The market town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen received worldwide renown, thanks to the Winter Olympics of 1936. Even during winters without copious amounts of snow, winter sports fans are enthused by the only glacier-ski resort on the ‘Zugspitze’ (the highest point in Germany). However, it’s not just on the ‘Zugspitze’ where fun in the snow can be had. From the highest point in the Alps and the Kreuzeck Mountain in the Allgäu right up to Hausberg and Eckbauer, there are 59 kilometres of piste to be explored. Furthermore, the towns of Ehrwald and Lermoos on the Austrian side of the Zugspitze are also worth mentioning.
The position of Garmisch and Partenkirchen, both market towns were combined on 1.1.1935 to form a single community, can only be described as fantastic thanks to the high alpine scenery. The first skiers cavorted in the ‘cauldron’ in 1926 and the first official ski season started from the ‘Zugspitzplatt’, a barren plateau on the way to the summit, in 1949.
The Zugspitze is the ideal terrain for beginners of both skiing and snowboarding. Snowboarding aces will be in their element in the Funpark, which includes a half pipe and deep snow alternatives, while the beginners can take their first steps on the wide and perfectly-prepared slopes. Particular highlights on the snowboarder scene are the ‘Riffelriss’, boasting an altitude of 650m and the longest run with a length of 5 km, while the ‘Tunnelfenster’ is a killer in deep snow. Both runs can only be reached using the ‘Zahnradbahn’ (the meter-gauge rack railway) via special stops.
The Kandahar-Run (3,700 metres long with an altitude of 940 metres) is recognised as one of the most difficult stretches in skiing and Super-G Slalom Skiing. This formidable piste is the only one in Germany with a so-called World Cup license, which means that the FIS Ski Circus is held in Garmisch-Partenkirchen every year. In 2011, the market community and district town will play host to the Alpine World Skiing Championships. Former champion Christian Neureuther celebrated the decision: “They are my slopes”, and his wife, Rosi Mittermeier, added gleefully: “Things are looking up for skiing in Germany – perfect!”
Even Nordic skiing fans are drawn by the 57 kilometres of cross-country ski-tracks to Werdenfelser Land, the best of which head to Krün and Kaltenbrunn. The fascinating Partnach Gorge is a paradise for winter wanderers. The gorge, which is near the skiing stadium where the new ski jump was inaugurated at the end of 2007, is only closed while the snow is melting. Hikers have discovered the (somewhat unfortunately named) Wank Mountain, upon which the ski lift was closed to protect wildlife. 1,100 metres up is quite a challenge and, following a break in the ‘Wankhaus’, the descent crowns a good day’s work.
Going past Grainau, the Zugspitze village near Lake Eibsee, Ehrwald, Lermoos and Biberwier in Tirol are all within a few kilometres’ reach. This area is perfect for families and beginners with fifty five per cent of its slopes marked as ‘easy’. The train from Tirol to the Zugspitze stops off at Germany’s highest mountain and the snow machines that are installed on practically every slope mean that snow is a guarantee.
Garmisch-Partenkirchen is a highly popular destination all year round, so Frederics Serviced Apartments recommends travelling with the Deutsche Bahn (German Rail).
Von Dietmar Stanka
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Hohenzollernplatz:
Hohenzollernplatz 7
80796 Munich
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Dantestrasse:
Dantestrasse 18
80637 Munich
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Ohmstrasse 18
80802 Munich
Telephone 089 21 18 70 50
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