Berchtesgaden is a charming Bavarian town in the region Berchtesgadener Land, in the south east corner of Germany. It’s a popular tourist destination and draws lots of people every year. Berchtesgaden is embedded in the beautiful landscape of the majestic Alps and is close to the lake Königssee.

It’s impressing to see how people in the Berchtesgaden area harmonize with nature and preserve their culture and old traditions. Typically is the alpine farming - herds spend the summer on the meadows and in September a major event is celebrated when the cattle is driven down into the valley carrying rich decorations and bells. What makes this region of Berchtesgaden National Park so appealing to tourists is that you feel the value of tradition almost everywhere. Many people wear traditional clothes like leather trousers, felt jacket and ”Gamsbart” on the hat in every day life, love Ooompah music and hold up to handcraft as they have been doing that for hundreds of years.

* Drive by car: leave Autobahn A8 to Bad Reichenhall, then follow Berchtesgaden

* By train: arrival at Berchtesgaden central station

* Berchtesgaden National Park info: Franziskanerplatz 7, Berchtesgaden

Berchtesgaden National Park is dominated by Germany’s second highest mountain the Watzman (2713m), which towers above the emerald-green lake Königssee. Framed by steep mountain walls the lake lies like a fjord 5km south of Berchtesgaden and can only be discovered by boat.

Berchtesgaden mountains provide to trekkers, mountaineers and mountainbikers unlimited options to pursue their favourite activities. Ambitious climbers can try their luck on the Watzmann-Ostwand, the highest face in the Eastern Alps but there are also several destinations for tourists with lower ambitions in sports. They may take a cable-car to the Jenner and enjoy its magnificent panorama or just visit St. Bartholomä and have a typical Bavarian lunch there.

Have a nice time with your kids in the Berchtesgaden Watzmann Therme (Bergwerkstraße 54, 83471 Berchtesgaden) - a big thermal wellness and fun pool complex

Boat tour’s station Salet - after a short walk you’ll get a wonderful view at the end of the valley: the lake Obersee, reflecting the mountains in its crystal-clear waters and the Röthbach waterfall (the highest in Germany) which plunges 400 meters down. On that way is a little hut, stop here for a typical “Brotzeit” (snack for lunch)