Garmisch-Partenkirchen in Bavaria, Germany

Garmisch-Partenkirchen in Bavaria, Germany

Garmisch-Partenkirchen is a mountain resort town situated in Bavaria, southern Germany. It is considered as the administrative center of the district of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, in the Oberbayern region and the district is on the border with Austria. The Zugspitze that is known to be Germany’s highest mountain is situated near Garmisch-Partenkirchen, that is 2,961 meters or 9,714 feet high. This mountain resort town is also a market place for locals and international visitors. Garmisch-Partenkirchen is very popular for winter sports held at the Bavarian Alps in Germany. The town was established in the year 1935 as a unification of the villages of Garmisch and Partenkirchen. Both Garmisch and Partenkirchen village mayors were forced, by no other than Adolf Hitler, to combine both villages as a part of the Winter Olympic Games that were held in the year 1936. From that time being, both of the villages were united.

History of the Garmisch-Partenkirchen in Bavaria, Germany

Before the Winter Olympic Games in 1936, Garmisch-Partenkirchen were separate towns for many centuries, Garmisch was in the west area and Partenkirchen was in the east, and still maintain quite separate identities.

Partenkirchen originated as the Roman town of Partanum on the trade route from Augsburg to Venice and is first mentioned in the year 15 A.D. Ludwigsstrasse is considered as Partenkirchen’s main street that follows the original Roman road.

Garmisch-Partenkirchen in Bavaria, Germany

While Garmisch was first mentioned 800 years later as Germaneskau or also known as the “German District,” suggesting that at some point a Teutonic tribe took up settlement in the western end of the valley.

Then the valley came under the rule of the Bishop of Freising and was governed by a bishop’s representative called the Pfleger or the caretaker or warden that comes from the Werdenfels Caastle situated on a cliff north of Garmisch.

Garmisch-Partenkirchen in Bavaria, Germany

In the 16th century, the discovery of America led ton a boom in terms of shipping business and a sharp decline in overland trade, which plunged the region into a centuries-long economic depression. The valley floor in Garmisch-Partenkirchen in Bavaria, Germany was then swampy and difficult to farm. There are bears, lynxes and wolves that was considered as a constant threat to the people’s livestock. The population in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany also suffered from periodic epidemics, such as serious outbreaks of  bubonic plague. Adverse fortunes from disease and crop failure in Garmisch-Partenkirchen occasionally led to witch hysteria. Most notable of these were the notorious trials and executions of 1589 to 1596, in which 63 victims, or more than ten percent of the town’s population at the time, were burned at the stake or garroted.

Werdenfels Castle in Bavaria, Germany, where the accused were held, tried and executed, became an object of superstitious horror and was abandoned in the 17th century. It was largely torn down in the 1750s and its stones used to build the baroque Neue Kirche or also known as the New Church on Marienplatz, which was completed in 1752. It replaced the nearby Gothic Alte Kirche or the Old Church, parts of which predated Christianity and may originally have been a pagan temple. It was used as a storage house, armory and hay barn for many years, it has since been reconsecrated. Some of its medieval frescoes are still visible.

Public Institutions in Garmisch-Partenkirchen in Bavaria, Germany

George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies

Garmisch-Partenkirchen in Bavaria, Germany became very famous for its public institutions. There are various educational institutions situated in the Garmisch-Partenkirchen villages, such as George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies. This educational institution is managed by the funds which are given from all over the world. There is also a recreation center for the American Armed Forces which serves NATO and U.S families. As of today, the U.S troops still provide security and support to the Edelweiss recreation center.

recreation center for the American Armed Forces

Important Facts 

Michael Ende

The town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen is the hometown of the famous German writer Michael Ende and the famous German Composer Richard Strauss.

Richard Strauss

As of today, Garmisch-Partenkirchen in Bavaria, Germany is considered as one of the most famous tourist spots for hiking, skiing and snowboarding. The 2018 Olympic Games are to be held here as well.

Transportation in Garmisch-Partenkirchen in Bavaria, Germany

The town is served by Federal Highway 2 as a continuation of the A95 Autobahn (motorway), which ends at Exchenlohe 16 kilometers north of the city.

Garmisch-Partenkirchen station is situated on the Munich-Garmisch-Partenkirchen line and the Mittenwald Railway (Garmisch-Mittenwald-Innsbruck). It is the terminus of the Auberfern Railway to Reutte in Tirol or Kempten im Allgau and the Bavarian Zugspitze Railway (with sections of rack railway) to the Zugspitze, that is the highest mountain in Germany.

train to Garmisch-Partenkirchen

There are also regional services in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany that runs every hour to Munchen Hauptbahnhof and Mittenwald and every two hours to Innsbruck Hauptbahnhof and Reutte. Moreover, locals and tourists can go with the seasonal long-distance services, that includes ICEs to Berlin, Bremen, Dortmund, Hamburg and Inssbruck.

There are also several accessible hiking trails from Garmisch-Partenkirchen in Bavaria, Germany that are especially spectacular. It also cover both the lower and higher elevations of the town.

Sports in Garmisch-Partenkirchen in Bavaria, Germany

1936 Winter Olypmics in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Bavaria, Germany

The Garmisch-Partenkirchen was also popular for various winter sports. It was actually the location of the 1936 Winter Olympic Games. The traditional ski jumping was also held on the New Year’s Day of 1936. Moreover, different Ski jumping’s were also held here at the Kandahar Way. The Alpine World Ski Championships, that took place in 1978, were also here in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Bavaria, Germany.

Skiing in Garmisch-Partenkirchen

Traveling to Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Bavaria, Germany

Locals and tourists who want to visit Garmisch-Partenkirchen in Bavaria, Germany can reach it by train, where a Frankfurt to Munich train service that is available frequently.

You can also take several bus and taxi services that are available for 20 Euros.