We have crossed the border and now are in Austria, a country of about seven million inhabitants, compared to 11 million in Bavaria alone, 60 million in all of Germany. The Austrian flag is red-white-red, their currency the Schilling, and their language is German, spoken with a dialect close to Bavarian. The capital of Austria [...]

Berchtesgaden In the year 1105, Augustinian monks from Rottenbuch were went to settle down in the area round Berchtesgaden, which was described as a frightening wilderness, packed with ice and snow, a region of wild beasts which not too long ago must have been a breeding place for dragons. Their abbot became the Prince Prior; [...]

The Church of Ramsau is one of the most photographed Bavarian churches, due to its successful adaptation to its environment. Of special interest is that Joseph Mohr, who wrote the lyrics for Silent Night, worked as an assistant priest here. The song itself, however, was written in Oberndorf, near Salzburg, in 1810. The organ of [...]

The Alpenstrasse (Alpine Road) was laid out between 1934 and 1936. One of the famous German roads, which also include the Romantic Road, the Wine Road and the Castle Road, the Alpine Road starts in the west at Lake Constance and ends at Berchtesgaden. It runs along the foot of the Allgau and the Bavarian [...]

Chiemsee, the Bavarian Ocean, is the largest lake of Bavaria, measuring 9.25 square miles. The lake and its surroundings are the largest recreation area in Bavaria. The autobahn runs close to the flat and marshy southern bank, while an early Roman road between Salzburg and Augsburg ran along the opposite side, where the Romans also [...]