Berchtesgaden/Salzburg
If I had to choose one place to retire in the world that had to be gorgeous, simple and somewhat of a hidden gem – Berchtesgaden would be it. The best place to stay is by far Hotel Maria Gern. It is situated up in the alps and is a two story family owned hotel that also includes a restaurant. The food there is my absolute favorite in the entire world! Be sure to order the Rahmschnitzel (pictured above) and pretty much any beer on their menu and you are good to go! Everything is homemade, fresh, and rich. Also, they make a great version of an ice cream sundae that has wafer cookies in it that are to die for. As per usual in Germany, nothing is too sweet, but just right. In the morning you are welcome to a buffet traditional Bavarian breakfast with lots of meats, cheeses, and breads.
If you are in Berchtesgaden, and a history of buff of any kind, it is worth the short drive up to see Eagle’s Nest and Obersalzburg. Obersalzburg is a museum and also an old World War II bunker that you can tour. Creepy? Yes. But if nothing else, the view and observation deck shouldn’t be missed. Go up the hill a bit further and you will be at Eagle’s Nest which was Hitler’s infamous lookout and hideaway during World War II.
Next stop would be Lake Königssee situated in the heart of Berchtesgaden National Park. Königssee is a gorgeous emerald gem that I can’t wait to see again. When you arrive be sure to buy your tickets for the boat tour right away so you won’t have to wait too long for the next one. You are able to take a half tour or a full and we opted for the half. In the “half” tour, you ride the boat around the lake with a guide giving a full tour and half way you stop at the beer garden and souvenir shops. It is a great chance to have a beer, pretzel or snack and relax with some shopping for Königssee souvenirs to take home. Your guide will tell you how long the break will be before you will head back to where you started. Once back at the docks, take advantage of more shopping – this is where I found my furry hat that I just adore.
Being so close to the Austrian border, it would be a huge mistake to not make a day of Salzburg. It is home to the largest fortress in Europe and has never been “taken” by an enemy. You purchase your tickets at the bottom and take a lift up the side of the hill to the fortress. Once inside, you can go to several restaurants as well as walk around. Optionally, you can take a guided tour which I’d recommend that will take you to the very top to get a great view of Salzburg in a 360 degree view.
Last but not least, make sure to snap a photo at the Mozart statue, the fountain from The Sound of Music and Mozart’s birthplace. There is tons of shopping in the city and a lot of great Mozart themed souvenirs to be found. A beautiful city with many musicians playing on the street (probably music students from University there) is really a great stop even for a day trip. Happy travelling!
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