Bavaria: reasons to visit Mittenwald

I decided to visit the small Mittenwald for many reasons. The main was that after my last year’s one-day tour to Garmisch-Partenkirchen, I was mesmerized by the impressive landscape of the Alps and the traditional Alpine architecture of the villages. Furthermore, the accommodation in Mittenwald is generally cheaper than in other Alpine villages, I had already explored Garmisch-Partenkirchen and the access to the Alps is easier from Mittenwald, as the village was built among the mountains and the cable-car was placed close to the center. It is actually a small place which you can explore just in one day and the views to the mountains are simply stunning from all angles of the village. If you can stay for just one night and spend the next morning visiting the Karwendel peak (2.244m.), you will be able to hike Germany and Austria at the same time, as this mountain is the natural border of these 2 countries, the last point of the Bavarian Alps and the initial one of the Tyrolean Alps.

Are these enough or should I go on?

The village

This small village is the last inhabited place of that German part next to Austria, with about 8.000 residents. Built in Alpine style among the Bavarian mountains and facing the Isar valley, it’s been known as one of the world’s most important centers of violin making since years. It’s also famous for the murals of its colorful houses seen everywhere in the village. The Alps are visible from each side of the place. Exiting the train station you face straight ahead the steep slope of the Karwendel mountain on one side and the cute wooden Alpine houses on the other. The way to the center of the village through the main road Bahnhofstrasse looks exactly the same, narrow streets, wooden private/guest houses decorated with beautiful frescoes and the Alps behind. There is also an information center on the way, right next to the Town Hall, where you can get free brochures and maps of the area.

The access to the village is easy by car or train. I used the local train from Augsburg, and although the journey was very boring up to Garmisch, the Alpine landscape turned into a dreamy one later, especially this time of the year in snow. The area around Mittenwald is a paradise for the lovers of winter sports, hiking, trekking and cycling, as the mountain is located really close and the hiking & walking paths by the side of the rivers and the woods are truly amazing! The village offers nothing more than eating & walking and, to my opinion, one day is more than enough to explore the place, unless you want to stay longer to relax at a hotel or visit the Alps more than once.   

The pedestrian zone Obermarkt is also the historic center of the village, having cafes, Bavarian & Italian restaurants, shops and the colorful houses with the beautiful murals. Strolling around the place facing the Alps is a real pleasure. The main attraction at the end of the pedestrian zone is the Parish Church of St. Peter and Paul, built in 1734 with a unique painted tower, a baroque interior and a small chapel in a cave at the back yard.

The majority of shops and restaurants close quite early (at about 22.00), so make sure you have already had your dinner by then (I was too late and found nothing to eat, so I was starving for the rest of the night..)      

More places of interest (that I wasn’t able to visit):

• “The Museum of Violin Making”, which is hosted in one of the oldest and most beautiful houses of the “Gries” area, just behind the big church. It hosts an important collection of instruments, while the visitor is able to watch a violin maker at work.
• The opposite Kranzberg mountain, where you can ascend the 1200m peak by chairlifts and follow the hiking paths enjoying the beautiful Alpine nature.
• The Leutasch Spirit Gorge, a breathtaking route of 3 km inside the mountains with cascades, rivers and hanging bridges, unfortunately open only May – November.

More info about time schedules, prices, etc. you can find in the official website: https://www.alpenwelt-karwendel.de/en/mittenwald-holiday

Murals and Alpine architecture

The whole place is full of Alpine style houses, with 2 floors, an attic, wooden roofs, balconies and stairs, a yard and small details like wooden Crosses and hanging decorative items. However, the main attraction of this village (just like Garmisch) is the different colors in each house and the murals of their façades. Their local name is “Lüftlmalerein”, dating from the 18^th century and later. Most of them represent stories from the Holy Bible and the rest of them depict images of the everyday life of the mountain residents. You will find the majority of them along the pedestrian zone of Obermarkt, while in some houses the murals cover even the whole façade.