Königliches Schloss Berchtesgaden

Frommer's Review

In the Middle Ages, Berchtesgaden grew up around a powerful Augustinian monastery. Its monks introduced the art of woodcarving, for which the town is still noted. When the town became part of Bavaria in 1809, the abbey was secularized and eventually converted to a palace for the royal Wittelsbach family. Now it is a museum, mostly devoted to the royal collection of sacred art, including wood sculptures by the famed artists Veit Stoss and Tilman Riemenschneider. There's also a gallery of 19th-century art, a collection of Italian furniture from the 16th century, and a display of 17th- and 18th-century pistols and guns. Visitors are ushered through about 30 of the castle's showcase rooms as part of tours that depart at 20-minute intervals throughout the day. Tours last an hour each, and are conducted mostly in German, with a smattering of English. (English-language written texts and descriptions of the castle are passed out in advance.) Note that the castle is closed for the last half of August every year, during which time HRH Franz, the duke of Bavaria, heir to the throne of Bavaria and owner of the castle, comes for his summer holiday.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

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