Prien at Lake Chiemsee – Where Castles meet Star Cuisine
Visit lake Chiemsee. Some places in the world are like movie sets: surreal and particularly impressive. This includes the tranquil region of Chiemgau in Upper Bavaria with its opulent Herrenchiemsee Castle.
However, all that gold, exquisite marble and luxurious stucco are not the brainchild of a Hollywood director, but owed to the not entirely uncontroversial fairy-tale king Ludwig II of Bavaria. He acquired the island in the middle of Lake Chiemsee in the 19th century as a residence and had the stately New Herrenchiemsee Palace built there.
Surrounded by water
Unlike the French original – Versailles Palace – the imposing building is surrounded by water. It is located in the middle of Lake Chiemsee on Herreninsel, where neither cars nor bicycles are allowed. The journey is therefore exclusively by boat, for example from the pier in Prien am Chiemsee. This makes a visit to the magnificent building a unique experience, especially since you can even get there by horse-drawn carriage instead of on foot..
This is open almost all year round for guided tours. In summer, you can also enjoy exclusive evening events outside the regular visiting hours, such as the Herrenchiemsee Festival in the impressive Hall of Mirrors!
Another seasonal and charming spectacle is a ride on the historic steam streetcar from the pier to the Prien train station. The two-kilometer ride in the green vehicle from 1887 takes you past nice little cafés, beautiful old house facades and modern boutiques.
Yachthotel at Lake Chiemsee: oasis of peace
If you want to continue listening to the waves of Lake Chiemsee and still live centrally, you should stay at the Yachthotel. The four-star hotel is close to the town center of Prien and yet away from the hustle and bustle, surrounded by woods and meadows. A large sunbathing lawn, two restaurants, a spa with indoor pool and direct access to the lake make the hotel an ideal place for those seeking peace and quiet.
Art and cuisine
Due to its idyllic location, the yacht hotel is also a good starting point for hiking and biking tours as well as cultural excursions, for example to the nearby gallery in the old town hall of Prien, where you can admire the naturalistic art of the Chiemsee painters as well as special exhibitions.
Also worth a visit: the small village of Aschau in Chiemgau. Just under half an hour’s drive from Prien amt Lake Chiemsee, this climatic health resort has its own castle, a picturesque landscape and one of Germany’s most prominent chefs.… weiterlesen
CultureAndCream Author from Munich
As a graduated art historian and archeologist I know the stories of cultures, buildings and paintings – well, most of them. My job as a beauty editor has awaken my love for creams (and tons of nail polishes). I am currently writing about medical and health topics. My favourite activities? Discovering new trends and hot spots while traveling which I would like to share with you.