Chiemsee: Islands, Nature and Culture

Lake Chiemsee brings together an expansive waterscape, protected habitats and an island culture with a long history. This offers different focal points for planning your holiday: nature and birdlife, walks, cultural monuments or activities on the water. A holiday apartment on Lake Chiemsee can be a starting point for shaping your stay around these interests.

Waterscapes and protected nature

Covering 84 square kilometres, Lake Chiemsee is Bavaria’s largest lake. It is protected under the international Ramsar Convention. The delta of the Tiroler Ache, where the river flows into the lake, also shapes the natural landscape: since 1954, its mudflats have been a protected refuge for many endangered waterbird and wader species. Lake Chiemsee is therefore not only a place for activities on the water, but also an area with an important conservation role.

Those wishing to combine nature and culture during their holiday can bring these themes together with visits to the islands and the various activities around the lake. The different focal points are easy to distinguish: protected habitats in the delta, historic buildings on Frauenchiemsee, and routes on or around the lake appeal to different interests.

Islands with stories of their own

On Herreninsel, the island covers 240 hectares, and a walking trail just over 7 kilometres long circles it. This makes it possible to combine an island visit with a walk, without specifying how long it takes. Those who would rather take in the entire lake can choose another way to explore the landscape on foot or by bicycle: the Chiemsee Circular Walking and Cycling Route.

Frauenchiemsee combines religious tradition with remarkable architectural history. The Marienmünster is a three-aisled basilica; Romanesque frescoes dating from 1150 can be found in the intrados of the ambulatory arches. The Carolingian gate hall dates from the 9th century. Frauenchiemsee remains a place of pilgrimage, and the remains of Blessed Irmengard, the first abbess known by name, rest in the Minster.

Art and monastic tradition also shape the island: since 1828, Frauenchiemsee has been one of Europe’s oldest artists’ colonies. The Benedictine monastery is known for its many monastery liqueurs and sweet marzipan. These cultural connections give an island visit several dimensions, from architecture and religious history to art and regional culinary traditions.

Getting around on the lake and along its shores

The Chiemsee ferry service connects Herreninsel and Frauenchiemsee with the mainland year-round; timetables may vary. The East Island Tour includes a walk around the island and visits to the Minster, the gate hall and the thousand-year-old lime tree. Some departures are available only seasonally. If you are planning this tour, check the timetable for your chosen date.

Activities on Lake Chiemsee include sailing, stand-up paddleboarding, kitesurfing, windsurfing, and kayaking and canoeing; electric boats are also available to rent. Activities and their availability may vary by provider. The options range from getting out on the water under your own steam to taking a trip in an electric boat. On land, the Chiemsee Circular Walking and Cycling Route circles the lake on foot or by bicycle.

Choose the right focus for your holiday apartment

When choosing your holiday apartment, it helps to first decide what kind of stay you want: should the focus be on island culture, a walk, the cycling route around the lake or water sports? Herreninsel has a clearly measured island circuit, while the Chiemsee Circular Walking and Cycling Route takes in the entire lake. Visits to the islands, in turn, combine a ferry trip with history and culture. Tailor your search to the focus that suits your planned holiday. If you are planning specific island excursions, factor the timetables and the seasonally limited departures of the East Island Tour into your plans.

Discover more destinations: Flintsbach Am Inn, Gstadt Am Chiemsee, Babensham, Vogtareuth, Feldkirchen-Westerham, Riedering.

Back to the main travel overview: Rosenheim.