WHAT IS IT? 

Germany has many lakes and mountains especially in the southern part of Bavaria near the Alps. Several miles away from the village of Berchtesgaden lies a National Park with one of the most beautiful and clean ones called Konigssee Lake. This long and narrow lake extends for five miles and is known for its cleanliness and still waters that reach a depth of six hundred feet in places. It is surrounded on both sides by forested hills and sometimes sheer rock walls, so it resembles the fjords of Norway or New Zealand. In the distance, you can see the peaks of two 7000-foot-high mountains that mark the border with Austria. The pristine environment of the lake has been preserved since there are no roads or resorts around the lake, and only electric boats or rowboats are permitted to traverse its waters. 

WHAT YOU CAN SEE AND DO HERE

Konigssee has been a popular destination for tourists for over 125 years. Although initially visited by the nobility enjoying the prince’s royal hunting lodge, they were soon joined by other people seeking a cool respite from the summer heat or a beautiful place to fish or hike. At first, hundreds of oarsmen rowed people around the lake on long boats, but in 1909 electric boats and an electric railway were introduced to bring people to the lake from nearby Berchtesgaden. Now in the 21st century, more than 600,000 passengers travel around the lake each year on the Bavarian Lake Shipping Company’s fleet of electric boats. While commercial establishments and a visitors center located at the Seelande dock provide food, drink and merchandise to the crowds coming to the lake, the green water remains clean and drinkable.

Some activities visitors enjoy at the lake are:

Taking a Boat Ride around the Lake-   The most popular activity at the lake is to take a round-trip boat ride from the Seelande dock at the north end of the lake to the Salet dock at the south end, which is roughly a two-hour ride, or to stop midway at Saint Bartholomew Church and then return which takes about an hour.  The ride is serene and scenic since the electric boats glide quietly on the water and the crew provides a limited narrative about the lake and the sights along the way. One highlight is a trumpet serenade that takes place when the boat stops near a mountain wall which produces a delayed echo of the melody. The boats leaving the Seelande dock are generally crowded, and some seats have restricted views, but the boat rides back to the dock are more comfortable with better seating available. If you want to take good photos, be sure to find a seat with a clear view. 

Visiting the Historic Saint Bartholomew Church- It is exhilarating to view the mountains, pine trees, and a few small waterfalls on the ride but another highlight of the boat ride is to see the historic church of Saint Bartholomew. The church was originally established in the 12th century and renovated in the 17th century. The white walls of the church are a striking sight to see from the water when coupled with the bright red onion shaped domes. On land, the Roman Catholic church is modest but significant since it is a destination for hikers to visit on an annual pilgrimage from Austria in August. 

Dining at the Lakeside Restaurants- The landing at the Church also features a large outdoor restaurant with plenty of shaded tables and seats under the trees. The view from the restaurant is striking with green meadows, distant mountains, and the water in front of you. Surprisingly, the restaurant has some outstanding food with local specialties and fresh seafood, along with cool drinks and local beers. 

Hiking at the Lake- Recreation at Lake Konigssee is not just passive in nature. Backpackers, hikers, canoers, and swimmers can be seen heading out from the dock. Hikers cannot walk around the entire lake because the mountains go right down to the shore in many places. There is a pathway near Saint Bartholomew Church that extends for a short distance and a much longer trail from the Kessel dock that allows adventurous hikers to climb to a glacial cave up in the mountains. The most popular route for hikers begins at the Salet dock and goes uphill to the shores of a smaller lake known as Obersee Lake a mile and half away. Be sure to check the trail maps and consider getting a guide for any lengthy hikes in these areas.

WHEN TO GO HERE

The boats run all year round except when the weather is bad, but only go to the Salet dock from April to October. The boats operate starting at 8 a.m. and run until 6:35 p.m. in high season from June to early September, while they only operate from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the off season. Reserving a departure time for your initial ride is highly recommended during the late spring and summer since the lake is quite crowded most days. 

HOW TO GET HERE

Many people come to Lake Konigssee from Salzburg across the border and there is both a bus and train service from that city to Berchtesgaden where you can take a cab to the lake. Tours to the lake are also available from private drivers and guides based in Munich or Salzburg, who sometimes combine the lake with a stop in Berchtesgaden or the salt mines in the mountains.