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Top 10 Interesting Facts about German Alpine Road

The Deutsche Alpenstrasse (or German Alpine Road) is a road that snakes along the Austrian border from the Bodensee (Lake Constance) in the west to the Königssee in the east of Bavaria. It is the oldest themed route in the country and one of the most spectacular in the world.

It meanders through the gorgeous landscape of the Bavarian Alps and is punctuated by rugged mountains, magnificent castles, rejuvenating wellness resorts, sun-drenched meadows, and rustic farms.

For almost a century, the German Alpine Road is Germany’s oldest tourist route, enjoying popularity among visitors from near and far and being the perfect way to see the top sights and most famous places in Bavaria within a short space of time.

It is deservedly voted one of Germany’s best attractions year after year. Here are the top 1o interesting facts about German Alpine Road.

1. German Alpine Road stretches over 450 kilometres through the Alps

Image by pasja1000 from

Considered by many to be the top driving tour in Europe, and perhaps even one of the top three in the world (next to Australia’s Great Ocean Road or California’s Highway 1), Germany’s Alpine Road stretches over 450 Kilometers through the Alps.

The road, known colloquially as the Queralpenstrasse is paved with wide lanes. It winds west-east from Lindau on Lake Constance to Schönau on lake Königssee, along the Austrian border. It is a drive for the hell of it, winding through the mountains, tiny German towns and castles along the way. 

The routes it climbs from attracting all drivers, from cyclists to motorcyclists and mobile-home travellers to the owners of the valuable sports car. Completed only within the past few decades, the German Alpine Road takes in breathtaking mountain scenery, Ski resorts, immense high-altitude lakes and castles.

2. The Road was first proposed back in the 19th century

Linderhof Palace photo by Galaxylady1110-

Corresponding to the marketing organization for the road, the idea for an Alpine route through the southern part of Germany was first proposed back in the 19th century.

Emperor Maximilian of Bavaria is supposed to have taken a trip around the middle of that century very similar to the tour as it stands today.

(Although it didn’t have the major attractions of Neuschwanstein castle, Linderhof Palace and Herrenchiemsee palace), which were built by his son King Ludwig! And one assumes in those days that the route through the German Alps would have been by horse and carriage

3. German Alpine Road was built in the 1930s 

Colourized photo of Adolf Hitler. photo by Bundesarchiv, Bild –

Winding through a stunning area rich in nature and culture, it’s said to be the oldest German holiday route. The road was built in the 1930s as one of Hitler’s prestigious projects. During WWII the project lost importance and it was only in 1960 that the full road was finally completed. 

In 1933 work started on the project in Inzell and by the start of the second World war, more than half of the improvements necessary for the route had been finished.

4. German Alpine Road’s origin can be traced back to 1858

Bavarian king Maximillan II travelled much of the route and published a historical route and published a historical log of his journey in 1879. In the 30s, the German Touring Club began making plans to construct what would become the modern Deutsche Alpenstrasse and one of the most beautiful touring roads in the world.

5. It has the Romantic Corner of Bavaria associated with Ludwig 

Portrait of King Ludwig II of Bavaria photo by Luise von Kobell –

The Romantic Corner of Bavaria sits towards the western end of the Alpine Road near Füssen. The castle’s yellow turrets rise above lake Alpsee and the dark forested mountains of the Tyrolean Alps. 

The interior is more country house than a castle but showcases the magnificent alpine setting and many of the design elements that would influence King Ludwig II in later life, including a medieval-style banqueting hall, oriental room and star-studded ceilings.

6. German Alpine Road drivers drive through in approximately six hours

To drive the road without stopping will take most people between 5 and 6 hours. However, due to its beauty with breathtaking mountain scenery, 25 castles, and palaces, 21 mountain lakes and 64 health resorts, the average driver can do this trip in 3-4 days. It offers a varied and splendid panorama. 

It is a pleasure for anyone who wants to take their time in Bavaria’s mountain countryside. Despite its frame, the road remains pretty unspoiled.

7. Road travellers can view the Zugspitze

sunset behind Mount Zugspitze. photo by Andreas Kretschmer –

The 450-kilometres route starts at the picturesque village of Lindau on the north-eastern shore of Lake Constance. It winds its way through Füssen and the Allgäu region and some lovely mountain scenery before visiting the historic buildings around Oberammergau. 

Then it’s off to the ritziest mountain resort Garmisch-Partenkirchen with its views of the Zugspitze, Germany’s highest mountain before skirting the water at Tegernsee and Schliersee on the way to the biggest of all of the state’s lakes the Chiemsee.

8. German Alpine Road has collections of the most interesting sights

The ride itself is spectacular but there are a few stops worth making on the German Alpine Road which include;

• Ettal Abbey
• Lake Chiemsee
• The Zugspitze, Germany’s highest mountain
• King Ludwig’s royal castles 
• Benediktbeuern Abbey
• UNESCO world heritage site of the Wieskirche Pilgrimage Church

9. It is a hotbed for Skiing and Ski jumping

Image by adege from

Famous for skiing and Ski jumping, the main summer attractions at Garmisch revolve around the Zugspitze, Germany’s highest mountain becomes a hotbed for hiking during the warmer months. The views are stunning and well worth the trip.

10. The Road gives access to Royal castle Linderhof

Linderhof, built between 1870 and 1886 on the model of French pleasure palaces, is the smallest of Ludwig’s castles and the only one completed during his lifetime (The famous grotto is closed for renovation until 2024). 

The idealized medieval knight’s castle of Neuschwanstein was still a major construction site until Ludwig died in 1886.

German Alpine Road promised thrills and adventure over mountain and Alpine passes. Today, it still connects fascinating landscapes and structures.