When the weather is nice, Munich residents love to head out to the mountains. Some even come to our beautiful city specifically for this. If , for a change , you’d rather not climb rocks but hike through them instead , you can do so in one of the many gorges and ravines , such as the Partnachklamm or the famous Schwarzachklamm. Particularly spectacular is the Breitachklamm in the Allgäu, which is considered not only the deepest gorge in Germany but also in all of Central Europe.
The 10,000-year-old gorge
The Breitachklamm was formed after the end of the Würm Ice Age, when meltwater from the Breitach Glacier carved its way through the limestone cliffs of the Engenkopf. Even today, the Breitach River continues to erode the rock at a rate of one millionth of a millimeter per day. Development of the gorge began in the late 19th century. Pastor Johannes Schiebel from Tiefenbach founded an association specifically for this purpose, as he hoped that making the gorge accessible would provide a source of income for his parish. The Breitach Gorge was officially opened on July 4, 1905, and has been open to visitors ever since.
A 2.5-kilometer hiking trail leads you through the gorge along the Breitach, past the 150-meter-high rock walls to your left and right. This makes it not only the deepest gorge in Germany but also the deepest rock gorge in Central Europe. In 2025, it was also named the “Most Beautiful Natural Wonder” of the year by the Heinz Sielmann Foundation and attracts around 300,000 visitors annually with its beauty.
Hike through the Breitachklamm
A hike through the Breitachklamm is absolutely magical in every season. In winter, the water of the Breitach and the small waterfalls freezes, and snow caps form on the rocks. You’ll feel as though you’re stepping through a portal into a magical world. Twice a day, you can take part in night hikes with torches. The warm glow of the fire makes you feel even more like an adventurer in a fantasy novel.
In spring and summer, however, the gorge’s walls offer shelter from the blazing sun and ensure pleasantly cool temperatures. The lush green of the grasses and shrubs, together with the turquoise water, creates beautiful splashes of color along the gray rocks. In Tiefenbach, Bavaria, and Walserschanz, Austria, you can learn more about the formation of the Breitachklamm and experience its history up close at the gorge adventure centers.
To visit the Breitachklamm, the best way is to travel from Munich to Oberstdorf and park in Tiefenbach. The Breitachklamm is open almost year-round, but it closes for a few weeks in spring and fall to allow for work on the rocks. It may also remain closed depending on weather conditions. Check the Breitachklamm website for the current status before your trip. It typically opens for the summer season in late April or early May and remains open until October. To hike through the gorge, you’ll need tickets, which you can purchase on-site at the ticket office or through the online shop for €9.
