Bavaria can do more than just Oktoberfest: Five locations offer relaxed Oktoberfest flair

The Munich Oktoberfest is legendary and its hearty atmosphere is unique. However, not everyone wants to crowd the Oktoberfest with millions of people, especially not during Corona times. But it would be nice to experience a bit of the traditional atmosphere. We present five places in Bavaria with echoes of Oktoberfest, where things are relaxed, cosy, rustic, hearty and lively. Perfect for a getaway.

1. Bad Reichenhall: Historical ride on the Predigtstuhl

In the southeast of Bavaria, about an hour and a half by car from Munich, there is neither a free fall tower, nor a roller coaster, nor Pitt’s Death Wall. The small town of Bad Reichenhall, idyllically situated on the edge of the Alps, has its very own kind of ride: the historic Predigtstuhlbahn. The oldest original cable car of its kind in the world has been floating up Bad Reichenhall’s 1,614 meter high local mountain since 1928 in a journey time of just over ten minutes.

When you get to the top, you are guaranteed not to get dizzy and the fantastic panoramic view over Lake Chiemsee to the Loferer Steinberge can be enjoyed to the fullest in the fresh mountain air. Architecture fans also go into raptures at the Predigtstuhl, as the mountain station was built in the Art Deco style.

In contrast to the Oktoberfest, the fun doesn’t end after the ride, because numerous walking and hiking trails lead to surrounding peaks such as the Hochschlegel, Karkopf or Dreisesselberg and even to Berchtesgaden. If you like it cozy, you can walk to the rustic Schlegelmuldenalm in about 20 minutes.

In the clapboard-roofed hut there is a hearty snack with wheat beer, and a local folk music group often plays. Otherwise there is wonderful peace and quiet on the alp. Down in the valley at 473 meters awaits: The Rupertus Therme and the industrial monument Alte Saline, in which the Reichenhall salt was previously extracted, spa architecture and the royal spa garden, which is one of the most beautiful of its kind in Central Europe applies.

2. Nuremberg: Home of true gingerbread and a double castle

The Oktoberfest souvenir par excellence is the Oktoberfest heart made of gingerbread dough, decorated with icing slogans such as “I mog di”, “Oans, zwoa, g’suffa” or “Herzerl”. If that’s too cheesy and not very tasty for you, you can go to the home of gingerbread, in Franconia’s capital Nuremberg. Around 170 kilometers north of Munich, a double castle still rises into the sky today, where the emperors of the Holy Roman Empire resided in the Middle Ages.

The complex on a steep sandstone cliff consists of the Kaiserburg and the Burggrafenburg. The great painter Albrecht Dürer lived below the fortress in a half-timbered house that is now a museum. Rich patricians and merchants built magnificent houses and gardens along the city wall – everything is still well preserved.

But back to the gingerbread: The main market is also worth seeing, where the world-famous Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt takes place during the Advent season. Best sellers at the oldest Christmas market in the world are Elisen Lebkuchen – named after the beautiful daughter of a gingerbread maker. The classic Christmas biscuits must contain at least 25 percent nuts and a maximum of ten percent flour. The sweet pastries are not only baked at Christmas time, but also from September.

3. Schliersee: Real Dirndl and ex-ski star Markus Wasmeier

The Wiesn costume is a phenomenon, especially the dirndl: “Zuagroaste” and tourists from all over the world are wild about the alpine fabric dress with apron and don’t shy away from defacements such as mini, bling-bling-glitter or flamenco dirndl – The main thing is to be there.

Those who do not want to take part in the mass fashion show will find the original version of a dirndl at Schliersee. Around 50 kilometers southeast of Munich, in the district of Miesbach, the lake is idyllically nestled between the peaks of the Bavarian Alps. Christine Falken is also at home here, known as “D`Nahterin vom Schliersee”. She tailors the original Schlierseer dirndl to measure, the design of which is trademarked by the German Patent and Trademark Office. “Traditional but not boring. Stylish but not overdone. A dirndl that can be worn for any occasion and by any type of woman,” is how she describes her creations. Of course, men can also buy authentic buckskin pants in the area, such as “Eichermüller – Tracht aus und in Miesbach”.

But even without traditional costume, the region that belongs to the Mangfall Mountains is a highlight. Athletes can let off steam while hiking, mountain biking or skiing in the winter in the mountains, which are almost 1900 meters high. And if you want to learn more about the old farming life in Upper Bavaria, visit the open-air museum Schliersee by double ski Olympic champion Markus Wasmeier. In his home village he has brought to life a farming village with farms that are several centuries old. The farms are managed as they used to be and show old Bavarian culture, tradition and craftsmanship. A traditional beer brewery is also operated in the farm museum, where the beer is brewed by hand as it was 300 years ago. A completely different number than the Oktoberfest beer of the big Munich breweries.

4. Tegernsee: Real Bavarian beer garden instead of beer tent

It’s not just the stark difference in air quality between an Oktoberfest beer tent and a beer garden. It’s also the atmosphere with trees, the wind rustling the leaves and the way you sit. There is also a free lake and mountain view in the beer garden of the Herzogliches Bräustüberl in Tegernsee, 50 kilometers south of Munich.

Since 1675, i.e. 135 years before the first Oktoberfest, the famous “Liberalitas Bavaria” has been celebrated in and in front of the vaults of Tegernsee Castle – with the beer brewed on site, which is now freshly piped from the brewery into the beer mug. the kitchen specializes in Bavarian delicacies and if there is still room in the stomach after the snack, it can be filled with sour Lüngerl, smoked hamburger from the grill or a freshly baked beer roast.

If you don’t just want to sit in the beer garden, you can walk around the 6.5 km long and 1.5 km wide Tegernsee. Or explore it by boat on a round trip. Or hike to one of the surrounding mountains, for example the 1722 meter high Wallberg or use the Wallbergbahn in summer.

The reward for the strenuous hike is a distant view of the Zillertal Alps and the Zugspitze, the Wallbergkircherl and many colorful paragliders in the air. You too can enjoy the 360-degree mountain and lake panorama from a bird’s eye view. Incidentally, Lake Tegernsee has drinking water quality and is considered one of the cleanest lakes in Bavaria.

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5. Oberviechtach: Record beer mug and pieces of gold

A Oktoberfest beer mug is around 20 centimeters high. In the 5,000-inhabitant town of Oberviechtach in the Upper Palatinate Forest, however, the beer mug is a lot bigger. To be more precise: it is 3.80 meters high. A “murder drum”, as the Bavarian says. The world’s largest beer mug has been in the Guinness Book of Records since 2004. 4,718 liters fit into the vessel painted with Bavarian motifs. That’s about a hundredth of the amount of beer that is drunk on average per day at the Oktoberfest.

Endless hiking and wellness

The Upper Palatinate Forest, a low mountain range running north-south along the border between Bavaria and the Czech Republic, has another highlight in the truest sense of the word: gold! Gold mining has been going on in Oberviechtach and the surrounding area since the 14th century, which is why the town is also known as Bavaria’s gold town. Everyone can pan for gold themselves on the gold educational trail and take their finds home with them.

Goldsteig is the name of the 2,000 km long hiking trail that leads through the gold city and to many castles in the Bavarian Forest. Just a few minutes away, the ruins of Haus Murach tower on a 585 meter high hill. The hilltop castle dates from the early 12th century to oversee the trade routes to Prague.

Today the 20 meter high keep is the best preserved part. There is a viewing platform at the top of the tower. From here, with a good view, you can look towards the climatic health resort of Bodenmais, which is known for its variety of wellness hotels. Another way to relax during the Oktoberfest, but still experience typical Bavarian flair.