Traunstein: Salt History, Lakes and the Chiemgau Alps
Accommodation in Traunstein
The surviving saltworks buildings and the saltworks chapel offer insight into Traunstein’s significant salt history. The saltworks chapel is the largest chapel in Germany. The historic city walk passes the Kulturforum Klosterkirche before continuing to the saltworks chapel, the saltworks buildings and the saltworks park, which was established in 2019.
City History and Museums
The Heimathaus houses a local history and toy museum with exhibits on civic culture, sacred art and the history of the saltworks. The brewery museum near Jacklturm is part of Hofbräuhaus Traunstein. As well as the stops on the historic walk, the city offers museum exhibits on various aspects of its history and that of the saltworks.
Lakes, Alps and Protected Areas
Beyond the city, Traunstein district offers a landscape with a wide variety of attractions: Lake Chiemsee and Lake Waginger are located here. The Chiemgau Alps in the district are home to more than 170 alpine pastures and peaks reaching up to 2,000 meters. The district lists the Seeon Lakes as a nature reserve and Lake Waginger and Lake Tachinger as a landscape conservation area. These officially designated protected areas help preserve biodiversity, safeguard rare habitats and protect the natural and cultural landscape. When planning your trip, you can consider lakes, alpine scenery and protected natural areas as distinct themes.
Activities Around Lake Waginger
Nearby, the Lake Waginger Circuit is a 29.8-kilometer, child-friendly cycling route around Lake Waginger and Lake Tachinger. You can also explore the area around Lake Waginger by bike. On the lake, you can explore by boat or SUP; equipment is available from boat rental providers. The Lake Waginger Culinary Weeks take place every year in autumn, adding a seasonal culinary highlight. If you like to plan your trip around the seasons, this autumn event is a useful guide when looking up the dates for each year.
For a different perspective on nature, hike to the summit of Hochfelln via Bründling-Alm, following a route that includes a geology trail. Nearby options therefore range from activities around the lakes to a geology-themed hike.
Culture Nearby and Getting Around
Other destinations in nearby towns add to the cultural offering. The Siegsdorf Natural History and Mammoth Museum presents the history of the Chiemgau region. The Bedaium Roman Museum in Seeon-Seebruck displays Roman-Noric finds alongside specially created reconstructions and a life-size diorama. The Seeon Abbey complex comprises the former Benedictine monastery on an island and the neighboring churches of St. Walburg and St. Maria. The cultural program at Seeon Abbey includes concerts, exhibitions and courses. The topics range from archaeological finds and reconstructions to the former monastery complex and the history of the Chiemgau region.
From Seeon-Seebruck, you can reach the train stations in Prien and Traunstein by bus 9520 without changing. If this connection is important to your plans, check the current timetable before you travel.
Discover more destinations: Chieming, Marquartstein, Tittmoning, Traunreut, Obing, Ruhpolding, Unterwössen, Reit Im Winkl, Inzell, Übersee, Siegsdorf, Schleching, Bergen, Waldhausen, Waging Am See, Grabenstätt, Seeon-Seebruck, Schnaitsee, Fridolfing, Nußdorf, Traunstein, Tacherting, Trostberg An Der Alz, Grassau, Petting, Altenmarkt an der Alz, Engelsberg, Kirchanschöring, Palling, Surberg, Staudach-Egerndach, Taching.
For the main travel overview: Bavaria.
