The Berchtesgaden National Park
Berchtesgaden National Park,
the only alpine national park in Germany, is located in south-east
Germany in Bavaria bordering on the Austrian state of Salzburg. Its high
mountain landscapes are characterized by dense forests, steep rock faces,
rugged cliffs, deep gorges and glaciers, complemented by idyllic pasture
and gentle valleys.
The alpine regions of the
south have been Bavarian territory since the early Middle Ages, when in
the eleventh and twelfth centuries, numerous mountain villages were
settled, including Berchtesgaden.
The Berchtesgaden National
Park covers an area of 210 sq km (81 sq miles), including the Watzmann
massif, which rises to an impressive 2,713 meters (8,901 feet), and the
Konigsee, a gorgeous 5.2 sq km (2 sq miles) glacial lake surrounded by
majestic mountains and favored by the Bavarian royal family.
Another notable peak in the
area is the 1,835 meters (6,020 feet) Kehlstein with the Kehlsteinhaus,
the Eagle's Nest, which was built as a present for Hitler's fifieth
birthday and provides incredible views across the valley. The nearby
remnants of Hitler's complex at Obersalzburg are a popular destination.
The town of Berchtesgaden lies
just north of the national park. Famed for its rich salt deposits, the
town dates back to 1102 and at various times in its history has been
under Austrian, French and Bavarian rule. Its salt mine attracts up to
40,000 visitors a year.
The national park, which was
declared a UNESCO biosphere reserve in 1990, has populations of chomois,
roe deer, red fox, and griffon vultures. Bearded vultures, golden eagles
and snow finches are more rarely spotted.
