Traunstein: City History and Experiences

Traunstein offers plenty of ways to enjoy a stay combining city history, culture and shared discoveries. At the town square, in the chapels and in the city park, you can encounter different facets of the town. There are also activities such as the Lindl quiz for children aged six and over, and cross-country ski trails within the town limits. This lets you put your family’s interests at the heart of your trip planning.

Town Square, Chapels and Art Nouveau

The town square is the vibrant heart of Traunstein. Its three distinctive sights are the Jacklturm, the Lindl Fountain and St. Oswald’s Parish Church. The Lourdes Chapel offers a quiet counterpoint: a place for reflection amid the bustle of town. The Salinen Chapel is also worth a look; it is considered the largest chapel in Germany.

Architecture enthusiasts will find more specific points of interest. The building at Bahnhofstraße 16 is based on an award-winning design by architects and master builders Josef and Sebastian Polz. Art Nouveau façades can be seen in the villa district at Wochinger Spitz, particularly on Leonrodstraße, Hausenstraße and St.-Oswald-Straße. The different places and architectural styles add varied accents to the city experience, without requiring a fixed sightseeing itinerary.

The History of Salt, Printing and the City

The Salinenpark opened in 2019 to mark the 400th anniversary of Traunstein as a saltworks town. Exhibits and information panels there cover the history of the brine pipeline from Bad Reichenhall to Traunstein, bringing a specific chapter of salt history into focus. Traunstein’s sword dance is also rooted in a long tradition: it dates back to the 16th century and symbolizes spring’s victory over winter.

The privately run printing museum is part of the Traunsteiner Tagblatt, which has been in existence since 1855, and brings the history of printing from Gutenberg to the present day to life. The centrepiece of the permanent exhibition is the “Senefelder Stangenpresse,” built in 1851 and also known as the “Galgenpresse,” which was used for stone printing. Visits to the printing museum are possible for groups by prior arrangement.

Another experience is the brewery museum offer: all participants receive a beer tasting and a pretzel in the Maximilianstüberl. Check the latest booking and operating details when planning your visit.

Culture and Activities for Different Days

Opened in 1977 in a former breadcrumbs factory, the cultural centre in the city park now houses the public library, adult education centre rooms, and a hall for concerts and exhibitions. This range of facilities complements the historic sites with contemporary uses and cultural spaces in the city park.

For families, the Lindl quiz offers a specific reason to explore together: it allows children aged six and over to discover Traunstein on their own, accompanied by their parents. Ask the Tourist Information office about the quiz’s current availability.

If you’d like to include cross-country skiing in your trip plans, there are four trails within Traunstein’s town limits. They vary in length and elevation profile; snow and trail conditions are seasonal. Well-marked themed cycle routes also lead to Traunstein. Cross-country skiing and cycling therefore offer a different focus from the town square, architecture and museums.

When looking for a holiday apartment, you can first consider which of these interests you’d like to shape your stay: city history and culture, or activities such as cross-country skiing and cycling. This makes it possible to plan your trip around the experiences that matter to you and your family.

Discover more destinations: Kirchanschöring, Inzell, Petting, Trostberg An Der Alz, Schnaitsee, Traunreut, Bergen, Schleching.

To the main travel overview: Traunstein.