Chiemsee Attractions

Boat services
Regular services (including services to islands) from Prien, Gstadt, Seebruck and Chieming.
Situation and characteristics
With an area of 82sq.km/32sq.mi, the Chiemsee is the largest of the Bavarian lakes, measuring between 5km/3mi and 15km/9mi across and up to 73m/240ft in depth. It occupies the central part of a basin carved out by an Ice Age glacier, and once extended southward as far as Grassau, over an area which has since been silted up by deposits from the Tiroler Ache. In summer the lake is dotted with sailboats.

Herreninsel

The Herreninsel (250 hectares/625 acres), an island in the Chiemsee, is mostly wooded.

Schloss Herrenchiemsee

The Schloss Herrenchiemsee, on Chiemsee's Herreninsel island, built between 1878 and 1885 for King Ludwig II of Bavaria on the model of Versailles, has magnificent state apartments, including a 98m/322ft long Hall of Mirrors and the King Ludwig Museum.

Fraueninsel

The Fraueninsel (8 hectares/20 acres), an island in the Chiemsee, has a Benedictine nunnery, set amid lime-trees, founded by Duke Tassilo III in the eighth century (church with Late Romanesque wall paintings) and a picturesque little fishing village.

Krautinsel

The little, uninhabited Krautinsel, an island in the Chiemsee, serves as the kitchen garden of the nunnery on Fraueninsel island.

Circuit of the Chiemsee

The Chiemsee is the largest of the Bavarian Lakes, with an area of 82sq.km/32sq.mi. It occupies the central part of a basin carved out by an Ice Age glacier, and once extended southward as far as Grassau, over an area which has since been silted up by deposits from the Tiroler Ache. In summer the lake is dotted with sailboats. There are three islands in the lake: the Herreninsel, the Fraueninsel and the Krautinsel.
This route round the Chiemsee is described in a clockwise direction, starting from the Bernau motorway exit. Along the route are several attractions, including boating opportunities, lakeside resorts, beaches and several interesting churches.
From the Felden district in Bernau the lakeside road runs north to Prien-Stock. The route continues via Rimsting. From here the road continues close to the shores of the lake. At Grabenstätt the visitor can return to the motorway.

Stock-Prien

Prien, the most popular of the Chiemsee's lakeside resorts, has an interesting Heimatmuseum and a picture gallery (in the Old Town Hall). In Stock (reached by the old Chiemsee railroad, opened in 1887, as well as by road) is the harbor (boat services to the islands).

Gstadt

On the shore of the Chiemsee is the beautifully situated little resort of Gstadt.

Seebruck, Germany

Seebruck, at the northern tip of the Chiemsee (lake), has Roman origins (Museum Römerhaus Bedaium).

Seeon - Schanzenberg Motor Museum

The Schanzenberg Motor Museum in Seeon, 5km/3mi north of Seebruck, has on display veteran and vintage cars.

Seeon - Benedictine Monastery

Seeon, 5km/3mi north of Seebruck, has a former Benedictine monastery (12th C. church).

Chieming

Chieming, on the Chiemsee, has a beautiful bathing beach. In the outlying district of Ising is a Horse Museum.

Grabenstatt, Germany

Grabenstätt, on the Chiemsee, is a settlement with Roman origins (small Roman Museum).

Nature Reserve

The nature reserve in Grabenstätt is home to herons, etc.

St John's Church

The Johanniskirche in Grabenstätt has Late Gothic frescoes.

Chiemgau

The Chiemgau is the area of the Alpine Foreland lying to the south of the Chiemsee. With its green moraine hills set against the backdrop of the Chiemgauer Berge, it is a favorite holiday area.

Aschau

Aschau, in the Prien valley, is a popular winter sports center as well as a summer resort. Above Hohenaschau is the picturesque castle of that name.

Residenz Heinz Winkler

This site is world renowned as being the home to the culinary mastery of Maitre Heinz Winkler, one of the world's most respected masters of the culinary arts. Residenz Heinz Winkler features a restaurant, hotel, and spa. Visitors can also enjoy golf, hiking, cooking courses and fitness programs.

Hohenaschau - Palace Concerts

A series of concerts are held every year in the courtyard of the 12th C. Hohenschau castle between June and August. Matinee and evening performances are staged throughout the summer.

Kampenwand

In Kampenwand, near Aschau, is the lower station of the Kampenwand cableway (upper station at 1,460m/4,790ft; magnificent views).

Marquartstein

The lively holiday village of Marquartstein lies in the forest-fringed valley of the Tiroler Ache.
There is a rewarding climb of the Hochfelln.

Reit im Winkl

Reit im Winkl, lying close to the frontier with Tyrol (Austria), has developed into a popular winter sports resort. There are good pistes on the Winklmoosalm (1,160m/3,800ft).

Bergen

Bergen, near Chiemgau, is at the foot of Hochfelln (1,670m/5,479ft; cabin cableway; fine panoramic views).

Ruhpolding

The neat village of Ruhpolding lies in a basin in the valley of the Weisse Traun, on the Deutsche Alpenstrasse. It has a Late Baroque parish church and a Heimatmuseum.

Traunstein

Traunstein, beautifully situated on a hill above the Traun, offers visitors brine baths, mud baths and the Kneipp cure. It has a beautiful parish church of 1696. There are fine panoramic views from the Hochberg (775m/2,543ft) and the Teisenberg (1,333m/4,374ft).

Musical Summer between the Inn and Salzach

This annual four-month festival, Musical Summer between the Inn and Salzach, runs from mid-May to early September and includes a series of symphonic, choral and chamber concerts as well as organ recitals. The repertoire is quite interesting, and features both well-known works and forgotten or undervalued music. There are usually over 30 performances every year in venues such as remote Benedictine monasteries, churches and castles in the towns between the Inn and Salzach rivers.
Chiemsee Pictures View All