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Fine Bavarian and international cuisine, with a panoramic view of the Alps.

Bavaria’s oldest pilgrimage site, Altötting lies on a hill near the right bank of the Inn River. A small, octagonal chapel with a central aisle, the Holy Chapel dates from 750. It was subsequently expanded by a nave. In the interior, a silver tabernacle set into a shell-lined niche on the eastern end contains the votive image of “Our Dear Lady of Altötting” – a revered Black Madonna (c. 1300) carved from linden wood. Another feature of interest is the panorama re-creating the view from Golgotha in Jerusalem at the time of the Crucifixion, which is located in a domed structure east of the town centre. This is a monumental depiction of the Passion of Christ, with life-life figures in the foreground representing the stations of the cross.

Bavaria’s third-largest lake, Ammersee lies in a glacial basin from the Ice Age surrounded by forested moraines. Under clear skies, there is a glorious view of the Alps. Its shoreline is studded with many small towns, offering activities such as sailing, rowing, surfing, cycling, hiking, and much more.

The Au monastery, founded by the Augustine Canons in the 12th century, occupies an idyllic spot on a bend in the Inn River. It was reconstructed after a fire in the 18th century. The former library, decorated with frescoes, is a highlight of the complex, which is now also home to a restaurant with an attractive beer garden.

Located where the Isar River surfaces from an Alpine valley and flows into the sub-Alpine foothills, Bad Tölz is a popular spa and winter resort. On the right side of the river lies the picturesque old town, with its impressive Marktstraße lined with ornate st ucco-work façades, mot tos, and frescoes. Alpamare, one of Germany’s largest waterparks, is favoured by spa guests and fun-seekers alike. A big annual attraction is the Leonhardifahrt, on 6 November, a procession in honour of St Leonhard, patron saint of horses. It is one of the largest processions in traditional costume in Upper Bavaria.

Solid Bavarian cuisine at reasonable prices.

Burghausen experienced its heyday in the Middle Ages when it was a centre of the salt trade and, occasionally, the Wittelsbachs’ second seat of government. The enormous castle, one of Germany’s largest, is fascinating. Built in 1255, it was added to and became a fortress at the end of the 15th century. Other highlights include the Gothic Jakobskirche, the 16th-century town hall, and the 18th-century Schutzengelskirche, all on the market square.

Popularly thought of as “Bavaria’s Ocean,” Chiemsee is Bavaria’s largest lake, with an area of 80 sq km (31 sq miles). Highlights include the islands Herrenchiemsee, with the Altesand Neues Schloss (see Herrenchiemsee Castle) and Frauenchiemsee, with an 18th-century monastery.

Set in the foothills along the Amper River, some 15 km (9 miles) north of Munich, Dachau is a small town built around a prominent palace – part Renaissance, part Baroque – which has an excellent restaurant. In 1933, the first Nazi concentration camp was set up here, now a place of remembrance – the KZ Gedenkstätte – one of the most frequented in Europe today. Refurbishment of the exhibition at the adjacent museum was completed in 2003.

Embedded in the rocky landscape of the Zugspitz massif, the deep blue waters of Eibsee lie nearly 1,000 m (3,300 ft) above sea level. The lake formed after a powerful rock avalanche created a deep crater. A walk around the lake takes roughly two hours. The shore is dotted with many scenic bays and idyllic beaches, which are perfect for taking a break or – in summer – a dip in the lake.