Berchtesgaden Info
 

Would anybody please give me any info about Berchtesgaden.
Positive or negative!
Thinking of making my permanent home there.
Thanks!

I'm ignorant but isn't there a US base there or something?

You should go to an ex-pat web site - as well as some that provide details about the city (start with tourist office and search from there) - not for tourists but for a potential resident.

You don;t mention your nationality - so I am assuming that you have the right to move there - and won't require a complicated and long-term resident expensive visa as would a US citizen.

Also there is no way I would decide to move anywhere without having spend at least a month or two there to see what it's like as least superficially.

Before moving spend at least a *winter* month there.

Hi AlexanderCady,

The US base is in Garmisch, a few hours from Berchtesgaden.

I agree with nytraveler and asps that you should spend a month or two in the area before you decide to move. I moved to Garmisch in 2008, and I spent a few months in a vacation apartment nearby before I decided to move. It's pretty easy to do, as there are many vacation apartments that are fully furnished, so you can experience what daily life might be like after you move.

However, nytraveler is wrong when s/he characterizes the residency process for Americans as complicated and expensive -- it's not. It's pretty straightforward. In fact, I'm following another American on Facebook who is in the process of moving to and setting up house in northern Germany.

Anyway, sorry I can't help with information about Berchtesgaden. I haven't been there in decades. However, friends of mine who live in Garmisch visit it often and love it there. It is nearby Salzburg, so you'll have a nice big city nearby when you need to buy household supplies, etc.

Best of luck!

s

Please keep us (me) informed. My wife and I dream of retiring in that very same area. In 40 plus years of European travel Berchtesgaden is by far my favorite locale. The mountains, the lakes, the history, the food and beer, the people and its proximity to so many other interesting sites within a day's drive make it ideal for my future dreams. Absolutely gorgeous there in Winter or Summer. Bad Reichenhall down the road apiece may be a bit less expensive however.