Why You’ll Love Hiking to King Ludwig II’s Palace in theGerman Alps

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DISTANCE

20 km

HIKING TIME

6 hours

ELEVATION GAIN

1079 m

SEASON

June – Sept

HIGHLIGHTS

King Ludwig II’s Mountain Retreat

Follow in the royal footsteps of King Ludwig II on the Königsweg, (King’s Way) asyou make your way to his mountain retreat, the Schachen House in the German Alps.

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Your hike starts near the Castle Hotel Elmau near Garmisch-Partenkirchen

HOW TO HIKE TO THE SCHACHEN

There are several ways that you can do this hike but the one described here is the one from Elmau via theWettersteinalm following the Königsweg (King’s Way).Your hike starts in the parking lot behind Hotel Schloss Elmau(pictured above). It’s free to park there but you’ll have to pay a toll to reach the parking lot.

From there, you’ll hike along a forest path along the Koitaboch. After hiking approximately half the route, you’ll arrive atthe Wettersteinalm. You can grab a second breakfast here or just enjoy observing the cattle who spend their summersin this idyllic pasture. You’ll continue on the Königsweg, the King’s Way, a gravel road where King Ludwig II used toride his horse up to reach his mountain retreat.

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You’ll pass the Wetterstein Alm while hiking to the Schachen.

After approximately another 1:45 hours of hiking, you’ll reach the highlight of this hike, the Schachen House. Continuea bit further up the saddle for spectacular views over the Schachen House and the Wetterstein Mountains. Stop for arefreshment at the Schachenhaus Hut and either return the same way or through the valley.

The trail is well-marked.

Related Articles: Day Hiking Packing List and Everything You Need to Know About Water When Hiking

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Me stopping to enjoy the views of Garmisch-Partenkirchen

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You can return the same way you came on the Königsweg, or take this gorgeous alternative route.

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Alternative hiking route to/from the Schachen.

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HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SCHACHEN HOUSE HIKING TOUR

The highlight of this tour is the King’s House on Schachen which offers one of the best views found in the entireGerman Alps. In comparison to Neuschwanstein, King Ludwigs II’s most famous castle, it’s underwhelming from theoutside. However, its still impressive given its location at 1866 m on top of a mountain. It was built in 1869 in theSwiss style, a much simpler style, than the king’s usual preference. You can visit the King’s House on Schachen witha guided tour. Check the opening times here.

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The King’s House on Schachen is built in a simple Swiss style.

The ground level is very plain, especially for King Ludwig II known for his eccentric design tastes. I found myselfdisappointed as I’d heard so much about the Schachen House. That all changed though as I headed upstairs to theluxurious Moorish Room which takes up the entire upper floor. Bright colours bring it to life in comparison to the dulllower floor. The Turkish room is furnished with long low sofas for relaxing and naturally a fountain in the center.

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Overlooking the King’s House on Schachen.

Another highlight of this tour is the Alpine Garden. You’ll find plants and flowers from Bavaria and throughout theworld. It was closed when I was there so I didn’t have a chance to visit but it adds another unique element to this hike.

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View of the King’s House on Schachen from the saddle.

INSIDER TIPS

King Ludwig celebrated his August 25th birthday here every year. In honour of the king’s birthday, hikers and theking’s lordship hold a memorial service at the Schachen on August 25th.

TURN IT INTO A MULTI-DAY HIKE

If you’re like to extend your hike, you can spend the night at the Schachen Mountain Hut (reservations are required inadvance). Accommodations are very simple. I.e. shared bathrooms and no hot water. However staying in a mountainhut is a great way to experience the Alps Culture. I do it at least two or three times each year in the Alps. You’ll have achoice of trails, including peaks that you can ascend from the hut, extending your hiking time in this royal region.

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Schachenhaus, a mountain hut serving food, and where you can also spend the night.

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Private room in the Schachen Mountain Hut.

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There’s no heat in the Schachen Mountain Hut and it was quite cold when I was there at the beginning of June.

HOW TO GET THERE FROM MUNICH

By Car:

It’s just over 105 km from Munich and takes ~ 1:30 hours to reach Hotel Schloss Elmau. You’ll pass it on your left andcontinue driving until the end of the road when you reach a parking lot on the right. Note: This is a toll road so you willhave to pay a small fee.

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Looking back on the King’s House on Schachen.

By Public Transporation:

Take the train to Klais. From there, the RVO bus leaves for Elmau every day. Note: If you’re doing this tour by publictransportation you’ll need to spend the night at the Schachen Hut due to the infrequent public transportation.Alternatively, you could take a taxi from Klais to the starting point (under 10 km).

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Me on the return hike from the Schachen.

FINAL THOUGHTS ON THE HIKE TO SCHACHEN

I really enjoyed this hike. It’s a bit surreal to know that with each step you take, King Ludwig II has taken the sameway. It’s also not very often that a king’s Pleasure Palace is waiting for you at the top. The views are fantastic and youhave the option to take a different route down at the edge of a mountain. It’s definitely a unique hike and one of the tophikes that I’d recommend if you only have a few days in the German Alps. My other recommendations would beHöllentalklamm (Hell Valley Gorge) and the Parchtnachklamm.

LaurelLaurel Robbins is the founder of Monkeys and Mountains, an adventure travel blog and companythat helps people plan their active holidays in a sustainable way. Although Canadian, she lives inGermany. You can find her in the mountains on most weekends.http://monkeysandmountains.com

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