Garmisch-partenkirchen – A Town In The Towering Alps Of Bavaria
When you drive from Munich in Germany, through the Bavarian Alps on your way to the Austrian border, you pass through one of the most stunningly beautiful towns in the whole of Germany – Garmisch Partenkirchen.
It’s situated in one of Germany’s most scenic area. The mountain peaks surrounding the town has such an immense beauty that you sometimes have to pinch yourself to make sure this is all real. The Zugspitse, the crown prince of the German Alps, towers over Garmisch like a huge guardian angle of made of rock. Very close to town you will also find another natural wonder, the stunning gorge of Partnachklamm.
If you are a skier, Garmisch-Partenkirchen will not disappoint you. It has some of the most advanced slopes in all of Germany, yet there are also slopes where even those who are taking ski lessons will not feel uncomfortable. Good quality alpine skiing equipment is available for rent or sale in town.
Getting to the various ski slopes is not a problem either. There’s a large variety of cable cars and ski lifts. There’s even a train that takes you to a station very close to the top of the Zugspitse. From here it’s a short cable car ride to the top – where you will find not only stunning vistas and ski slopes, but also an atmospheric little coffee shop.
There are an abundance of hotels and guest houses in town to cater for the annual tourist influx. If you prefer a quieter spot, there’s also a number of options available in many of the surrounding towns and villages.
During the weeks before Christmas, the famous Christmas markets get in full swing. Everywhere you walk, you will find cute little stalls selling everything from a black sport watch to glasses of the local delicacy – gluhwein. This spicy red wine is served steaming hot and is the perfect antidote for a cold day in the Alps.
Garmisch-Partenkirchen also has more than enough to offer at nighttime. There are numerous little restaurants where you can have a dinner by candlelight, while sipping a glass of gluhwein. If you hear the gentle sounds of an ibanez electric guitar in the background it will only add to the ambiance of the evening…
The rural area around Garmisch-Partenkirchen is well worth a visit. Not only for its natural beauty, but also for the numerous historical towns. One of these is Oberammergau. It’s here that the renowned passion play has been staged every ten years ever since 1632. It was during the times of the Black Plague and the locals made a promise to God that they will do so if He delivers them from the Plague. This happened and the town has kept its promise throughout the centuries. All over town you will also see beautiful frescoes showing scenes from the nativity play.
