Sports and the Outdoors
Buried as it is in the Alps, Berchtesgaden is a place for the active. The Rossfeld ski area is one of the favorites, thanks to almost guaranteed natural snow. The piste down to Oberau is nearly 6 km (4 miles) long (with bus service at the end to take you back to Berchtesgaden). There is a separate snowboarding piste as well. Berchtesgaden also has many cross-country trails and telemark opportunities. The other popular area is on the slopes of the Götschenkopf, which is used for World Cup races. Snow is usually artificial, but the floodlit slopes at night and a lively après-ski scene make up for the lesser quality.
In summer, hikers, power-walkers, and paragliders take over the region. The Obersalzberg even has a summer luge track. Avid hikers should ask for a map featuring the refuges (Berghütten) in the mountains, where one can spend the night either in a separate room or a bunk. Simple, solid meals are offered. In some of the smaller refuges you will have to bring your own food. For more information, check out www.berchtesgaden.de. And though the Königsee is beautiful to look at, only cold-water swimmers will appreciate its frigid waters.
Consider walking along the pleasant mountain path from the Eagle’s Nest back to Berchtesgaden.
Berchtesgadener Bergfuehrer. Professional mountaineers and rock climbers in this organization can help you find the right way up any of the surrounding mountains, including the Watzmann. Berchtesgadenerstr. 21, Bischofswiesen, Bavaria, 83483. 08652/978--9690; www.berchtesgadener-bergfuehrer.de.
Berchtesgaden Golf Club. Germany's highest course, the Berchtesgaden Golf Club, is on a 3,300-foot plateau of the Obersalzberg. Ten Berchtesgaden hotels offer their guests a 30% reduction on the green fee—contact the tourist office or the club for details. Salzbergstr. 33, Berchtesgaden, Bavaria, 83471. 08652/2100; www.golfclub-berchtesgaden.de/. €40 weekdays, €50 weekends.
Erste Bergschule Berchtesgadenerland. Whatever your mountain-related needs, whether it's climbing and hiking in summer or cross-country tours in winter, you'll find it at the Erste Bergschule Berchtesgadenerland, but you'll need a good grasp of the German language or a translator to communicate. Silbergstr. 25, Bischofswiesen, Bavaria, 83483. 08652/5371; www.berchtesgaden-bergschule.de.
