On the Königssee to St. Bartholomä

I was expecting a colourful weekend in the Berchtesgaden National Park with bright autumn sunshine in a Bavarian-blue sky and vibrant forests under snow-capped mountain peaks, as I boarded the boat across the Königssee to St. Bartholomä with my hiking gear, surrounded by many day guests, mostly of Asian origin. To put it simply, I wasn’t to be disappointed.

The tourist shopping mile from the car park to the lake was quickly crossed. The air this early morning was still fresh and clear, the jetty still in the shadow of the mountains, and occasional rays of sunshine made yellow larches and fiery red beeches light up—like flares. The electric boat glided almost silently across the calm, dark surface of the Königssee. Every now and then, the steward explained the various sights and told stories; of course, the 80-year-old tradition of the trumpet echo was also continued for us.

Soon the boat reached the warming sun, and the closer we got to St. Bartholomä, the more the Watzmann East Face came into view, accompanied by the awestruck gazes of the passengers and the clicking of cameras. Finally, we reached the jetty and the passengers flocked over to the church and the inn. Last summer, I had experienced the sunrise over St. Bartholomä and the Watzmann from the Feuerpalfen viewpoint.

This time I’ve come to hike from here to the Kärlingerhaus at Lake Funtensee and to get to know the mountain world at the Königssee.

The first short stage takes me to where the Eisbach flows into the Königssee.

More pictures from the Berchtesgaden National Park also in the Germany Gallery.