The southern part of the Free State of Bavaria is rich in contrasts. Upper Bavaria has much to offer between the Danube and the Zugspitze. The palette ranges from idyllic lakes to charming villages to the eternal ice and snow of Alpine peaks. Munich is the living heart of Upper Bavaria. Between the famous Hofbräuhaus and Marienplatz square, the city on the Isar offers a wealth of sights. Located before the gates of Munich is the picturesque lake district of Upper Bavaria. Before the coulisse of the Alps, in the summertime vacationers can experience a beach vacation in Upper Bavaria. Invigorating iodine springs effervesce in Bad Tölz. Annually numerous vacationers watch the Leonardifahrt to Calvary, a horseback procession in honor of Saint Leonhard of Limoges. Füssen beckons as the jumping-off point for visiting historical royal palaces.

Among the major points of attraction in Upper Bavaria is the Oberammergau Passion Play, performed every ten years. An active vacation is a great opportunity on the Upper Bavarian lakes. Water sport buffs assemble on the Starnbergersee and the Tegernsee. On Königssee, a boat trip to the Pilgrimage Church of St. Bartholomew is the highpoint of a stay. Upper Bavaria can be experienced from its idyllic side on hikes through Berchtesgaden National Park. In the winter months, an overnight stay in Oberstdorf or Garmisch Partenkirchen is the starting point for a visit to the ski areas. A romantic view of the Upper Bavarian landscape is offered to tourists from the famous 2,964-meter high Zugspitze.

The Chiemsee is located southeast of the Bavarian capital city of Munich, in the tranquil Alpine foothills. The lake is over 10,000 years old, and dates from the end of the last ice age. With a surface area of 79.9 square kilometers, it is the largest Bavarian lake. The Chiemsee is also called the “Bavarian Sea” and probably owes its name to a Count named Chiemo. Its shores are lined with idyllic vacation spots, and the surrounding region, called the Chiemgau, offers opportunities for hiking or cycling tours. At the harbor, one can take a boat trip across the lake, either with a modern excursion boat or a nostalgic paddle steamer. On the Chiemsee one can relax optimally in every season. In the summer, beach guests enjoy the six-kilometer long beach in Chieming. Sailors also get their money’s worth. Anyone who wants a simpler boating activity can rent a pedalo.

Worth seeing on the Chiemsee
Among the most popular destinations on the Chiemsee are two islands, Herren- and Frauenchiemsee. On the island of Herrenchiemsee, visitors can see an uncompleted palace by the fairytale King Ludwig II. On Frauenchiemsee the clock-tower of the Benedictine Abbey of Frauenwörth is regarded as a landmark. A visit to the Parish Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, which has Romanesque altar stones, resembles a trip into the past. Tourists learn more about the area at the Regional Museum in Prien. There is art to discover in the Imaginary Museum and in the exhibit DASMAXIMUM Kunst Gegenwart. The EFA Museum of German Automobile History deals with the more than a century long history of our best-loved motor vehicle.

The Ammersee is charmingly nestled in the Alpine hills. The 47-square kilometer large lake is only 50 kilometers from Munich. The lake arose in the last ice age and was originally almost twice as large as today. The shores of the Ammersee offer many pleasant vacation spots. In the summer the beaches have many visitors. Amateur ship captains get their money’s worth on the Ammersee, just as do anglers. All the larger vacation resorts on the lake are accessible on regularly scheduled boats. Among the best-loved points of attraction on the lake is the town of Herrsching. The Ammersee high route offers hikers beautiful vistas.

Worth seeing on the Ammersee
Around the Ammersee there are numerous sacred buildings that reflect the region’s piety. Among them are the Archabbey of St. Ottilia, Cloister Wessobrunn, and the famous Benedictine Andechs Abbey, Bavaria’s oldest pilgrimage site. The Marienmünster in Diessen is a popular tourist destination. On Munich’s Way of St. James, pilgrims from Eastern Europe reached Santiago de Compostela in southwestern Spain. Since the 18th century, the Hohenpeißenberg Observatory has tracked weather phenomena, and visitors are welcome there. In the Pähler Ravine nature protection area, a 16-meter high waterfall makes a dramatic impression, and in the winter it freezes and forms a spectacular sculpture. The Landsberg Wildlife Park serves not only as a place of rest and relaxation for both natives and vacationers, but also as a habitat for endangered animal and plant species.