Side Trips

Mountains, lakes, spas, and medieval towns lie within an hour of Munich, and the landscape is dotted with castles, as well as villas and Alpine resorts.

A short drive from Munich delivers visitors to the heart of Starnberg's "Five Lakes Region." The Starnbergersee and Ammersee are weekend destinations that afford an enormous assortment of sports. The Tegernsee region is also a popular destination. The spa town of Bad Tölz is known for its healing waters and clear mountain air.

The environs of Munich are as rich in culture and history as in natural beauty. However, in the midst of all this serenity, the former concentration camp at Dachau sounds an ominous note. Before Hitler and the Holocaust, it was a little artists' community, but it's now visited mainly as a symbol of the great horror of the Nazi regime.