Tölzer Land - Sightseeing

The municipality of Dietramszell is located approximately 7.5 mi (12 km) to the north of Bad Tölz and... is not necessarily a typical tourist spot. The beautiful location in the middle of a large forest area alongside meadows and small villages makes this municipality particularly attractive, and offers possibilities for cycling and hiking in the sun or shade, depending on the weather and time of year. A great view of the Isar valley towards Lenggries and the Brauneck massif can be enjoyed from the Peretshof mount. Of course, there are also many other places in and around Dietramszell (an impressive Salesian monastery can be found on the southern border of the district) which afford similar breathtaking views of the area. more

In 2008, the director Michael ‘Bully’ Herbig’ found in Lake Walchen the ideal location for his... film ‘Vicky the Viking’. A faithful reproduction of a Viking village was constructed in Lake Walchen’s Sachenbach bay. The village was then taken down following the end of filming. However, as it had become a tourist attraction in the region in the meantime, the municipality succeeded in acquiring part of the film scenery and rebuilding it in its current location. Over 7,000 visitors were present for the opening of the village on 12 September 2009 and people of all ages continue to visit the area today in order to see the village with all of its props. As the village is often closed due to filming taking place there, it is advised to call ahead to confirm a visit. more

Bad Tölz is the administrative center of the county of Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen and therefore houses... the district office and part of the county’s administration department. Until the beginning of the 1990s, Bad Tölz was also a garrison town of the United States Army – an after effect of the Second World War following General Patton’s ‘pacification’ of the region with his troops. Nowadays, a street name serves as the reminder of the American soldiers, as does Flint Barracks by the entrance to the town, which has since been modified into a modern shopping and administrative center. The spa town of Bad Tölz (which has been allowed to bear the title ‘climatic health resort’ since 10 December 1969) captivates visitors due to its charming location on the border of the Alps, and has numerous sightseeing and employment opportunities for visitors of all ages. The TV series "Der Bulle von Tölz" (The Copper of Tölz), featuring Munich actor and cabaret artist Ottfried Fischer, has ensured that the town now enjoys a high profile far beyond the borders of the county. more

The Holy Trinity Church (Franciscan church) is one of the former Franciscan churches whose cornerstone... was laid in 1624. While the monastery building was finished in 1626, it took until 1733 before the actual church started to be built. Though the church was initially built without a bell tower in 1735, it did have a distinctive ridge turret. With its simple Baroque pilasters and ceilings without stuccos or frescoes, the somewhat Spartan interior of the church corresponds to the ideal of poverty championed by the Franciscans. The inlay work on the altar, on the other hand, is finished with marble columns. The monastery closed its gates in 2008. The entire complex underwent an extensive restoration process in 2010. more

Those who make their way from the town to the Kalvarienberg will be rewarded with an expansive view of... the Isar valley and the town along the 1300 ft (400 m) route to the top of the hill. Beyond the view, though, the unique Baroque twin church with its two thin towers (the so-called ‘Crown of Tölz’) is more than worth the visit. The ‘Holy Stairs’ can be found inside the church; these stairs were initially built outdoors and the church building was built over it later on. In addition to the church, visitors can take a look at the Golgotha hill with its larger-than-life crucifixion ensemble, which was erected in 1735. Another cruciform church with a holy sepulcher was built at the base of the hill between 1723 and 1726. more

The Tölz Kurhaus was built according to plans formulated by Gabriel von Seidl and was dedicated in June... 1914. Thanks to its architectural attractiveness, the Kurhaus has offered an atmosphere suitable for all kinds of cultural performances and private functions since its opening. Completely renovated in spring 2009, the house is located next to a spa garden in which visitors can spend many a quiet moment. more

Those in the know deem the Marktstraße in Tölz to be the "most beautiful banquet hall in the Oberland".... This grand boulevard has the Munich architect and cultural historian Gabriel von Seidl to thank for its current appearance. The Alpine style of the houses with their wonderful gabled facades and wall murals dates back to the 18th century and is modeled on the farmhouses in Upper Bavaria. Today, the Marktstraße is a pedestrianized zone, which gently slopes down towards the Isar River and is frequently used for all kinds of fairs and markets. The Marktstraße transforms into a giant open-air coffee shop on sunny days. more

In the 16th century, the pilgrimage chapel of ‘Mary’s Help’ was erected close to the ‘old mills’... which were powered by the River Ellbach and its tributaries. An extension to the Baroque building, which is now rather well-known, was carried out in 1736, and the beautiful ceiling frescoes in the nave were created by the famous church painter Matthäus Günther. The Mühlfeldkirche can be reached by following the Marktstraße up from the River Isar. The Marktstraße merges with the Salzstraße, and it is at the end of this road that the chapel can be found. more

Measuring approx. 16,145 ft² (1,500 m²) and spread out across five floors, Tölz town museum offers... a comprehensive presentation of the history of Bad Tölz and the local history and geography of the Isarwinkel region. In addition to a delightful exhibition of paintings by important personalities in the town’s history, the creation and development of the Bad Tölz joinery trade is a focal point of the museum. Wardrobes, chests, cradles, four-poster beds and traditional wagons show visitors the artisan abilities from this period. These traditional wagons can still be marveled at during the so-called Tölz ‘Leonhardifahrt’, which enjoys fame far beyond the borders of the region and involves a procession of beautiful horse-drawn carriages being led through the town. A geological section and archaeological finds dating back to the Bronze Age can also be viewed. more

Replete with three naves, the late Gothic Assumption of the Virgin Mary town parish church is worth a... detour when traveling along the Marktstraße in Bad Tölz. Today, the church is one of a group of listed buildings, along with the historic center of the town. The tower, built in 1466, was only crowned with its neo-Gothic spire in 1877; prior to this, its sole protection had been in the form of a gable. Numerous Renaissance tombs of noble families from the 16th and 17th centuries can be found in the church. A copy of the much-imitated holy image by Lucas Cranach the Elder from the cathedral in Innsbruck hangs in the Mary’s Help Chapel in the rear of the church. The tomb of Kaspar Winzerer III lies behind the high altar and an imposing marble table; Winzerer was an important military commander who died in 1541 as a result of an injury sustained whilst jousting. He bore the nickname ‘The Golden Rider’. more

From 1909-1917, the famous author and Nobel Prize winner Thomas Mann owned a magnificent villa on the... northern edge of Bad Tölz, in which he spent eight summers along with his family. Those that read his short story ‘A Man and His Dog’ can acquaint themselves with the impressions formulated by Mann about his stay in Bad Tölz. Nowadays, the villa belongs to the St. Joseph’s Home for the Poor School Sisters (Heim der Armen Schulschwestern) and is not open to the public. more

Located close to the town museum, this cast-iron memorial on the Marktstraße is dedicated to Kaspar... Winzerer III, guardian of Tölz and son of Kaspar Winzerer II. The memorial dates back to the year 1887. The ‘golden rider’ was a ducal Bavarian military commander, diplomat and guardian, and was knighted in 1504. A guardian is a type of governor who was tasked with managing and defending a castle or monastery. Following many successful military campaigns, Winzerer died in 1542 as a result of an injury sustained whilst jousting. Winzerer’s body lies buried behind a red marble slab in the town parish church of Bad Tölz. more

Frequently used today as a film set for various made-for-TV-movies, the fantastic Benediktbeuern Abbey... can look back on a 1250-year history. Nowadays, the abbey houses two colleges of theology and is managed by the Order of Salesians of Don Bosco, which acquired the abbey in 1930. The former abbey of St. Benedict and the Anastasia chapel designed in the Rococo style are worth a visit, as are a tour of the courtyard and the old abbey cemetery. If the weather is pleasant, visitors may also relax in the abbey’s pub, which has an amazing beer garden. more

Found to the south of Bad Tölz, Jachenau is a sunny mountain valley which receives its name from the... small River Jachen running through it. Jachenau has maintained its original Upper Bavarian character, which can be recognized via the traditional practices and the way in which the landscape with its tiny hamlets and villages is lovingly preserved. In the summer, Jachenau is a veritable paradise for hikers, while it offers heaven on earth for cross-country skiers in the winter. If, at the end of the valley, visitors take the Mautstraße in a southerly direction, they will reach Lake Walchen, a huge reservoir which powers the Lake Walchen Power Plant. more

If travelers take the Bundesstraße 13 along the River Isar from Bad Tölz towards Lenggries, they can... catch a glimpse of strange cairns on the banks of the Isar when passing through Untergries, a district of Gaißach. These pyramids, made of piled-up pebbles from the Isar, are not a natural phenomenon; rather, they have been shaped by hand. After periods of flooding, a hermit living in the region rebuilds them. more

Lenggries, a village with a long tradition of rafting, can be found to the south of Bad Tölz in the... upper Isarwinkel region, and is a popular getaway spot for hikers, cyclists, skiers and rafting/canoeing enthusiasts in both the summer and winter. The Lenggries Hausberg massif, home to Brauneck mountain (highest point: 5,092 ft / 1,552 m), is made accessible via a modern continuous cable car and is suitable for some fantastic mountain hikes. In Lenggries itself, tradition goes hand in hand with a modern lifestyle and the atmosphere in the village should allow visitors to quickly forget the chaos of daily life. more

Located close to Kochel am See, the Glentleiten Open Air Museum is the largest of its type in the whole... of Upper Bavaria. Over 60 historic houses, mills, workshops and alpine pastures were lovingly constructed here and can be viewed via a tour lasting several hours. From the early modern era to the present, visitors can explore the regional history and the changes effected in society. Regular special exhibitions round off the activities on offer. There are guided tours for people of various age groups, focusing on different aspects of the museum. Furthermore, a traditional inn with a large beer garden all but encourages visitors to take a break there for a while. more

Franz Marc, one of the most famous German artists of the 20th century and member of ‘Der Blaue Reiter’... (The Blue Rider) collective (including Kandinsky, Macke and Paul Klee), maintained a strong connection with the Bavarian Alpine countryside. He lived in Lenggries, Sindelsdorf and finally in Ried near Kochel am See. More than 150 works from his estate can be viewed in this architecturally splendid museum. The extraordinary location of this treasure above the Kochel lake and the fantastic exhibits which are regularly complemented by special exhibitions don’t just bedazzle art enthusiasts. The museum was opened in 1986 and expanded with an extension in 2007/2008. Nowadays, the exhibition items are presented across a surface area of 7,500 ft² (700 m²), including artworks by Paul Klee, Gabriele Münter, Wassily Kandinsky and Alexej von Jawlensky, and personal items belonging to Franz Marc. more

Schlehdorf Abbey (Kloster Schlehdorf), an imposing building found directly on the Kochel lake, is today... home to the Missionary Dominican Sisters of King William's Town. In total, 45 sisters live in this exclave of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Munich and Freising. There is a garden and a store on the grounds of the abbey, all of which is well worth seeing. Built between 1773 and 1780, the collegiate church is credited to the Munich master builder Balthasar Trischberger. It was dissolved in 1803 (during the secularization of Bavaria), and ownership of the abbey fell into the hands of the Bavarian state. Since this time, the abbey has served as a parish church, and can be viewed upon request. The Missionary Dominican Sisters, who predominantly work in South Africa, acquired the abbey complex in 1904. The abbey has been the seat of the German Province of the Order since 1960. more

Celebrating its 1,000 years of existence in 2003, the town of Wolfratshausen is located in the southern... part of the Tölz district and can be easily reached via the S7 suburban railway (S-Bahn) from Munich. The town is nestled between the rivers Isar and Losiach and achieved importance and prosperity due to its rafting operations. Nowadays, tourists can travel to Munich via raft. The old market square with its fountains and a row of houses painted in various colors is worth seeing. The historic center and covered bridges crossing the Isar should also be visited. Wonderful hiking and cycle paths, fantastically situated golf courses, excellent shopping possibilities and wide-ranging cultural opportunities make this little town a perfect place for a visit. more

After a good five years under construction, the first turbine in the Walchensee power plant in the municipality... of Kochel started turning in 1924. Even today, it continues to be one of the largest pumped-storage power plants in Germany due to its capacity of 300 million kWh of electricity. The water flows downwards from Lake Walchen, which is at a higher altitude, via several approx. 1,480 ft (450 m) long pressure pipes and powers the turbines in the engine room. Each year, over 100,000 visitors come to view the power plant free of charge, making it a real draw for visitors in this region. There is also a documentation area in the complex, which contains models and information panels. more

The physician and entrepreneur Joseph van Fraunhofer operated in Benediktbeuern Abbey at the beginning... of the 19th century, which had already been secularized by this time. Original exhibits revealing Fraunhofer’s working environment can be viewed in his eponymous museum. The museum contains two preserved smelting furnaces and a series of tools used for working with glass. In Fraunhofer’s day, exceptionally high-quality special glass for optical instruments was produced in the glassworks, and items such as telescopes had an excellent reputation throughout Europe. more

The Falkenhof Lenggries Alpine wildlife park is an adventure zoo and home of eagles, falcons, buzzards,... red kites, vultures and other birds of prey. The Lenggries falconers occupy themselves with various tasks. Flying demonstrations with birds of prey are regularly given, and the audience can experience the extensive training of bird and handler alike. A film animal school for training animals is also part of the Falkenhof. The star of the Falkenhof is SKY, a giant golden eagle who became a media star; he can often be marvelled at in films and on television. The highlight of all the performances is the annual falconer spectacle, which includes a jousting tournament and a medieval market. Dates are published on the website. more

The lime kiln which can be viewed in Lenggries is the last free-standing lime kiln of its type in the... Isar valley. The calcination process in this region has a long tradition and goes all the way back to 1347. The limestone was transported to Munich via rafts. By the middle of the 13th century, the lime kiln had expanded so much that the forest in the region was damaged and restrictions had to be placed on the lime kiln, which consumed vast amounts of wood. It was only at the end of the 19th century that industrial lime production became accepted, thereby spelling the end for this industry in the Isar valley. more

Part of the municipality of Kochel and upstream from Kochel am See itself, the village of Walchensee... is located next to Lake Walchen and can be reached via the B11 (Kesselbergstraße). As a former mountain race track, the Kesselbergstraße is still navigated by many motorcyclists wishing to put their abilities to the test today. Unfortunately, there are fatalities each year, meaning that the street has to be closed off to motorcyclists at weekends. Walchensee itself is a contemplative, typically Upper Bavarian village surrounded by wonderful mountain scenery. Visitors can travel up the 5,680 ft (1,731 m) Herzogstand mountain in comfort via the cable car service. From the cable car station, visitors are then rewarded with a dreamlike view of the Karwendel and Wetterstein mountain ranges. Those wishing to stay in the valley can enjoy the natural surroundings thanks to numerous hiking trails around Lake Walchen. Alternatively, ‘Flake’, the Viking village (Wikingerdorf) film set from the feature film ‘Vicky the Viking’, is also worth a visit. more