Winter in Munich is the perfect time for summit climbing! When else but now is the time for skiing and sledding? There is natural snow in the Bavarian Alps, and we want to take advantage of it. If you are looking for an unusual experience in the middle of the cold winter, you should put the Wendelstein on your list. This mountain offers an almost unreal combination of alpine nature, sacred silence, and modern science.
The 360° panorama above the clouds
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At an altitude of 1,838 meters, the Wendelstein offers one of the most spectacular panoramas in the German Alps. The summit is quickly reached from Munich, but feels like another world. Those who visit the summit in winter are rewarded with a view that is second to none: on a clear day, the panorama stretches from the Wilder Kaiser to the Central Alps and far into the Bavarian Alpine foothills. The valley is often covered in a thick blanket of fog, while at the top of the summit you stand in bright sunshine above a sea of clouds.
You can easily reach the summit either by the historic cog railway from Brannenburg (the oldest of its kind in Germany) or comfortably by cable car from Bayrischzell. Once at the top, it is worth visiting the Wendelstein Cave: Germany’s highest show cave is hidden directly below the summit. You can visit it and learn a lot about the inside of the mountain at interactive stations. Afterwards, you can warm up in the Wendelsteinhaus restaurant.
The highest church in Germany
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The heart of the summit is the Wendelsteinkircherl. Consecrated in 1890, this chapel is officially the highest church in Germany! Surrounded by rugged rocks, the small stone building seems like a refuge from the world. Especially when the wind whistles around the church, its interior offers a place of absolute tranquility. From around May to October, mountain masses are held in the church on the Wendelstein every Sunday at 11:00 a.m . You can also get married here.
Right next to the spiritual tranquility of the chapel, you can experience another highlight. Here stands the Wendelstein Observatory. Due to the clean and thin air at this altitude, the summit offers ideal conditions for astronomy. The dome of the observatory is clearly visible on the ridge. Visit the observatory and experience the view of space up close! It is operated by the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich and can be visited on request.