitted for the competition to celebrate excellence in the field and promote emerging talent Please sign in with your Snow-Forecast account details below Create a free account to receive instant Snow-Alerts and save your favourite resorts on your personal MySnow page Mittenwald/Dammkar Weather (Next 3 days): The snow forecast for Mittenwald/Dammkar is: A dusting of new snow Freeze-thaw conditions (max 2°C on Wed afternoon Mittenwald/Dammkar Weather (Days 4-6): A dusting of snow turning to light rain (total 5.0mm) on Fri night Latest snow reports near Mittenwald/Dammkar: Drizzle reported from Flughafen Innsbruck Automatic Weather Station at 721 metres elevation 5 kms WNW of Muttereralm but it is forecast cold enough for snow at the ski area from Muttereralm Light rain reported from Flughafen Innsbruck Automatic Weather Station at 721 metres elevation 5 kms WNW of Muttereralm but it is forecast cold enough for snow at the ski area from Muttereralm A dusting of snow turning to light rain (total 5.0mm) on Fri night Several North American ski areas that are still open plan to celebrate the unofficial Star Wars Day tomorrow The above table gives the weather forecast for Mittenwald/Dammkar at the specific elevation of 1588 m. Our sophisticated weather models allow us to provide snow forecasts for the top, middle and bottom ski stations of Mittenwald/Dammkar. To access the weather forecasts for the other elevations, use the tab navigation above the table. For a wider view of the weather, check out the Weather Map of Germany Click here to read further information on freezing levels and how we forecast our temperatures Mittenwald is a beautiful place to go for a holiday in summer or winter Lovely scenery and good value accommodation Overall: 3.8 Based on 1 vote and 2 reviews Read 1 more reviews of Mittenwald/Dammkar or submit your own View detailed snow forecast for Mittenwald/Dammkar at:snow-forecast.com my longest-lasting relationship has been with a piece of wood My parents let me pick her out at a shop in London when I was 12 and we’ve now been together for more than two decades we’ve had our musical differences—we’ve spent long months apart and I even once abandoned her on a train—but ultimately She’s outlasted most of my school friends and become my most constant travel companion. We’ve taken road trips from the East Coast to Colorado And while she doesn’t pay her way—our busking history is a penurious one—she makes up for it in other ways and jam sessions than I’d ever have managed by relying on my personality where some believe his tutor was Nicolò Amati the man who also inspired the world’s most famous violin maker Mathias took his newfound skills home to the Bavarian alps and passed on his knowledge to his progeny including son Sebastian and grandson Aegidius whose instruments far outshone their father’s These bits of historical information piqued my own curiosity Feeling slightly smug that my violin had such an interesting provenance it seemed only right to take her back home for a visit we would even get to meet some of her more glamorous relations From Munich it is a train journey of 65 miles to the Karwendel the mountain range beneath which Mittenwald is hidden It didn’t take long for the city to yield to dandelion-covered meadows that stretched to the horizon By the time the blue haze of the Alps took on solid form the fields were dotted with barns and tiny chapels and cows with bells around their necks The train passed through the fringes of forests that have provided generations of violin makers with their greatest asset: centuries-old spruce and maple Klotz and his descendants knew that the best material came from high altitudes which produce wood with the tightest grain It is a quiet retreat of some 7,000 inhabitants its residences and businesses clustered around a handful of streets The predominant thoroughfare is the Obermarkt a wide pedestrian avenue between facing rows of 17th- and 18th-century houses their roofs running together in a sequence of wooden gables Brightly painted murals illuminate their exterior walls They depict Biblical and historical scenes or describe the building’s former occupation; several represent the legendary Bolzano market The entrances to many of the houses remain large enough to accommodate horses A short stroll before dinner was enough to reveal the impact Mathias Klotz had made Their graceful silhouettes adorned shop signs and restaurant menus and the bottles of schnapps in the liquor store Several murals indicated that buildings had been violin workshops or On the edge of town stood the modern facilities of the Geigenbauschule Klotz had inspired an entire industry that continues to this day the ancient dining room smelled so strongly of sausage and cheese that the air itself seemed smoked his whirligig tunes adding to the festive atmosphere All the staff wore traditional Bavarian costume My waiter explained that lederhosen and dirndls—the apron skirts worn by the women—are the Sunday outfit of choice for many locals “This is a town where the old customs still matter,” he told me proudly can claim as strong a grip on local tradition as Mittenwald several weeks of masquerades leading up to Shrove Tuesday (40 days before Easter) and held to “drive out” the winter The Alpine costume—with its expensively embroidered suspenders and its inimitable combination of leather shorts and knitted leg warmers—is worn on any and every occasion the town even re-creates its medieval Bolzano market shutting off the electricity and refusing to serve anything that wasn’t available in the 1400s It’s probably the only German festival where you can’t buy a beer It was exciting to feel part of something centuries old and to try to imagine my violin’s earliest years in this place The coaster said it came from Mittenwald’s own brewery and it arrived with a large forehead of froth and a plate of bread and drippings Dinner was a skillet of melted cheese and noodles The only vegetable content was a crispy scattering of fried onion that served as garnish “Weisswurst " (bavarian saussage) with Prezel and beer I heard two men yodeling somewhere in the building The music had a melancholic and surprisingly tuneful air and I drifted to sleep to its soothing sounds Two hours later I was awakened by the rumpus of a brass band marching past my window Perhaps that’s why it took a while to find my stride the next morning I mistook the large sign saying grüss gott for the name of the hotel restaurant because the concierge kept saying it to guests as they emerged from their rooms looking for breakfast (It’s actually the standard Bavarian greeting “Guten tag” might do for the rest of Germany but here in the south you wish your fellow folk “God bless you.”) Nor were my menu choices improving Breakfast was an arsenal of bread and cold meats Only after biting into a liberal application of it on my bread did I realize how much garlic it contained rather more pungently than I would have chosen discovering more Mathias Klotz legacies along the way including a street sign declaring Mathias Klotz Strasse a master violin maker who has been pursuing his craft for 40 years and was happy to tell me the history of violin making in the town when the violin’s popularity was at its peak in Europe that wasn’t involved in the violin-making business with some families making the fingerboards marketing and selling Mittenwald’s chief product across the whole of Europe “London was full of Mittenwald instruments.” Perhaps that’s when mine came to be there I took the violin out of its case and handed her over carefully; Maller looked her over and brought her to the window for better light Then he put her down on his desk and measured The master craftsman took out a dentist’s mirror and inserted it carefully through the f-holes If I am ever forced at gunpoint to appear on a soap opera at least I now have the emotional experience for the role and the woman who discovers she has been unwittingly dating an evil twin After my 20 years of taking it on trust that this violin was a 300-year-old German When people had praised her tone and her provenance I sat in front of the Alpenrose’s traditional Bavarian buffet Four types of roast meat crouched on my plate alongside a boiled potato and some pickled cabbage My waitress plucked my sleeve and tried to encourage me up to the counter It was the kind of meal that in any other circumstances would have made me carnivorously happy I had asked Maller how he could tell my violin wasn’t a Klotz and he had pointed out a few details: she was a half-centimeter too short in the body It was as plain to him as seeing that a Fiat was not a Ferrari I forced down some veal and asked the waitress if I could have the bill and a few minutes later the host paraded a giant meringue-covered dessert into the room on a silver platter I went to bed with my belly groaning and my heart aching My violin case sat in the corner of my room I didn’t particularly want to meet Anton Sprenger the next day He was a violin maker whose shop overlooked the oldest part of town I’d arranged to visit him because he could claim a line of descent from Mathias Klotz walking into a showroom of beautiful handcrafted instruments Sprenger invited me upstairs to his workshop which smelled sweetly of resin and alcohol Tools of baffling shapes and variety hung from the walls; bottles of various liquids sat on the shelves He explained that he made his varnish from amber and that wood needed to be dried out for decades if it was to make a quality violin He was so warm and jovial that I was tempted to ask him for a hug (Surprisingly few makers do.) He told me he played in a band and we discovered a shared love of bluegrass music Anton (we were now on a first-name basis) and I played a few tunes together and that night I found myself in a barely lit mountain-climbing shop surrounded by ropes and carabiners owned the digital printing business across the street They got together once a week to play old-timey music sitting around a wooden table at the back of the shop But they were happy to share a classic Bavarian tune with me too a sentimental ballad infused with love of their Alpine home It was the kind of tune you might hear at family gatherings where small groups of musicians played stubenmusik literally “room music”—in the corner of a pub (or The zither playing at the restaurant and the yodeling I’d heard at the hotel would both have been stubenmusik; the brass band outside my window a more formal kind of folk music played at dances and the like I replied that it would certainly have accounted for the dodgy notes they were probably staggering home from a dance It’s hard to focus on resentment when a trio of Bavarians is charming you with a serenade about the Snow Wind And I couldn’t help but notice that the melody sounded rather pretty on my violin where I fell on a plate of tomatoes like Lawrence of Arabia reaching Aqaba But there was one place I had still to visit situated in one of the charming old residences behind the town church houses an impressive collection of instruments The more I’d learned about Mittenwald’s history the more I’d longed to feel part of its fraternity But the very first exhibit was an original Mathias Klotz it was clear that my own violin did not share a family resemblance The chocolaty color of her varnish was far darker than this one’s From the curve of the f-holes to the arch of the body the Klotz’s features were so markedly different it was like staring into a stranger’s face Could my violin have been made by one of Mathias’s grandsons das ist...” were the only words I understood Zunterer was a businesslike man in his 50s who did not toy with my hopes: The violin And he could tell from the wood that at least the bottom of the violin had come from Mittenwald I hadn’t traveled halfway across Europe for nothing It turns out that putting fake labels in violins is a centuries-old tradition but to indicate the style of violin the instrument was modeled from In the early days of the Mittenwald violin trade some of the Klotz family even marked their own instruments with the name of Germany’s preeminent maker whose violins were more sought-after at that time than Stradivari’s But to have a genuine label from Mathias Klotz’s own workshop—that was a rarity Zunterer himself currently had possession of a Mathias Klotz violin that didn’t carry a label “There are only six other Klotz labels in existence that he knows of,” Constanze translated “and yours is the seventh.” Zunterer added something in German “He says he would rather have your label than your violin.” meeting of the “Gebirgstrachten Verein” (mountain costume club) at Lautersee took me to a lunch of pretzel and weisswurst warning me to first take the skin off the sausage if I didn’t want to look like a complete tourist Then we walked to a tiny church on the edge of town where every resident of Mittenwald eventually ended up were cheerfully bedecked with fresh flowers Near the front door of the church was a plaque saying that Mathias Klotz who had lived to the frankly miraculous age of 90 But that wasn’t what Peter had brought me to see The back of the altarpiece was curtained with a sheet and he pulled it back to reveal its secret Someone had carved a message into its wood in a large scrawl: not so different from the label in my violin He may not have fashioned my own instrument but he was still the reason for her existence Did it matter that she wasn’t who she had claimed to be and now I’d discovered the biggest one of all I figured she probably knew worse about me >>Next: 8 Beer Gardens Worth the Trip to Germany AFAR participates in affiliate marketing programs, which means we may earn a commission if you purchase an item featured on our site.© 2025 AFAR LLC over 90 violin makers lived and worked there He is seeking €25,000 in funding for his next dig Subscribe to The Strad or download our digital edition as part of a 30-day free trial The composer shares the motivation and process behind her new album Drawing Life inspired by the drawing and poetry of the children held in the Terezín Concentration Camp The German foundation holding the instrument has failed to pay €100,000 compensation to the heirs of its former owner John Dilworth explores an instrument that showcases the finest achievements of the Mittenwald school [click ‘+’ to zoom] MAKER AEGIDIUS KLOTZNATIONALITY GERMANBORN 1733DIED 1805INSTRUMENT VIOLINDATE 1791 There are at least 25 members of the great Klotz family of Mittenwald makers in the dictionaries two or three stand out: Matthias the first and the dynasty was carried on by his son Sebastian who is widely considered to have brought the Klotz tradition to its stylistic peak As part of the third generation of a professional violin making family he was instrumental in defining Mittenwald in the 18th century as a large scale producer of fine instruments rapidly outstripping the Italian centres in terms of productivity The environment at this time must have been ideal for the conscientious Although these high standards eventually became diluted Mittenwald makers forged a unique interpretation of the Germanic definitively light and ‘silvery’ according to many contemporary accounts obviously matched the tastes of the time perfectly well The back of this 1791 violin is of two matched pieces of narrow-flamed The front is of very fine straight-grained spruce The outline is very well regulated and symmetrical The upper corners are characteristically set a little high and pointing outward Internally the violin is also well-finished with the linings having a regular chamfer and mortised to the corner-blocks on the middle bouts The purfling appears to be maple throughout There is also a decorative mitred point beneath the button on the upper back cut wide and with strikingly oval finials and extended The scroll is perhaps the most obvious marker of Aegidius’s hand although carved with great care and having the characteristic Germanic width to the first turn thrusting the eye forward of the obvious central point Aegidius’s ‘signature’ is found at the end of the pegbox mortise where he has cut a neat chamfer with a firmnotch in the centre Members of the Klotz family each developed different personal identifying marks cut discreetly in this position Aegidius seems to have used several varnishes: on this instrument the varnish is of a deep ochre–brown not fully transparent and laid over quite a dark ground As a characteristic example of the mature work of Aegidius Klotz and the best achievements of the Mittenwald school in general stating ‘Aegidius Kloz in Mitten-/vvald an der Iser 1791’ the variant spelling of ‘Klotz’ being perfectly authentic with the distinctive decorative border intact This article was originally published in the April 2014 issue of The Strad Dorothy DeLay’s favourite instrument comes from Guadagnini’s Turin period and shows the influence of his patron Count Cozio di Salabue Roland Baumgartner examines a violin representing a free interpretation of the work of Guarneri ‘del Gesù’ Stewart Pollens examines a violin that was formerly owned by Adolph Brodsky Our May 2025 cover star describes the instrument as the ‘most extraordinary Strad’ he has played on Our April 2025 issue cover artist discusses her bow and instruments Colin Gough and Jim Woodhouse share their memories of the well-regarded British luthier and acoustician A lively baroque-infused programme set the scene for the ensemble’s first concert of its 2024/25 season A selection of bows by the German-born bow maker (1885-1931) whose work exhibits the influence of Claude Thomassin and other French artisans of the era  A Mittenwald luthier with an almost 100-year family tradition My grandfather set up the family business in Markneukirchen in 1926 and moved it to Mittenwald in 1950 after the Iron Curtain came down In 1968 he passed it on to my father Wilfried Leonhardt who represents the fourth generation of instrument makers in our family Things have changed a lot since I graduated from the Mittenwald Violin Making School in 1982 – in those days there were more than 20 luthiers in the town The school still attracts dozens of students from all over the world but I think it’s been years since someone born in Mittenwald studied there… Already subscribed? Please sign in We’re delighted that you are enjoying our website you can try an online subscription to The Strad completely free of charge Sign up now to read this article in full and you’ll also receive unlimited access to premium online content including the digital edition and online archive for 7 days Free trial No strings attached – we won’t ask for your card details To enjoy the best in-depth features and analysis from The Strad’s latest and past issues You’ll also enjoy regular issues and special supplements* and access to an online archive of issues back to 2010 Subscribe * Issues and supplements are available as both print and digital editions Online subscribers will only receive access to the digital versions Some friends had been hiking in Austria in May and had to cut the trip short because of an unexpected blizzard After all day hiking in the snow and not prepared for it we came to a hut that was open to guests run by a woman named Helga but she served us some delicious Mittenwald beer we decided we had to go to the source of this magical elixir We went to the brewery and met the proprietors of the restaurant associated with the brewery where we thought we would have a couple of tastes We tested the many different varieties of Mittenwald and we had a great evening of laughs with them Information on this page, including website, location, and opening hours, is subject to have changed since this page was last published. If you would like to report anything that’s inaccurate, let us know at notification@afar.com. AFAR participates in affiliate marketing programs which means we may earn a commission if you purchase an item featured on our site.© 2025 AFAR LLC Legend has it that the Leutaschklamm is home to ghosts and goblins who live deep down in the gorge the scenic panoramic walkway on high bridges over roaring waters won’t leave you disappointed and suitable for everyone capable of walking a couple of miles If you’re feeling extra energetic you can walk the entire 7.5 mile trail For violin maker Cyril Whistler, music is a treasure literally, that is, the wartime music sheet of Gottfried Federlein’s Marsch-Impromptu as according to him it holds the key to Hitler’s treasure stash — gold and diamonds that is said to be worth £50 million Whistler goes on to say that he spent the last two years studying that wartime music sheet and believes that it’s a “musical map to the lost haul” as he found typed comments and clues made by Martin Bormann throughout the score These signs mark the place where the Tears of the Wolf are kept Wolf being the nickname of the German dictator in his inner circle with tears pertaining to his cache of diamonds The Dutchman violin maker claimed that the map in the wartime music sheet points to the German army depot in Mittenwald Dutch director Leon Giesen already did three excavations around the said town Whistler maintained that he has the exact spot to a T is an unappealing piece of sheet music with typed annotations and runes,” he recounted he couldn’t find a connection between the Nazi treasure and Mittenwald upon his initial study he soon discovered that there was a typical number that kept appearing again and again either between the bars and was even encrypted throughout the music score the number and the signs reveal a route,” he stated While the Dutch filmmaker concluded that the runes were just added as distractions the violin maker believes that the signs and the typed letters were not placed on the wartime music sheet without a reason he is sure “beyond reasonable doubt” that he has found the exact location of Hitler’s treasure stash as written in the score presented his findings to Mittenwald’s town mayor Adolf Hornsteiner as well as Germany’s Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen But he is not interested in hunting for the treasure himself at the said off-bounds site the lost haul contained 100 gold bars along with a massive stash of Hitler’s diamonds Legend has it that the notorious German Fuehrer gave Bormann the orders to bury bullion in the Bavarian hills during the final days of the Third Reich It went on to say that the secretary scribbled the coordinates of the location on the wartime music sheet and sent it to the Nazis’ accountant but then Heziel Pitogo is one of the authors writing for WAR HISTORY ONLINE Photo Gallery: Does Mittenwald Have Buried Nazi Treasure Three attempts have been made in recent weeks to find buried Nazi treasure in the Bavarian town of Mittenwald Even though the holes in the ground have since been filled the traces left by drills and blue markings are still visible below a thin layer of autumn leaves Authorities granted permission for the undertaking in "a bid for clarity," and before too long the story was making headlines in local papers "The Hunt for Nazi Gold," the Garmisch-Partenkirchner Tagblatt called it Residents' reactions range from annoyed to amused "I've never seen anything like it," says one "I can't wait to see what they find down there," says another a Dutch filmmaker and musician with a tantalizing theory He is convinced that Nazi treasure is languishing below Mittenwald's roads -- gold or diamonds The whole idea of Nazi gold has long held a grip on the public imagination Bavaria provides fertile soil for many an aspiring Indiana Jones with the Allies and the Soviet Army threatening to advance one of the most powerful men in Nazi Germany planned to build an Alpine Fortress -- a national redoubt where Nazi Germany would fight from until the end the Wehrmacht armed forces and officials of the Reichsbank approved a plan to store at least part of the reserves of the German Reichsbank at Einsiedl a small town on the southwest shore of Lake Walchen Much of these assets were handed over to the Allies sacks of dollars and Swiss francs and possibly even more hoards went missing Even though Giesen's theory is an outlandish one by any standards it has generated reams of publicity in his native Netherlands It revolves around an annotated score of the "March Impromptu" by composer Gottfried Federlein a military chaplain was tasked with taking the score to someone in Munich instead ending up decades later in the hands of Dutch journalist Karl Hammer Kaatee After spending years attempting to crack the code he finally made the score public last December and was promptly deluged with e-mails and suggestions Even though there is no proof that the document is genuine "It's like a treasure map that can't be deciphered," says Jürgen Proske a local historian from Garmisch-Partenkirchen and a hobby archeologist who has located Wehrmacht paraphernalia and a wine cellar from 1940 in the mountains around Mittenwald and Garmisch-Partenkirchen But filmmaker Giesen now believes he's solved the mystery maintaining that the line added to the score that reads "Wo Matthias die Saiten Streichelt" ("where Matthew plucks strings") is a reference to Mittenwald and its famous son Matthias Klotz who founded the town's violinmaking tradition he contends that the score contains a schematic diagram of the train tracks that ran through Mittenwald in the 1940s and that the rune and fragmented sentence "Enden der Tanz" ("end the dance") at the end of the score means the treasure can be found at the former site of the buffer stops The drilling effort in Mittenwald proved fruitful unearthing a large quantity of unidentified metals a substance that doesn't belong there," says Giesen He is now looking for a company specialized in excavations and dealing with explosives to continue the hunt and is hoping to pay the costs by raising €25,000 with a crowdfunding campaign He is also considering making a documentary about the project Local historian Jürgen Proske has his doubts about the find Recent weeks saw local authorities in Mittenwald grant permission for a drilling operation after Leon Giesen maintained he had identified the town as the site of buried Nazi loot The story made front page news: "The Hunt for Nazi Gold," one local paper called it Giesen is now looking for a company specialized in excavations and dealing with explosives to continue the search and is hoping to pay its fee by raising €25,000 with a crowdfunding campaign The reactions of residents range from annoyed to amused "I've never seen anything like it," says a mailman "I can't wait to see what they find down there," says another local Giesen bases his theory on an annotated score of "Marsch Impromptu" by composer Gottfried Federlein He contends that the score contains a schematic diagram of the train tracks that ran through Mittenwald in the 1940s Legend has it that in the final days of the Second World War Adolf Hitler's private secretary Martin Bormann scribbled letters figures and runes on the score which form a code giving the coordinates of the hidden Nazi treasure The drills reached depths of 5 meters underground Even though the holes in the ground have been filled in the traces left by drills and blue markings are still visible Categories Germany Here are the best things to do in Garmisch-Partenkirchen when two towns united in 1935 (Garmisch and Partenkirchen) Although it’s one of Europe’s top winter sports destinations we’re going to show you what to do in Garmisch-Partenkirchen even if you aren’t hugely into skiing or winter activities Garmisch-Partenkirchen sits at the base of Zugspitze Germany’s fourth highest mountain also overlooks Ga-Pa Leutasch Dreitorspitze or “Three-Gate Peak” named for its triple summit Garmisch-Partenkirchen also hosted the 1936 Winter Olympic Games which was the first to include alpine skiing as an event which help run this site at no extra cost to you In this Garmisch-Partenkirchen travel blog post I’m going to show you how to plan an epic getaway there the best things to do in Garmisch-Partenkirchen Justin and I stayed at the lovely Bader Suites in Garmisch-Partenkirchen I don’t think it’s possible to stay at a better place than this one Bader Suites offers self-catering apartments in the town centre We stayed in one of their Classic suites that’s perfect for couples and they also have larger suites for families and groups of friends and a balcony with views of the Bavarian Alps Get cozy on the couch or dine at the kitchen table There’s a large fridge and a kitchen where you can prepare any meals I also adored the fancy coffee maker that makes the perfect espresso and coffee Bader Suites provides some coffee beans to get you started The bedroom has a luxurious and comfortable bed and there is an en-suite bathroom with a shower There is a wardrobe and shelves in the bedroom with lots of space for your clothes and belongings Justin and I loved sitting out on the apartment’s balcony You can soak up the stunning surroundings of the mountains while sipping coffee or enjoying breakfast It’s the perfect view to wake up to each day meaning that you can access the apartments and the parking garage using an app on your phone You can open the door to your apartment right from your phone It’s modern technology that was easy to figure out so don’t worry if you aren’t tech-savvy there is a covered parking garage where you can leave your car We had such an amazing stay at Bader Suites. Even though the apartments are self-catering, there’s staff on hand in case you have any questions or concerns. They’re so friendly, warm, and helpful, so feel free to reach out to them during your stay. Book your stay at Bader Suites when you visit Garmisch-Partenkirchen There are many hotels and accommodations in Garmisch-Partenkirchen that will fit your needs and budget Enter your travel dates into this handy map and click on each property to compare and learn more Visiting Zugspitze is one of the best things to do in Garmisch-Partenkirchen It’s the highest mountain in Germany at 2,962 metres above sea level Not only can you stand at the summit of the highest peak but you can also soak up 360 degree panoramic views of 400 mountain peaks from four different countries on a clear day (Germany The website for Zugspitze offers tickets for three different mountain adventures It can be a little bit confusing to decide what you’d like to do when you’re in Ga-Pa as there’s lots of choice I’m going to show you what we did during our visit and some of your other options Zugspitze is Germany’s highest mountain and it is Germany’s highest ski resort It’s located in southern Germany at the Austrian border (you can also visit from Austria) The Zugspitzplatt has 20km of slopes with guaranteed natural snow from mid-November to the beginning of May Justin and I did not visit Zugspitze to go skiing It is an amazing destination for those who simply love admiring beautiful scenery There’s a large observation deck at the summit where you can walk around to admire the amazing scenery you can check out Germany’s highest church or relax on the deck chairs in the sunshine It’s easy to get to Germany’s highest peak via public transportation from Garmisch-Partenkirchen Zugspitzbahn station is only steps from the main DB train station in Garmisch-Partenkirchen This is where you can catch the 90 year old cogwheel train and proceed to visit the summit of Zugspitze using public transport A roundtrip ticket includes a journey aboard the historic cogwheel train from Zugspitzbahn station via Grainau and Lake Eibsee to the Zugspitz Plateau you’ll take the Gletscherbahn cable car to the summit you can descend on the Zugspitze cable car back down to Lake Eibsee and take the cogwheel train back to Ga-Pa you can drive to Grainau / Lake Eibsee and park your car at the large parking lot there which could be waived if you visit later in the day you can take the Zugspitze cable car up to the summit and back down at the end of your trip We chose this option as we only had a couple of hours to visit Make sure you leave yourself enough time to visit Check the official website for the operating hours and when the final cable car descends down the mountain Justin and I ended up taking the last cable car of the day back down which was at 16:30 when we visited towards the end of April one of the many beautiful lakes in the region The Zugspitze cable car ride takes about 15 minutes to travel from Lake Eibsee to the top There was a passenger on our cable car who became a little overwhelmed by the height as we ventured to the top there are various viewpoints and vantage points facing all directions Make sure you take the time to wander around to see them all You can easily spend hours soaking up all of the stunning views you might feel a little bit scared to get up close to the edge Enjoy the breathtaking views from where you feel the most comfortable Here’s something that we didn’t expect: we heard these loud booming noises from the top that sounded like gunshots Justin and I seemed to be the only visitors concerned about this while others carried on like usual We finally discovered that these noises were detonated explosions to control avalanches Justin and I ended up delaying our trip to Zugspitze on two occasions before we ended up going We really had to adjust our travel plans on the fly but it was worth rearranging our schedule to visit this mountain You can check the weather and live webcams on the Zugspitze website or you can’t see the top of the mountain you won’t be able to see anything from the top I suggest waiting for a clear day with good weather so you can enjoy the best views When Justin and I went to Switzerland a few years ago we went to the top of some mountains even though it was a cloudy day Stay on top of the weather forecasts (which can change quite frequently!) and plan your trip accordingly I briefly mentioned above that the Zugspitze website has tickets for three different mountain adventures in and around Garmisch-Partenkirchen Zugspitze is the main mountain and the one that I recommend that you visit you can opt for the Garmisch-Glassic Ticket (in summer) / AlpspiX (all seasons) or the Mount Wank ticket the Garmisch-Classic Ticket allows you to travel on three cable cars between Alpspitze The Alpspitzbahn cable car travels up to Osterfelderkopf (2,050 metres high) where you’ll find the AlpspiX viewing platform This 25-metre long steel platform extends out into the abyss where you’ll stand atop a thousand metre drop There are glass panels at the very end offering unobstructed views of the Alpspitze there are numerous hiking trails in the area When you decide to venture down to Hochalmbahn everyone must hike down to the Kreuzeckbahn mountain station (about a 30 minute trek) where you can take the cable car back down to the bottom you can still ride the cable car to Alpspitze for the viewing platform There are also opportunities to go skiing from this mountain If you plan to check out both Zugspitze and Alpspitze you can purchase the “two peak pass” which offers a small discount if you visit both For a family-friendly and quieter mountain experience Mount Wank is a 1,780 metres high peak that offers beautiful vistas across its lengthy summit plateau While it’s much shorter than its neighbours Mount Wank has many gorgeous views and amazing hiking trails Take the Wankbahn cable car to the top and enjoy your time in nature Mount Wank lies to the northwest of Garmisch-Partenkirchen It’s possible to visit from April to November and then again for a rare winter experience over two weeks at Christmas Along with Zugspitze, one of the best things to do in Garmisch-Partenkirchen is experience Partnach Gorge (Partnachklamm) It is one of the most incredible natural wonders of the region From the towering cliffs to the pale blue waters rushing below we loved every moment of our hike through the Partnach Gorge Partnach Gorge was carved out by meltwater and debris you can walk through a trail along the narrow gorge past cascades Partnach Gorge was declared a national landmark in 1912 the best) attraction in Garmisch-Partenkirchen and you must add it to your travel itinerary Park your car at the Olympic Ski Stadium where you’ll find a large parking lot there aren’t any closer parking lots but walking there is all part of the adventure The walk from the parking lot takes about 25 minutes in one direction You’ll follow a gently flowing river Keep walking towards the gorge until you reach the cashier and front entrance There’s also a very clean washroom here The gorge is open from 08:00-20:00 (October to May) and 08:00-18:00 (June to September) The last admission is 30 minutes before closing time The walk along the gorge itself is very safe as there are railings on the way It’s one of the most scenic hikes in Garmisch-Partenkirchen that you need to experience I recommend wearing proper running shoes as the rocks can get slippery and the can be uneven in places it is a flat path and easy for almost everyone to visit If you can walk the distance it takes to get to the gorge One of our favourite things to do in Garmisch-Partenkirchen was simply wander around the town You can walk around the Garmisch (western) part of town and the Partenkirchen (eastern) part of town Both areas are very walkable with charming alpine vibes there’s a Bavarian style of architecture that looks right in place with a mountain town Martin is one of the main landmarks as you walk down the street There are many shops and restaurants in Garmich’s Old Town Don’t miss walking along the Loisach where you’ll also come across a covered bridge Ludwigstraße is the idyllic main street most notable for its colourful buildings with painted facades there are special mural paintings called “Lüftlmalerei” on the houses that line the street the murals showcase the profession of the home owner In Garmisch, there’s a lovely little park called the Kurpark, or the Michael-Ende-Kurpark. The author, Michael Ende, comes from Garmisch-Partenkirchen. He is best known for “The Neverending Story“ a movie that I absolutely adored when I was a kid There are so many features and statues at the Michael Ende Park that pay homage to the writer and his works a trojaborg labyrinth with a tree in the middle (planted by Ende himself) Whether you go for a wander around the park or choose to relax here There are many plants and gardens to enjoy there’s the Kurhaus Garmisch-Partenkirchen a small museum/cultural centre within the park (it was closed when we visited) It is a public square with a fountain created by Oberammergau sculptor The fountain is dedicated to Richard Strauss and features three main characters from his operas lived in Garmisch-Partenkirchen for many years He built his summer villa residence here but soon made it his home base before going on tour He composed many important works at Villa Strauss you can visit Villa Strauss and the Richard Strauss Institute at the Villa Christina in the Kurpark Partenkirchen The Richard Strauss Institute is also home to the Richard Strauss Festival and his symphonies and chamber works are performed here several times a year After spending two days in Garmisch-Partenkirchen we only really had time to experience the above activities (Zugspitze you may find yourself with more time in Ga-Pa Here are even more things to do in Garmisch-Partenkirchen that I am sure you will love This was on our list but we ran out of time Watching the sunrise at Lake Geroldsee and taking photos there is one of the best things to do in Garmisch-Partenkirchen It’s a picturesque moor lake with scenery of the Karwendel and Wetterstein mountains in the distance There are little wooden huts surrounding the lake you can take the Eckbauerbahn cable car to the top of another mountain for fun in all seasons The Eckbauer is a popular hiking area in the summer and the winter with beautiful mountain scenery all around The cable car takes you 1,237 metres above sea level and you can hike the various trails for all skill levels Garmisch-Partenkirchen was home to the Olympic Winter Games in 1936. For fans of the Olympics or sports in general, it is possible to take a guided tour of the Olympic Ski Jump. You’ll need to register in advance with the tourist office you can admire the Olympic Ski Jump on your way to the Partnach Gorge like we did I only learned about this spot on the Garmisch-Partenkirchen Instagram account We didn’t have the chance to visit this time around The Hacker-Pschorr Suspension Bridge runs 30 metres above the Faukenschlucht Garmisch-Partenkirchen Add it to one of your future hiking trips in Ga-Pa The Kuhflucht Waterfalls are a group of three waterfalls near the base of Zugspitze making them among the highest waterfalls in Germany Take the Woodland Experience Trail and the Königsweg Trail for a 45 minute leisurely hike to the waterfalls The upper Kuhflucht bridge offers incredible views of the waterfalls or Philosophenweg in Garmisch-Partenkirchen is a great place to go for a hike in town there are benches with quotes from famous philosophers Think about the quotes as you walk along this peaceful path The trail starts at the pilgrimage church of St Looking for the best restaurants in Garmisch-Partenkirchen Shaka Burgerhouse is a casual eatery with delicious food and drink and there’s a separate veggie section with a vegan burger and a vegetarian burger Pair it with a beer and you’ve got a great option for lunch or dinner La Baita is the best pizzeria in Garmisch-Partenkirchen They serve a vast menu of Italian dishes and wood-fired pizzas They have a couple of vegan pizzas on the menu including this one I ordered with an interesting topping – beans Wildkaffee Cafe is one of the best coffee shops in Garmisch-Partenkirchen They serve their own roasted beans and blends Maronis wasn’t a restaurant that was originally on our list but we found that many establishments were unexpectedly closed during our visit This is a vegan-friendly restaurant serving both traditional dishes and Asian cuisine in a relaxed environment Justin and I ordered a dish with broad beans One of our very favourite places to drink and dine was at the restaurant and brewery of the Bio Hotel Garmischer Hof and the restaurant has lots of veggie options Justin and I dined on their beer garden patio outdoors which offers amazing views of the mountains The stew with the hemp patties were delicious Want to see more photos of Garmisch-Partenkirchen?View all of our travel photography in one place You can browse and buy any of our pictures in the form of canvas prints We recommend making Garmisch-Partenkirchen your base in Bavaria Stay here and take day trips to the surrounding small towns and destinations It’s nice to have one place where you’ve unpacked and can call home each night Here are a few ideas for day trips from Ga-Pa the perfect base to explore the German Alps and Austrian Alps Mittenwald is only about twenty minutes from Garmisch-Partenkirchen It’s such an adorable German village that’s known for its colourful frescos You only need to spend a couple of hours here if you plan to wander around town The town is surrounded by snow-capped alpine peaks you can take a cable car up to a scenic lookout point on the mountain if you’d like to view the town from high above We didn’t visit Innsbruck on a day trip as we spent two nights there Innsbruck is only about an hour from Garmisch and it is about an hour and a half away by train If you left in the morning and returned in the evening you could enjoy an amazing day in Innsbruck Innsbruck is such a charming Austrian city with a small town feel. You can wander around its Old Town, take the cable cars to the top of Innsbruck (Nordkette) or be transported to another world at Swarovski Kristallwelten. Check out our one day itinerary for Innsbruck that’s full of ideas and tips idyllic castle in Bavaria that looks straight out of a fairytale This 19th century place sits atop a hill above the village of Hohenschwangau near Füssen It’s about an hour’s drive from Garmisch-Partenkirchen You can admire the castle from numerous vantage points and also take a guided tour inside the palace (though I’ve heard that the interior of the castle is underwhelming compared to its exterior) Justin and I didn’t visit Neuschwanstein Castle this time around because Queen Mary’s Bridge (one of the best viewpoints of the castle) was under repair so we felt it would be better to return to the castle at a later date The town centre of Garmisch-Partenkirchen itself is incredibly walkable You can walk to all of the restaurants and attractions in town It’s also possible to take the train to Zugspitze if you are looking to visit other area attractions (Partnach Gorge Renting a car in Garmisch-Partenkirchen is easy and gives you the freedom to go where you want When we were comparing car rental prices for this trip we found that the car rental rates in Germany were cheaper than in Austria Just make sure that if you plan to drive through Austria that your car rental allows you to cross country borders (most allow this Here’s where you can compare rates and find the best rates on rental cars in Garmisch-Partenkirchen The man working at Sixt was really helpful and nice and we wouldn’t hesitate to book our rental car there again next time Need Travel Insurance?You should never leave home without travel insurance Check out the best rates to make sure you’re covered in case of an emergency or accident Justin and I LOVE visiting Germany and we always have a fantastic time exploring this beautiful country Here are some other articles about our trips to various cities and towns in Germany that will help you plan your holidays Lauren is the full-time travel blogger and content creator behind Justin Plus Lauren She started Justin Plus Lauren in 2013 and has travelled to 50+ countries around the world Lauren is an expert on vegan travel as one of the very first vegan travel bloggers She also focuses on outdoor adventure travel and creating amazing travel itineraries for cities and small towns One Day in Innsbruck Itinerary: The Ultimate Guide Vegan Innsbruck: Best Vegan Restaurants in Innsbruck I'm a part-time traveler and full time travel blogger and content creator I love writing about outdoor adventures and nature Justin Plus Lauren is one of the first vegan travel blogs I've been vegan since 2009 and vegetarian all my life I love sharing the best vegan food from around the world in my guides I'm also very passionate about sustainable travel and responsible wildlife tourism You'll only find ethical travel experiences on this website You can learn more about me here. I also own a second blog called Ontario Hiking Contact Lauren at justinpluslauren@gmail.com © 2025 Justin Plus Lauren | Privacy Policy