Part 4 – Berchtesgaden, Munich, Black Forest & Rhine

URL:
https://hakuna.matata.blog/berchtesgaden-munich-black-forest-rhine-road-trip/

This post is Part 4 of my *Driving Castles and Cities* series. 

We stay in Berchtesgaden, visit the Eagle’s Nest, Lake Königssee, Wimbachklamm and St. Sebastian, then continue on to Munich, Dachau, the Black Forest and Rüdesheim am Rhein.  

**Earlier posts in the series:** 

• [Part 1 – Landing in Germany: From Los Angeles Freeways to Stuttgart Streets](https://hakuna.matata.blog/los-angeles-to-stuttgart-german-road-trip/) 

• [Part 2 – Würzburg, Eibelstadt and the Start of the Romantic Road](https://hakuna.matata.blog/wurzburg-eibelstadt-romantic-road-germany/) 

• [Part 3 – Castles and Cable Cars: Neuschwanstein, Oberammergau and Linderhof](https://hakuna.matata.blog/neuschwanstein-hohenschwangau-linderhof-bavaria/)

From fairy-tale castles, our journey shifted toward dramatic mountain scenery, sobering history, and dense evergreen forests that have inspired legends for centuries.

Berchtesgaden: Mountains, Lakes, and History

We drove to Berchtesgaden, a town surrounded by some of Germany’s most dramatic alpine scenery. It became our base for a few days of exploring.

Eagle’s Nest (Kehlsteinhaus)

One of the area’s most famous sights is the Eagle’s Nest (Kehlsteinhaus), a mountaintop retreat originally built for Hitler’s 50th birthday. Today it’s a restaurant and viewpoint, but the history is never far from mind.

A special bus takes you up a steep road to an elevator that tunnels through the mountain. At the top, the views are vast—peaks upon peaks, with valleys far below. It’s chilling and beautiful at the same time.

Lake Königssee and St Bartholomew’s Church

Another highlight was Lake Königssee, often described as one of Germany’s most beautiful lakes. Long, narrow, and framed by high cliffs, it looks almost like a fjord.

We took a boat ride across the lake to the iconic St Bartholomew’s Church, with its red onion-domed towers. The reflections of the mountains and church in the water were unforgettable.

Wimbachklamm and St. Sebastian Church

We also visited Wimbachklamm, a narrow gorge where wooden walkways cling to the rock and waterfalls rush past just feet away. It was a hit with everyone—part hike, part adventure.

Nearby, we stopped at the Parish Church of St. Sebastian in Ramsau, a little postcard-perfect church with a stone bridge and river in front, set against an alpine backdrop. If you’ve ever seen a classic photo of “quintessential Bavaria,” there’s a good chance it was taken here.

Munich: From Glockenspiel to Hofbräuhaus

Leaving Berchtesgaden, we drove to Munich for a quick taste of big-city life.

We had lunch near the Glockenspiel in Marienplatz, the main square. At set times, the Glockenspiel’s figures come to life, reenacting scenes from Bavarian history. Tourists and locals alike stop to watch, cameras tilted toward the sky.

Later we had dinner at the legendary Hofbräuhaus, Munich’s most famous beer hall. With long wooden tables, live music, and servers carrying impressive numbers of beer steins at once, it’s lively, loud, and lots of fun.

Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site

The next stop was very different in tone: the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site just outside Munich.

Walking through Dachau is a powerful, sobering experience. The site includes reconstructed barracks, the crematorium area, and a museum that documents the history of the camp and its victims. It’s not an easy visit—but an important one, especially on a trip that also includes so many beautiful and carefree moments.

Into the Black Forest (Schwarzwald)

From there, we drove into the Black Forest (Schwarzwald), famous for dense evergreen forests, cuckoo clocks, and fairytales.

Triberg Waterfalls

We visited the Triberg Waterfalls, among the highest in Germany. A series of trails and viewpoints lets you see the falls from different angles, and the sound of rushing water follows you through the forest.

Black Forest Open Air Museum

The Black Forest Open Air Museum (an outdoor collection of historic farmhouses and buildings) gave us a glimpse of traditional life in the region—wooden farmhouses with steep roofs, mills, and workshops. It’s like walking into a living history book, with plenty of space for kids to explore.

Lake Titisee

We spent the night near Lake Titisee, a popular resort lake surrounded by trees and walking paths. It’s a relaxing place to slow down for a bit: stroll along the shore, grab ice cream, or just sit and watch the boats.

Rüdesheim am Rhein and the Loreley Rock

Next, we drove to Rüdesheim am Rhein, a charming wine town along the Rhine River.

We walked through the Drosselgasse, a narrow street packed with traditional taverns, music, and restaurants. It’s touristy but fun, with a lively atmosphere.

From Rüdesheim, we took a boat trip along the Rhine to see the famous Loreley Rock, a steep slate cliff associated with a legendary siren said to lure sailors to their doom. As castles and vineyards slid by on both banks, it felt like a perfect farewell to our German road trip.

Next Post: 

➡️ [Part 5 – Paris, the Seine and Disneyland: Ending Our Trip in Style](https://hakuna.matata.blog/paris-and-disneyland-paris-family-trip/)

Previous Post:

⬅️ [Part 3 – Castles and Cable Cars: Neuschwanstein, Oberammergau and Linderhof](https://hakuna.matata.blog/neuschwanstein-hohenschwangau-linderhof-bavaria/)