Bavaria: 6 Tips for Off-the-Beaten-Path Excursions

Destination Bavaria, then. Great idea, because the largest federal state with an area of more than 70,000 square kilometers has a lot to offer: lakes, medium and alpine mountains, forests, gorges, cities, plus customs and traditions.

So where to go, what to see? Don't worry. We know places you can enjoy in peace, because no tourist buses from around the world swarm here like locusts. Feeling adventurous? Well then: Let's get going!

Are you familiar with the term Lüftlmalerei? Let us enlighten you: it involves large pictures that decorate the walls of houses and have shaped the appearance of villages and towns in Upper Bavaria for centuries, such as in the town of Mittenwald.

There lives artist Bernhard Rieger. He still masters the traditional folk art of Lüftlmalerei, restoring paintings that are sometimes more than 200 years old in the region, but also creating new works of art. In his showroom 'Almbiente,' you can watch him work and admire his Pop Art style canvas paintings and unique decorations.

Another destination off the beaten track is the Tirschenreuth pond basin. No, it is not an XXL portion of a local specialty, but a recreational area also known as the Land of a Thousand Ponds. It is located in the northwest of the town of Tirschenreuth, a district town in the Bavarian administrative district of Upper Palatinate, only 15 kilometers from the Czech border.

More than 3,700 ponds and lakes stretch over an area of 15 square kilometers, often separated only by a dam. Most of the waters were created in the Middle Ages by the Cistercian Monastery of Waldsassen. Over time, additional monastery ponds were used by farmers, citizens, and officials, primarily for fish farming.

In the partly marshy area, you can enjoy wonderful walks, and from the Himmelsleiter, a tapered bridge, you can enjoy a great view over this small lake landscape - and eat freshly caught fish in the Tirschenreuth restaurants.

'Always through the forest, up the mountain. You'll see it ...', the friendly locals explain to inquiring day-trippers. Destination: the Hinanger Waterfall.

From the Allgäu village of Hinang, located between Sonthofen and Oberstdorf, it is only a few minutes before you can hear the waterfall. This small hike can also be easily managed by children. Sensible footwear is advisable for all hikers since the path can become slippery at times.

If the trip to the waterfall was too short for you, you can gladly continue along the hiking trail beside the small mountain stream. It leads you to the foothills of the alpine meadows. Depending on your mood and stamina, you can aim for one of the nearby mountain inns.

Among oaks, beeches, spruces, and ashes, a ruin stands out in the forest greenery: the Ulrich Chapel on the border hill in Middle Franconia near Treuchtlingen. With its height of about 600 meters, the Uhlberg is not a steep giant; rather, it has a wide sprawling area without a 'classic' peak.

From a solitary parking lot several kilometers west of Treuchtlingen towards Auernheim, an eight-kilometer circular route takes you to the Uhlstein. After about three kilometers, a side path branches off from the hiking path, where the mysterious ruin of the Ulrich Chapel stands. It is believed to have been built as a Marian chapel in the mid-15th century and was a significant pilgrimage site in the Middle Ages. Even Popes are said to have visited it.

The former glory can only be guessed at today. Roughly 30 meters long and ten meters wide and partially covered with ivy is the ruin. You enter through a segment arch, standing on soft forest soil and see the door and window openings and the remnants of the meter-high walls. The former wooden structure and the roof are gone.

Of course, myths and legends surround such buildings. Ravens are said to guard the chapel, and a 'white woman' is rumored to roam the area. Whether that's true, you might have to find out for yourself during a visit.

Kaufbeuren, the gateway to the Allgäu, is a beautifully maintained city with about 45,000 inhabitants. It is the fourth largest city in the administrative region of Swabia. Idyllic alleys, magnificent house facades, medieval towers, and walls are ready for you to admire.

In the center of the historic old town lies the founding ground of the city: the Crescentia Monastery, inhabited by nuns for over 750 years, and still today. Opposite the monastery church and easy to overlook is Kaufbeuren's small green retreat: the Klosterberggarten.

As the name suggests. A path winds its way up a rather steep hill that extends to the historic city wall. Originally intended as a kitchen garden for the Franciscans, the narrow area was gradually transformed into a retreat. The different sections of the garden are based on the Canticle of the Sun by St. Francis. Benches invite you to linger and offer a view over the city.

The Monastery Garden is open in summer from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and during the darker months until 5 p.m. For safety reasons, the hill garden is closed in snow, ice, or heavy rain.

There are many lakes in Bavaria. The Badersee near Grainau at the foot of the Zugspitze is something special. But you won't see that when you reach the gem after a short, about 20-minute hike.

Like many mountain lakes, its water shimmers turquoise-blue and crystal clear. An islet in the middle of the lake, with a tree on it, completes the idyll. On hot summer days, the water might invite you for a cool-off - and you'll get it, as the average temperature of the water is eleven degrees. All year round. As a result, the lake doesn't freeze even in the coldest winter. Unusual? Definitely! This is because the lake is only fed by a spring, so there's neither an inlet nor an outlet. That's what makes Lake Badersee so special.

And that's why fish feel particularly at home in its waters, which you will surely discover on a walk around the lake. Maybe also the water nymph - an art installation about five meters deep.

Looking for more inspiration? Tips for all top travel destinations can be found bundled at bettercities.net.