Wow, I found nature reserves and a Roman Road; a winter sports training center and a castle; churches and lakes all in the town of Bad Endorf in Upper Bavaria, das Tor zum Chiemgau (The Gate To The Chiemgau).
I should add in a thermal spa since the town does proudly have the “Bad” prefix, huh?
There’s a lot of ground to cover, so let me start telling you about it. I’ll go in the order I wrote it, so I don’t leave anything out.
We start at the nature reserves then…
Whether you’re walking or cycling, this natural part of Bavaria is great for checking out all the local flora and fauna. Guided hiking tours and nature walks are available, if you’re interested.
Of course you’re able to see more flora and fauna if you’re on a Roman Road; this one is known as the Via Julia. It was used for moving a large number of Roman troops starting around the late 1st century A.D. — and used until around the 3rd century.
What’s next? Oh, the winter sports training center. It’s more than just a place where the best of the best come to train for ski jumping, Nordic Combined, and Alpine skiing events. The federal police come to train here as well.
What, in case they got to catch a bank robber on skis? I’m just kidding, Mr. Policeman — please don’t pull me over and give me a speeding ticket. ;-)
Quick, on to the castle — before the cops get me for making a really bad joke. You’ll find Schloss Hartmannsberg (believed to have been built before the mid-12th century) right over by the Langenbürger See (a lake).
Also by Hartmannsberg Castle is one of the next things on our list — a church, this one from the 18th century.
There are quite a few more. Let’s see… There’s the Mary Assumption (Baroque, 17th/18th century), Church of the Assumption (Gothic, 15th century), Kreuzbichl Chapel (18th century), Sts. John & Paul (15th century, Gothic), and the part Gothic, Baroque, and Rococo St. James Parish Church that’s famous for its frescoes.
After all that sightseeing, chillin’ out lakeside is just perfect. You’ve got your choice — there’s the Simssee, Pelhamer See, Schlosssee, and again Langbürgner See.
I guess that just leaves us the thermal spa, a place where you’ll do more than relax — you’ll be pampered.
The Opera Festival isn’t on the list, but I just had to throw it out there. Kind of like what I did with that speeding ticket the nice policeman gave me. ;-)
