Welcome to what’s known as the Tölzer Land, an area of Upper Bavaria, in and around the town of Bad Tölz — or in this case, Egling. Located not too far from Lake Starnberg, Egling is comprised of some 33 districts, and found along the Isar River.
Sounds like some fabulous real estate, doesn’t it? You betcha it is!
Now, I’ll be totally honest, if you’re looking to visit a ton of castles, that’s not gonna happen. But, if seeing one outstanding one will do — then hurry on over to Schloss Harmating. The oldest parts of the castle come from the late Middle Ages (sometime in the 1200s), but you wouldn’t know it from its current Renaissance style. The castle was once famous for its library, housing over a thousand books.
It seems as if Egling has a thousand little churches and chapels, too. So what if that’s an exaggeration; all I know is the Pfarrkirche St. Martin is worth your time to visit. And the St. Valentin Church in the village of Aufhofen is an excellent blend of Gothic and Baroque art and architecture.
There’s also something to be said for the Chapel of St. George, flanked by some creepy looking trees when their leaves fall off. Don’t let my description keep you from seeing it — personally, I really liked it that way. ;-)
Creepy trees, or not, you’ll certainly love Egling’s countryside. With the Bavarian Alps in the distance, there are all sorts of hiking trails to keep you busy. Plus, there’s a nature reserve area full of tall majestic trees, that make great shade for all the cyclist and inline skaters that love to comet through.
It might be better to use the power of your own two feet if you’re coming to see some of the rare birds that call this part of Egling home. Yeah, best to walk — this way you can take your time looking at the various forest, meadow, and marshy landscape.
Of course if you want something a bit more active, Egling is happy to oblige. Try Nordic Walking, swimming, mountain climbing or biking during the summer months; or cross-country skiing, downhill skiing, or tobogganing during the winter ones.
If the rest of the Tölzer Land is just like Egling, I don’t think I’ll ever want to leave — and neither will you.
