Bad Reichenhall: Salt Works, Spa Concerts and Thumsee

Bad Reichenhall brings together several highlights to consider when planning your trip: salt and local history, Romanesque architecture, spa music and outdoor activities. When looking for a hotel, you can plan your stay around whether culture, a concert or time by the lake is your priority.

Salt history and historic architecture

The Old Salt Works offers a clearly defined visitor experience: The admission price includes a guided tour of the Old Salt Works, a visit to the Salt and Brand Museum, and a final stop at the salt shop. The Reichenhall Museum offers a different perspective on the past. It provides insight into the more than 4,000-year history of Bad Reichenhall and its surroundings.

St. Zeno Minster offers another glimpse into the past. Dating from the 12th century, it is a three-aisled basilica from the Hohenstaufen period. The term “three-aisled” describes the church’s division into three sections. Construction took 80 years, and the floor plan is 90 meters long. The minster is considered the largest Romanesque church in Old Bavaria and houses numerous art treasures.

Spa gardens and spa music

The Royal Spa Gardens lie in the heart of Bad Reichenhall and are a tranquil healing garden. They were laid out in 1868 by Carl von Effner, the Royal Bavarian court gardener. Spa music also adds a cultural highlight: Around 350 spa concerts featuring various ensembles are held in Bad Reichenhall each year. These include matinees, salon concerts, request concerts, chamber music and symphony concerts. If you would like to include a concert in your plans, check the dates for your preferred travel period.

Outdoor activities in Rupertus Park and by Thumsee

In Rupertus Park, you can go Nordic walking, work out on outdoor fitness equipment or set off on a tour to Nonner Au. The circular trail around Thumsee, which is about one kilometer long, attracts visitors year-round. The two options offer different experiences: the approximate length of the circular trail is a clear point of reference at Thumsee, while Rupertus Park offers a range of activities.

In the wider Berchtesgadener Land destination

The wider Berchtesgadener Land destination lies in southeastern Upper Bavaria and stretches from the gently rolling Rupertiwinkel in the north to Berchtesgaden National Park on the border with Austria. In the south, high-alpine mountain landscapes and the natural scenery around Königssee shape the region. The national park offers a diverse network of 260 kilometers of hiking trails and alpine paths. The panoramic trail around Haus der Berge brings visitors closer to the materials and plants of four habitats—water, forest, alpine pasture and rock—and offers views of Watzmann, Hochkalter and Jenner.

Berchtesgadener Land is also home to the visitor center of the Grassl distillery in Unterau. During opening hours, visitors can follow a signposted tour about the distillation of gentian, juniper, gin and masterwort, and enjoy a free tasting of 40 specialties. Check current opening hours before your visit.

Discover more destinations: Piding, Freilassing, Bischofswiesen, Saaldorf-Surheim, Schönau am Königssee, Berchtesgaden, Laufen, Schneizlreuth.

Back to the main travel overview: Berchtesgadener Land.