Prien am Chiemsee: Chiemsee Shore, Culture and Nature

Prien am Chiemsee can be explored through several distinct interests: the Chiemsee shore, local history and art, nature trails, and guided cycling and culinary tours. When looking for a hotel, you can plan your trip around whether you are most interested in water and sauna facilities, collections and architectural history, or guided activities.

Chiemsee Shore and Eichental

The PRIENAVERA Erlebnisbad is located right on the Chiemsee lakeside promenade. Its water and sauna facilities offer unobstructed views of Herrenchiemsee Palace. Eichental offers a different kind of landscape: it lies right by the river and is a popular local recreation area with nature trails and a Kneipp basin. This means there are different options for different interests: swimming and sauna facilities on the Chiemsee shore, and trails and a Kneipp facility in Eichental.

The “Fruit & Wine” culinary tour brings two of these themes together. It begins with a visit to the old Prien fruit distillery and then follows part of the Fruit and Culture Trail through Eichental. At the end, there is a small glass to sample. The tour thus includes both a stop at the distillery and a stretch of the trail through Eichental.

Local History and Art

The KronastHaus brings together several layers of history: its present form dates from 1784, while its origins go back to 1598. Its facade paintings are especially striking; the house’s history is also shaped by the cabinetmaking trade. The KronastHaus also displays an extensive art collection, with a focus on works by Hugo Kauffmann. It also features selected works by notable Chiemsee painters. Architectural history, craftsmanship and an art collection thus come together in one place.

The Prien Local History Museum is located right on the market square. It is housed in a former craftsman’s house, the Beim Mayerpaul, and holds an important collection on the region’s history, art history and folklore. The Historical Gallery of Chiemsee Painters displays works by Maximilian Haushofer, Karl Raupp, Josef Wopfner, Hiasl Maier-Erding and Rudolf Sieck. Through these works, it traces the emergence of the Chiemsee artists’ colony, which has held an important place among European artists’ colonies since the mid-19th century.

Guided Cycling and Culinary Tours

The guided “Bike and Kneipp” cycling tour takes place in May and June. It starts in Prien and follows side roads and forest tracks via Aschau and Bernau before returning to Prien; along the way, participants try out five different Kneipp basins. Another guided cycling tour runs from Prien to the Seiserhof via side roads. It covers 25 kilometres and is designed to take three hours. The tours have different focuses: the season, route and Kneipp basins are part of the “Bike and Kneipp” experience, while the Seiserhof tour is defined by its distance and planned duration.

There are also different ways to explore local cuisine. The Schmankerl Tour takes visitors around Prien to culinary stops and includes local specialties from direct sellers in Prien. While “Fruit & Wine” includes a visit to the fruit distillery, a stretch of the Fruit and Culture Trail and a small tasting glass, the Schmankerl Tour focuses on the stops and specialties offered by direct sellers.

In the wider Rosenheim destination

Other places in the wider Rosenheim destination offer their own cultural and landscape themes. The Museum at Amerang Castle offers insights into the castle’s architecture and the history of the noble family. The Amerang Farmhouse Museum, run by the District of Upper Bavaria, showcases farmhouses, craft buildings and technical installations from the Chiemgau region. The Amerang Open-Air Museum offers individual guided tours and group activities; groups may need to make arrangements in advance.

Another attraction is the moorland nature trail, established in 2010 between Amerang and Halfing. It explains how the moorland landscape formed after the Ice Age and introduces the native flora and fauna. These examples are part of the wider Rosenheim destination and complement, rather than describe, the local attractions in Prien.

Discover more destinations: Stephanskirchen, Kiefersfelden, Feldkirchen-Westerham, Samerberg, Breitbrunn am Chiemsee, Babensham, Eiselfing, Grosskarolinenfeld.

Back to the wider travel overview: Rosenheim.