Königssee and its Surroundings - Nationalpark Berchtesgaden

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Lake Königssee in the heart of
the Berchtesgaden National Park
Königssee („king’s lake“) and its
surroundings lie in the activity zone
of the Berchtesgaden National
Park, founded in 1978. Boat traffic,
fishing and cattle grazing are
among the traditional uses of this
zone. On the other hand, in the
neighboring core zone of the park,
the aim is to discourage any human
use of the land whatsoever.
National Park
Activity zone
Core zone
Here, nature’s development is allowed
to take its course without interference.
Here one accepts that
forests grow old, decay and renew
themselves once again in a natural
way. It is a unique show of nature
that we can no longer witness
as spectators in our commercially
used forests today.
A Fjord-like lake in
Central Europe
The Königssee valley was created
along a natural break in the rock.
A river chiseled its way into it,
Königssee
and its
Surroundings
Ramsau
Free State of Bavaria
Schönau
am Königssee
Königssee
Berchtesgaden
forming a V shaped valley. It obtained
its present shape during the
ice ages: a mighty glacier of up to
1000 m in height that stretched far
into the alpine foothills chiseled out
a U or trough shaped valley with a
200 m deep basin. The melting glacier
filled the bowl with water, resulting
in the creation of a large lake.
Another glacier, formed toward
the end of the last ice age, caused
the moraine that separates Obersee
from Königssee today. The
large boulders seen along the path
between the two lakes, originate
from a rock slide that occurred in
1172.
A lake with
rare types of fish
Lying in the heart of a largely undeveloped
high mountain terrain,
Königssee is one of Germany’s
cleanest lakes. In order to ensure
the good quality of the water, the
sewage from the restaurants at St.
Bartholomew and Salet, is piped
under lake Königssee to the public
sewage plant. Since 1909, the pas-
The high mountain pastures
around Königssee
In the immediate surroundings of
Königssee and Obersee lie the
cattle pastures („Alm“ in German)
of Salet and Fischunkel, where
cows graze during the summer
months. Because the steep slope
around the lake prevents any passage
on foot, the cows are transported
over the lake on barges
to their summer pastures in the
spring and then returned again
in the autumn. It is interesting to
note that both „mountain pastures“
actually lie lower than the farms in
which the cows winter.
Centuries-old
pasture rights
A total of 25 cattle pastures are to
be found within the activity zone of
the National Park. The most extensive
pasture area is found in the
heights to the east of Königssee
between the Jenner mountain and
Obersee.
Fallen-down huts, thickets of tall
shrubs and sparse woodlands
in today’s protected core zone
reveal that mountain farming and
forestry was once much more
prevalent.
The land upon which the mountain
pasture huts are built, is the property
of the Free State of Bavaria.
The farmer owns certain pasture
rights that determine the pasture
area, the type of animal and number
allowed, as well as the grazing
period. In some cases, the right is
given to remove shrubs and young
trees from the open meadows. Today,
mostly young cows are led up
to the pastures and only seldom is
cheese and butter made up on the
„Alm“. A special event that takes
place every year in the autumn is
the „Almabtrieb“ or transhumance
senger boats of the „Bayerische
Seenschifffahrt“ have been operated
with electric motors. Due to the
lack of nutrients, Königssee’s plant
and animal life is limited, although
rare types of fish, such as sea saibling
and lake trout can be found
here. Brook saibling, brook trout,
perch and pike are also found in
the lake. The green hue of the lake
is due to small particles of limestone
that break the sunlight.
(the return of the cows to their winter
quarters). If the summer up in
the pastures has gone well, the
cows are beautifully decorated
before descending to the valley.
The traditional headpiece called a
„Fuikl“, is made from a pine wreath
crown on which colorful dyed
wood shavings are woven into
rosettes.
Woodland grazing
as a native use
Every alpine pasture has a grazing
area free of trees, as well as a
wooded grazing zone. Because
the cows nibble young trees and
cause damage with their hoofs, the
National Park administration endeavors
to resolve the problem of
forest grazing rights on a voluntary
basis.
Plants
Because of the difference in elevation
of over 2000 m between the
valley and the highest peaks, the
Berchtesgaden National Park is exceptionally
abundant in plant species.
Of the numerous types of
plant and animal life that coexist in
correlation to one another, several
are particularly easy to observe in
the Königssee area.
The sycamore is one of our most
majestic trees. It is easy to recognize
by its 5-pointed leaves and its
scaly bark, often covered with
ferns, moss and lichens. The base
of the branches can even collect
humus where shrubs or even small
trees can take root. Fine examples
of this can be found on the beautiful
old sycamore trees that grace
the area around Obersee. These
trees can live up to 600 years.
Animals
Marmots make their homes in the
alpine meadows above the tree line.
Thanks to the clearing of woodland
areas for grazing, they could
also inhabit lower regions. They
True to its name the hirsute alpine
rose with its hairy leaves and red
flowers is native to woodland clearings
and open ground. In point of
fact it is not a rose at all but belongs
to the rhododendron plants.
It is interesting to note that, though
it is a typical high mountain plant,
Funtenseetauern
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live in colonies or in family groups.
Their food consists of grasses and
herbs. These animals use underground
burrows as living, sleeping
and hibernation quarters. During
the winter months the marmots
block off their dwellings and go into
hibernation, living off their reserves
of fat.
One can best observe marmots at
the mountain pastures – „Alms“ –
of Königsbach, Königsberg and
Gotzen. One can hear their warning
whistle from far away.
Presumably not native to the
region, ibex were introduced to the
area of Röth, high above Obersee
in 1937. Today one finds them around
the Kahlersberg and Teufelshörner
regions in the border zone
between Bavaria and Austria.
Schönfeldspitze
Obersee
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Gotzenalm
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the alpine rose is sensitive to extreme
cold. For this reason it is found
only in areas protected in winter by
a thick layer of snow. During the
alpine rose’s blooming period in
June and July, the south face of
Mount Jenner looks like it is covered
with red cushions.
The „brown“ gentian with its blue,
bell-shaped flower, is found from
the National Park’s valleys all the
way up to its alpine meadows.
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Jenner
Steinernes Meer
Funtensee
Boat traffic course
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Jennerbahn
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Königssee
Info
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Kühroint
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Info
Due to their limited living space
and food supply, the number of
ibex is maintained at around 60 to
80, without needing to hunt them.
For this reason they are not very
shy around humans and can be
observed from close up.
This, however, required hours of
hiking up into the higher climes of
the National Park.
Hundstod
Watzmann
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Grünstein
Schönau a. Königssee
However, it is not the roots of this
flower that are used to produce the
gentian brandy but rather the
tall-growing spotted gentian. The
gentian distilling huts at Priesbergalm,
at Röth or at Funtensee
testify to this practice. The edelweiss
comes originally from the Himalayas
and has immigrated to the
Alps over the past two million
years. What makes this plant so
attractive is its high, furry, white
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The sea saibling found in Königssee
feeds on tiny animals. When
spawing, its belly and fins are
colored bright red. Served smoked,
saiblin is a fine delicacy.
Our largest native raven species is
the common raven and can often
be viewed showing off its flight
acrobatics in the higher regions
of the National Park. Depending on
leaves that form a star. The actual
flower is formed by the small yellow
parts in the center. Its white
hair helps the plant reduce evaporation
due to sun and wind, thus
protecting itself from drying out.
Formerly the edelweiss was a common
meadow flower above the
alpine tree line. Man’s lack of respect
for nature has led to its extinction
in many places. It is now
found only in crannies and unreachable
rock faces.
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Mountain huts
and inns
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National border
National park border
Hiking paths and
mountain trails
Cable-car
National Park
Information Point
Highlights
Gotzenalm
Kärlingerhaus
Riemannhaus
Ingolstädter Haus
Watzmannhaus
Kührointhütte
Dr.-Hugo-Beck-Haus
Schneibsteinhaus
Karl v. Stahlhaus
Saletalm
Grünsteinhütte
Mitterkaseralm/Jenner
Königsbachalm
Jenner Berggaststätte
St. Bartholomä
Mitterkaseralm/Watzmann
Publishing details:
Bavarian State Ministry of Environmental Issues
and Health – Published by: National Park Administration
Berchtesgaden, Doktorberg 6, D-83471
Berchtesgaden, Germany, Tel: +49(0)8652 /
9686-0, Fax: +49(0)86 52 / 968640 – E-Mail:
poststelle@npv-bgd.bayern.de – Internet: www.
nationalpark-berchtesgaden.de – Text: J. Seidenschwarz,
National Park Administration – English
translation: David Harper, Berchtesgaden –
Photos: W. Eisenkopf, A. Hafner and K. Wagner,
National Park Administration – Panoramic map:
W. Krabichler – Layout: N. Hasenknopf &
GL-Werbestudio – Printed by Plenk, Berchtesgaden
– 6th edition 2011.
Printed on environmentally friendly paper.
the situation, its call varies from
a deep „grog“ to „kark“ or „kroko“.
It likes to use rock walls to build
its nest. Another good flyer is its
smaller relative the alpine chough.
One ca nobserve them up close
on mountain peaks and around
mountain huts. Its yellow beak is
unmistakable.
S I G H T S O F I N T E R E S T
1 City of „Schönau am
Königssee“
Located directly at the lakeside of
lake Königssee. From here the
electrically driven boats start to the
peninsula of St. Bartholomew.
2 Malerwinkel
Due to its beauty the Berchtesgaden
area was already popular
with landscape artists in the early
19th century. Many of them favored
Malerwinkel, the „painter’s corner“.
3 Close to nature:
mixed mountain forest
Former forestry work strongly altered
the lower forests in today’s
National Park. The native mixed
mountain forest of beech, sycamore,
fir and spruce were replaced
by spruce woods alone.
In comparison, the forests on the
steep slopes around Königssee are
more natural. Wood was also cut
here up until 1960 but the sheerness
of the terrain hindered deforestation.
Native trees were able to
grow back on their own.
4 Peninsula of St. Bartholomew
The church and restaurant of St.
Bartholomew are built on a delta
jutting out into the lake. For the
past 10,000 years it has built up
through the weathering of Mount
Watzmann’s cliffs.
5 The Pilgrimage Church
of St. Bartholomew
The first „Basilica at Künigsee“ was
consecrated in 1134. Romanesque
in essence, it underwent renovation
work in the Baroque style in
1698 and 1710.
The church is the destination of a
traditional pilgrimage that starts in
Maria Alm, Austria, and crosses
„Steinernes Meer“.
6 National Park Information
Point at St. Bartholomew
The information point is located in a
historical forester’s hut. The exhibition’s
theme focuses on nature’s
constant change: processes that
are paricularly easy to observe in
the core zone of the National Park.
In summer it is open daily.
7 Wildlife feeding station
To leave nature to itself is the basic
philosophy of a national park. This
has its limits however, due to the
relatively small size of our National
Park. The red deer’s natural wintering
areas in the foothills have disappeared
due to settling, road building,
farming and forestry. It is thus
replaced thanks to the feeding
stations at St. Bartholomew and at
Reitl on the opposite shore.
8 Avalanches: natural dynamics
A massive avalanche slipped down
the Kleiner Watzmann in February
1999, laying some 8 hectares of forest
flat. A large number of the trees
was not uprooted by the snow itself
but by the air pressure. In accordance
with the National Park’s aims
the hand of man did not intervene:
the trees were left to lie. The forest
will grow again without the help of
man. The first young trees are already
growing thanks to the already
existing seedlings and to natural
seed flight.
9 Chapel of St. John
and St. Paul
The chapel was erected in high
gothic style from 1617 to 1620, at a
time when the baroque style had
already taken over elsewhere. It is
probably located at a former pagan
shrine.
10 The Ice Chapel
The so-called ice chapel „Eiskapelle“
is made of avalanche snow from
the Watzmann’s east face through
which the melting snow washes out
a large opening in summer. Due to
the fact that the ice and snow can
collapse without warning at any
time, climbing on or walking into
the chapel is extremely dangerous.
11 Mount Watzmann
The Berchtesgaden National Park’s
highest point is the Watzmann summit
at 2713 m. Its eastern face with
1800 m of sheer rock wall is the
highest cliff in the Eastern Alps.
Legend has it that a cruel king, his
wife and seven children were
turned to stone in the Watzmann
Massif.
12 Mount Jenner
The Jenner, boasting a cable-car,
offers magnificent views onto the
National Park. Originally the Jenner
was forested nearly up to its peak
as scattered spruce near the summit
still testify. The felling of trees
and alpine grazing created today’s
open landscape covered with sparse
grass, fields of dwarf pine and a
scattering of thickets.
13 Gotzenalm, Feuerpalfen
High above Königssee lies Gotzenalm,
first mentioned in the 8th century.
This open pasture land hosts arnica
and spotted gentian flowers. Nearby,
the sparse spruce growth is
typical of woods that are used for
grazing. The lookout point at nearby
Feuerpalfen offers a magnificent
view of Königssee.
14 Kühroint, Archenkanzel
Similar to Gotzenalm, the pasture
huts at Kührointalm are perched on
a plateau high above Königssee.
South of this pasture, the Archenkanzel
point offers a lovely view
onto Königssee.
15 National Park Information
Point at Kühroint
This information point is open daily
during the season, depending on
the business hours of the Kühroint
hut.
16 Funtensee
Funtensee is located in a dolina, a
funnel-shaped depression caused
by the caving in of a grotto. Cattle
was driven up to the Funtensee
pasture up until 1962. The area is
now included in the activity-free
core zone of the National Park. The
surrounding stone pine woods are
somewhat of a botanical highlight.
17 Steinernes Meer
The Steinernes Meer (stony sea) is
marked by barren and therefore
impressive high alpine landscapes.
Its name comes from its wavelike
surface made of rock that was deposited
at the bottom of the sea
some 200 million years ago, as
shown by fossilized shells. Apart
from caves and dolinas, one finds
deep cuts in the rock, created
by rain and melting snow over
thousands of years.

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St. Bartholomew with Watzmann East Face. Photo K. Wagner, NPV