Aww, what a view! Forget the next door neighbor of Austria, I think it’s possible to see clear to Italy.
All right, that’s a bit (OK, a lot) of an exaggeration, but you really can see pretty far from atop the Kampenwand mountain here in the town of Aschau im Chiemgau in the Bavarian Alps.
The best part of getting to the top of this mountain that’s 1669 meters above sea level is, you don’t have to actually hike it. A gondola will bring you skywards, at a rate of about 300 people an hour (the trip itself takes less than 15 minutes).
That’s not to say if you’re so inclined to actually hike that kind of terrain, but that’ll take a while and there’s too much other stuff to do on, and around, the mountain.
While public access is sort of limited to Schloss Hohenaschau, you can still see some of it. (Yes, it’s that strikingly beautiful massive white building.) Every Tuesday, usually from mid-March, there are falconry demonstrations. There’s a museum inside the 12th century castle, but honestly, it’s the Baroque Chapel that truly stands in your mind. It seems every nook is brightly decorated in every color between here and Heaven.
To see some other amazing artwork, look no further than the 9th century Carolingian frescoes found on the Fraueninsel, or Frauenchiemsee, which is usually open from around Pentecost to September. So sorry, winter visitors, you’re out of luck here.
You aren’t, however, if you’re looking to do some winter sports activities — because a ski resort opens up when the snow comes to the Kampenwand. During Aschau’s three other seasons, you can try mountainbiking, paragliding, or attempt anyone of the various grades of climbing routes.
Wait, didn’t I mention that before? ;-)
Anyway, back to winter for a minute… you have got to see Aschau’s St. Michael Church (in the village of Sachrang) after a freshly fallen snow. Somehow this white Baroque building only looks more divine all covered in the frozen stuff.
Sachrang, by the way, is where you’ll find the Müllner Peter Museum, dedicated to a local man who was both a farmer and musician — and a deeply religious man.
Religion plays a dominating role here in Aschau im Chiemgau; and you’ll even find a 12 meter high cross right at the top of the Kampenwand. It is the largest cross of its kind in the Alps, just so you know.
Forget seeing Italy… I think you can see Heaven from here.
