Konigssee: Germany’s Hidden Gem
One of my favorite places in Central Europe is the Konigssee. Billed as Germany’s deepest and cleanest lake, Konigsee is an alpine lake tucked away in the southeastern corner of Bavaria where it pokes into Austria. The name, Konigssee, appropriately means King’s Lake and this little slice of Bavaria is certainly fit for a king. Because of the steep, sheer mountain walls surrounding this long, narrow lake, it is not possible to hike around it. But you can take a boat ride on the lake, which stops at the picturesque, much-photographed Baroque church known as St. Bartholoma.
Close to Salzburg and Berchtesgaden
Konigssee is just a stone’s throw away from two additional must-see destinations in Central Europe. Just a few miles away is the infamous, but beautiful World War Two mountaintop hangout of Adolph Hitler and Eva Braun known as Berchtesgaden. After a harrowing bus ride up the steep, winding road clinging to the mountainside you can tour the historic Eagle’s Nest. From there you’ll enjoy a spectacular 360 degree view of the Bavarian Alps and can actually see both the Konigsse and the fabulous city of Salzburg, Austria off in the distance.
A Central Europe Itinerary
Excellent train and bus service to this region make it easy to travel independently to many of the interesting tourist destinations in Central Europe. You should plan on ten days to two weeks to explore this area and I recommend using Frankfurt, Germany as the perfect gateway city for your round trip flight. From there you can make a circuit that includes some of the highlights of three countries, Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic. Depending on how much time you have, stops along the way might include Rothenburg, Nurnberg, Munich, Konigssee, Berchtesgaden, Salzburg and Prague. This is just one suggested itinerary for your next visit to the heart of Europe. Be sure to check out our recent articles on each of these destinations by using the search box above.
