Berchtesgadener Land - between the Watzmann Summit and Lake Königssee

Before tourism took over, the main source of income for the region was salt mining. You can relive those days at the "Erlebnisbergwerk Berchtesgaden." Berchtesgaden National Park, the only national park in the German Alps, boasts 230 kilometers of hiking trails. You can see wildlife or take a boat ride on Lake Königssee. Berchtesgaden itself is the center of tourism in the region. Travelers have been admiring natural landmarks and other sights here since the 19th century. Berchtesgaden Palace is another highlight. Once an Augustinian monastery, after 1810 it was used mainly as a hunting lodge and summer residence by the Bavarian kings.