Gstadt a.Chiemsee: Shore, Nature and History

Gstadt a.Chiemsee combines lakeside activities on Lake Chiemsee with nature trails and local history. At Hofanger, swimming and water sports take centre stage; the nature park has gardens and a themed trail. When planning your trip, you can choose between time by the water, excursions through the landscape and cultural highlights.

Water at Hofanger and on Lake Chiemsee

On the shore at Hofanger in Gstadt, you can swim in Lake Chiemsee, play beach volleyball, sail and surf. If you want to learn windsurfing or improve your skills, Gstadt has a surf school offering courses for beginners and advanced surfers. The school has been in operation since 1981. Course availability and seasonal operations may change; check in advance to see what is offered during your travel dates.

From the surf school in Gstadt, you can paddle by kayak, alone or in a group, to nearby Fraueninsel or to the uninhabited Krautinsel, which lies right beside it. As water conditions and operations may vary, it is advisable to check conditions in advance. Passenger boats run year-round from Gstadt to Fraueninsel and Herreninsel. The onward journey to Prien takes 15 minutes; in summer, there is also a direct connection from Gstadt to Herreninsel. Check the timetable when planning your specific trip.

Gardens and a themed trail in Hofanger Nature Park

Hofanger Nature Park has a rose garden, a medicinal plant display garden and herb beds. A small stone labyrinth marks the “Path to the Centre.” The three garden areas and the labyrinth each have a distinct focus: ornamental plants, medicinal plants and herbs are set alongside a path laid out as a labyrinth.

The easy Mund-ART Trail Gstadt focuses on flora and fauna. Six stops are located in Hofanger Nature Park in Gstadt. The themed trail adds another nature-focused attraction to the gardens and offers a distinct point of interest for anyone interested in plant and animal life.

Trails along Lake Chiemsee and through the glacial landscape

The signposted nature trail passes through glacial landscapes along the north and west shores of Lake Chiemsee and by the Eggstätt Lakes. Its outer loop is about 42 kilometres long. From Gstadt, you can join parts of the nature trail. The Chiemsee Circular Route is a separate route description: it passes Keilbacher Bay and Mühlner Winkel on its way to Gstadt.

The trails offer different thematic perspectives. On the nature trail, the glacial landscape and outer loop shape the route; the Mund-ART Trail focuses on flora and fauna at six stops. The Chiemsee Circular Route, in turn, passes Keilbacher Bay and Mühlner Winkel on its way to Gstadt. Which route you include in your plans therefore also depends on whether you are interested in nature, the lakeshore or a trail leading to a familiar destination.

Church history in Gstadt

The branch church of St. Peter in Gstadt is one of the oldest houses of worship in the Chiemgau region. Its core structure is Romanesque. Around 1500, the church acquired a Gothic choir; delicate Rococo ornaments were added around 1778. Several art-historical periods can thus be distinguished in the building: the Romanesque core structure has been preserved, while the choir and ornamentation were added later.

Culture in the wider Rosenheim destination

The wider Rosenheim destination also offers cultural attractions in Amerang. The museum at Amerang Castle offers insights into castle architecture and the history of the noble family. The Amerang Farmhouse Museum of the District of Upper Bavaria showcases farmhouses, craft buildings and technical facilities from the Chiemgau region. The Amerang Open-Air Museum offers private tours and group activities; advance arrangements may be necessary, so it is advisable to check beforehand.

Established in 2010, the moorland nature trail between Amerang and Halfing explains how the moorland landscape formed after the Ice Age and explores the local flora and fauna. The wider Rosenheim destination therefore covers not only castle and farming culture, but also the origins of a moorland landscape.

Discover more destinations: Eggstätt, Nußdorf Am Inn, Neubeuern, Tuntenhausen, Bernau Am Chiemsee, Grosskarolinenfeld, Schechen, Rimsting.

Back to the wider travel overview: Rosenheim.