Seniors Awed In Berchtesgaden

Berchtesgaden, pop. 8,000, in the German Bavarian Alps, is located in the south district of Berchtesgadener Land in Bavaria, near the border with Austria, some 30 km south of Salzburg and 180 km southeast of Munich. It is one awesome scenic destination for senior travelers.

A walk through Berchtesgaden’s historic town center and a visit to the royal castle and its abbey church is time well-spent. The oldest quarter is found on Nonntal Street. The local cemetery is rich in the principality’s fascinating history where local guides can connect grave sites or memorial plaques with numerous interesting local or internationally renowned residents of Berchtesgaden.

This village in the German Alps has several ski slopes and a top-notch bobsled track. The emerald-green lake Königssee near Berchtesgaden is surrounded by steep walls of rock, with the 1800-meter east wall of the Watzmann towering above its west shore.

Seniors Visit Berchtesgaden National Park

Half of the terrain Berchtesgadener Land in Bavaria is covered by the Berchtesgaden National Park. This park is actually what led me to the village.  Founded in 1978 it is a great destination when you like activities in amazing nature and great mountains. “Haus der Berge,” the new National Park Center in Berchtesgaden, opened its doors in May 2013 and sees itself as the gateway into Berchtesgaden National Park.

Watzmann, Germany’s 2nd highest mountain is nearby, and next to the village is Lake Königssee where senior visitors can take a fun cruise on the lake. A major site not to be missed is the salt mines deep underneath the ‘Salzberg’ mountain where a secret world exists.

For many years, only the salt miners in Berchtesgaden were allowed to enter the complex tunnel system. Today, part of the mine, which has been in operation for over 500 years now, is open to all visitors of adventure who wish to get to know the place where the famous Bad Reichenhall brand salt originates.

Seniors Enjoy The Eagle’s Nest

After that tour to the salt mines, board a breathtaking bus journey up the Kehlstein road and a luxurious brass elevator up through the rock into Kehlsteinhaus, known in English as the Eagle’s Nest. Senior visitors can enjoy its impressive views and its excellent cuisine.

Seniors will discover that this site combines a unique example of historic architecture and a stunning alpine setting. The Eagle’s Nest was a present to Hitler and became a legend in the postwar period.

So bring along your hiking shoes, sufficient memory chips for your camera and enjoy some wonderful Bavarian food, the pleasant folks who live there and most of all, the magnificent scenery in all directions. jeb