Germany's nature paradise: Bavarian Alps

Germany's nature paradise: Bavarian Alps

Bavaria, renowned for its conservative nature and natural beauty, is an ideal area for nature sports. Garmisch-Partenkirchen Town, which includes the Zugspitse and Alpspitze peaks of Bavarian Alps, is one of the stops of nature lovers.

Bavaria, located on the southeastern border of Germany, is famous for its plateaus and mid-height mountains. Germany is the richest state in Bavaria, except for agriculture and livestock, the most important source of income is tourism. Especially nature sports are important tourism sources of the province.

Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Bavaria's most famous town, is also a center for extreme sports. Mountaineering, rock climbing, trekking, cycling and paragliding are very popular in the region. The town is transformed into a ski resort that is flooded by skiers from all over the world in winter.

You can get information about the region from the Turks in the town.|Photo: Cenk Ertekin
You can get information about the region from the Turks in the town.|Photo: Cenk Ertekin

It is a half-hour train ride from Munich to the town. In the eastern part of Garmisch, there are mostly restaurants, shopping centers. In the western part of Partenkirchen, there are hotels and pensions. The daily prices of the hotels range from 25 to 100 euros.

In Garmisch-Partenkirchen, there are shops that can meet your every need except famous sports and outdoor shops. Dinner in the restaurants in the town starts at 19:00. The town, which is extremely active all day long, has a complete silence after 22:00. After this time, it might be hard to find an open restaurant.

There are a lot of Turkish towns. Most of the doner kebab restaurant owners, pensioners and taxi drivers are Turkish. Getting information about them from the environment and helping them to get to know the town in a shorter time helps you.

The roof of Germany Alpspitze

You can easily reach the Zugspitze summit.|Photo: Cenk Ertekin
You can easily reach the Zugspitze summit.|Photo: Cenk Ertekin

The town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen is at the foot of two of Germany's most famous mountains, Zugspitse and Alpspitze. Seeing Germany’s highest mountain Zugspitse with 2962 meter height, you might think it would be hard to climb. However, this summit is not very popular for climbers despite its challenging appearance since only a mountain train can transport you from the town to the summit of Zugspitse. On the other hand, it is possible to reach the summit of Zugspitse from the town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen in half an hour and have lunch at the summit.

This is why Alpspitze summit of 2628 meters are preferred. Alpspitze, with its technical rock climbing routes, has routes to satisfy especially rock climbing enthusiasts. The first climb was done by J. Burger in 1825, on the eastern ridge of the mountain. Now you can climb many different routes to the summit. The most technical and difficult one of these routes is the northern wall.

Ideal attractions for hiking and paragliding

Osterfelderkopf chalet at 2030 meters can be considered as centrally located for climbers.|Photo: Cenk Ertekin
Osterfelderkopf chalet at 2030 meters can be considered as centrally located for climbers.|Photo: Cenk Ertekin

It is possible to reach the beginning of different routes of the mountain in 10 minutes with two separate ropeway systems from the town. By cable car, you can reach Kremeneck at 1651 meters or Osterfelderkopf at 2030 meters. Osterfelderkopf chalet at 2030 meters is the general exit of the climbing routes for the north and east routes. From Osterfelderkopf, the northern wall and the east ridge can be reached.

Osterfelderkopf chalet and its surroundings are ideal for nature walks. The nature lovers who come here with the cable car can do health walks using very regular walking routes. It is also possible to make paragliding from the slopes just above Kreuzeck point and fly the exquisite nature of Bavaria.

Climbing from the east route

You can easily reach the summit of Bernadeinspitze on the eastern route of Alpspitze Mountain.|Photo: Cenk Ertekin
You can easily reach the summit of Bernadeinspitze on the eastern route of Alpspitze Mountain.|Photo: Cenk Ertekin

Another passage to the east route is from Kreuzeck region. The climb, which starts at Kreuzeck at an altitude of 1651 meters, continues with a simple walk up to the wall, which is the continuation of the northern wall and requires a rock climb, following Hoch Alm chalet. This hiking route is ideal for people of all ages who want to go trekking without rock climbing. The 150-meter mass at the end of the hiking trail is secured for climbers with iron ropes and requires about a half-hour of climbing.

After the end of the course, Bernadeinspitze summit on the eastern route of Alpspitze Mountain is reached. The summit is a few steps from here. This summit is in a very easy exit position and there is even a route that can be climbed without rock climbing.

The eastern face of Alpspitze Mountain can be easily seen from Bernadeinspitze. After that, it is not the most difficult rock climbing that needs to be done to reach the peak of the east ridge. It is also the route used by climbers climbing from the east ridge Osterfelderkopf. Osterfelderkopf from the north wall of the mountain side to the side of the east can pass the route. It is a must to use a seat belt on this side pass

The summit route

You can relax and enjoy your meals at Hoch Alm chalet.|Photo: Cenk Ertekin
You can relax and enjoy your meals at Hoch Alm chalet.|Photo: Cenk Ertekin

Climbing the eastern ridge of Kreuzeck at 1651 meters takes three hours under normal conditions. There are simple rock climbing trails during the climb. But these are secured with steel ropes. Summit is quite crowded due to its east ridge, the east wall, the east scree and the climbers from the north wall. But watching Bavaria from this height makes the climbers extremely happy.

It is easier and safer to make the descent from the scree consisting of a pile of rocks, stones and pebbles. After coming down from the scree, you should be careful while passing the 150-meter rock mass because the route is wet and the risk of accidents is quite a lot. The descent takes an hour and a half. After reaching the ground, Hoch Alm mountain house will be a great choice to taste fabulous meat dishes. At the end of the meal, sunbathing on the sunbeds in front of the mountain chalet and looking at the mountain where you climb up is the biggest prize of the climb.