Few people know that in the entire history of the Olympic movement, both the Winter and Summer Olympic Games were held in one country only three times. The last time this happened was in 1936. Then the summer games were hosted by the capital of Nazi Germany, Berlin, and the winter games - by the well-known at that time and very popular now German ski resort Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Over time, the beauty of its mountainous landscapes has not faded at all, and the service and opportunities for recreation and winter sports have improved and expanded significantly.
Where is the resort located and what it is
Today the Garmisch-Partenkirchen resort is a place where the healing climate not only helps to improve health, but also provides a lot of opportunities for sports and active and interesting recreation.
Garmisch-Partenkirchen is located at the foot of Germany's highest mountain, the Zugspitze, which rises 2,962 meters above sea level. The settlement has been known since 1935, then two villages - Garmisch and Partenkirchen, which gave it its name, on the eve of the Olympics, by order of Hitler, were united into one settlement. It should be noted that this idea did not cause much enthusiasm among the residents.
Partenkirchen is an older settlement known from the 15th century BC as Partanum. During the Roman Empire, it was a military outpost on an important strategic road through the Alps to the Danube and linking Rome with Gaul and Dacia. Later, the road turned into a trading road, and a large market appeared in Partenkirchen, which was served by the inhabitants of this valley for centuries.
The prosperity of the population of Partenkirchen is evidenced by the many rich houses and estates. Their distinguishing feature is the mural painting on wet plaster using the luftmalerai technique. Bay windows of houses are especially richly decorated with colorful drawings and paintings on biblical or historical themes.
The younger Garmisch is a little over 8 hundred years old. This settlement owes its origin to the castle of the same name.
In order for the inhabitants of the two settlements not to oppose the unification, they were promised to assign the status of a city, to which they finally agreed, however, in the pre-Olympic bustle, this did not come to this, and then it did not come to this at all, so the city is still not a settlement. is that does not prevent it from flourishing and attracting tourists from all over the world.
The resort is located in the south of Germany, in Bavaria, at the foot of the German Alps. In the west, the community borders on the Austrian Tyrol.
The own population of Garmisch-Partenkirchen is about 27 thousand people. However, taking into account tourists, there are much more people here.
Tourism is the leading branch of the economy of this resort town. And although winter sports brought him the main fame, travelers who are interested in the history and cultural traditions of old Europe are also happy to relax here.
For example, at the end of June, the Richard Strauss Memorial Festival is held in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, which is attended by fans of classical music from all over the world. The famous composer spent the last years of his life here and is buried here.
On the first weekend of July, BMW motorcycle enthusiasts gather in the settlement, and a number of festivals are held here in July and August.
So, in the middle of July, there is a classic rock festival in support of the Bürgerstiftung Mehrwert; another Karwendel Music Festival is dedicated to classical music, and in late July and early August, the colorful Festwochen Garmisch-Partenkirchen is held - a festival dedicated to the unification of two settlements, the program of which includes a parade of residents in national clothes, performances by folk musicians, dance performances and, of course, acquaintance with local cuisine.
In August, the Festwochen beer festival takes place in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, which is accompanied by performances by folk groups, fun competitions and, of course, a tasting of the favorite national drink.
In August – September, the theater festival takes place right on the streets of the town. So you won't be bored in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. To verify this, visit the official website of the settlement by following this link. The site is available in German and English.
Yet Garmisch-Partenkirchen is known to a greater extent as a ski resort.
Infrastructure for winter sports and entertainment
The resort is located at an altitude of 1339 meters above sea level. For those who prefer downhill skiing, there is plenty to turn around: wide, gentle slopes for beginners and difficult trails for professionals will delight skiers of all skill levels.
The total length of the tracks is 120 km. There are 44 tracks in total, of which 8 are green, 13 are blue, 21 are red and 2 are black.
At the same time, the ski area starts at an altitude of 720 meters and extends almost to the top of the Zugspitze.
In addition, there are 150 km of flat ski trails, as well as snowboarding and tobogganing trails. There is an opportunity to go hiking - mountain walks. For this purpose, hiking trails and bicycle paths have been laid in the mountains, the length of which is 140 km. Moreover, a significant part of them are cleared in winter.
Resort piste scheme:
In total, the resort has 33 ski lifts. Among them: 1 cogwheel railway, 4 cable cars, 20 drag lifts, 6 chair lifts and two gondola lifts. If you are going to use one of them, decide if you can then go down, since some of the lifts only go up. The total capacity of the lifts is 50 thousand people per hour.
The high season in the ski resort starts in January and lasts until early April - it is at this time of the year that the weather favors winter entertainment.
How much will the ski pass cost
The name ski pass comes from the English words ski (ski) and pass (pass). This is a magnetic card that allows you to enter the work area of the ski station and use the services of all lifts at no extra charge. You can climb to the top of the mountain and descend from it with this card an unlimited number of times.
Depending on the validity period, a pass to the lift area will cost:
| Duration of action | Adult price (EUR) | Youth price (EUR) |
|---|---|---|
| 2 days | 88 | 44 |
| 3 days | 128,5 | 64,5 |
| 4 days | 170 | 85 |
| 5 days | 207 | 103 |
| 6 days | 240 | 120 |
| 7 days | 268,5 | 134 |
| Season Pass Top snow card | 596 | 298 |
It should be noted that the cost of a ski pass for young people under 19 years old is two times less than for adults.
Where can you stay at the resort
There are a lot of hotels in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, so you can easily choose the one that best suits your needs and possibilities. You can view hotels and prices on Нotellook.com using this link.
In addition, it is possible to rent housing in the private sector, directly from local residents, using the AirBnb website. It is better to book seats approximately 2 months before the expected date of the trip - in this case, you are guaranteed to find what you need, at the same time at the best price.
Other entertainment in Garmisch-Partenkirchen
If you are not interested in outdoor activities, you can find other entertainment to your liking. In the village there is the estate of Richard Strauss, there is a musical theater. Nearby are the ancient castles of Neuschwanstein, Hohenschwangau and Linderhof.
If you wish, you can visit the pool and various spa treatments, do aquafitness or Nordic walking. And the mountains located around are so beautiful that you can admire them endlessly.
Travelers will also be interested to learn that during the Second World War it was Garmisch-Partenkirchen that became the location of the elite SS Mountain Rifle Division "Edelweiss", which in 1942 managed to hoist the German flag over Elbrus.
And during the Cold War, the Russian Institute, a NATO intelligence school, where they studied the USSR, worked here. By the way, in the town there is still an American military base and the European Center for the Study of Security Issues. J. Marshall.
Enough in the town and all kinds of shops and restaurants that are famous for their cuisine. However, sports equipment stores are somewhat expensive, so it is better to bring sports equipment with you. But in souvenir shops you can buy a lot of cute trinkets as a keepsake.
How to get to the resort
The easiest way to get to Garmisch-Partenkirchen is to fly to Munich, Germany or Innsbruck, Austria. The airports of these cities are connected with the ski resort by rail. It will take about 4 hours to get there by train, however, given the comfort of the trains and the beautiful views from the window, the time on the road will fly by.
Other German ski resorts
Apart from Garmisch-Partenkirchen, famous German ski resorts are Berchtesgaden and Oberstdorf. The tracks on them are quite decent, the level of service and opportunities for recreation are excellent.
And yet, the rating of resorts for winter holidays in Germany, as their popularity decreases, is as follows: Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Berchtesgaden and Oberstdorf.
Conclusion
Garmisch-Partenkirchen is the most popular winter sports resort in Germany. It is best to come there in January-March. It is during this period that the weather is most suitable for skiing. However, fun, excellent service and magnificent nature are guaranteed at any time of the year, so your stay in Garmisch-Partenkirchen will only leave you with pleasant memories.
