Garmisch Partenkirchen is Germany's undisputed 'winter sports capital', located only a short distance from the Austrian border in the country's southwestern corner. Famous for it's annual New Year Ski jumping competition televised all over the world, and as a former site of the Winter...

Garmisch Partenkirchen is Germany's undisputed 'winter sports capital', located only a short distance from the Austrian border in the country's southwestern corner. Famous for it's annual New Year Ski jumping competition televised all over the world, and as a former site of the Winter Olympics, Garmisch today is a large, cosmopolitan town with plenty to see and do both on and off the slopes.

It is a town that is also rich in history and culture. Local people often dress in traditional styles ('Dirndl' for women and 'Lederhosen' for men) - without being paid to do so by the tourist board. Many of the older buildings are decorated with beautiful frescoes - wall paintings that are often centuries old. All around is magnificent mountain scenery, dominated by the mighty Zugspitze to which lifts rise over 2,100 metres (nearly 7,000 feet) from Garmisch - producing one of the world's biggest lift served verticals (although unfortunately it is not possible to ski all the way back down!).

The final string to the Garmisch bow is its status as a health resort, or rather as a 'climatotherapeutic training centre' - a program of exercise and complete body management instigated with the help of the Institute of Medical Balneology and Climatology at the University of Munich. The objective is to prevent illness in its early stages by making the body and spirit and stronger, although Garmisch is also a good choice for those seeking to recuperate from existing conditions in the pure mountain air of the resort.

Garmisch, although known for it's winter activities, is a wonderful place to visit anytime of the year.  One can easily travel there by train.  Take the ICE from Frankfurt to Munich and change to the rural train system.  It is situated as to allow for easy exploration to many truly unique towns.  Oberammergau offers the Passion Play, which has been re-told every 10 years since the plague!  Eibsee sits at the base of Zugspitze and offers breathtaking views of the mountain.  Getting around town by taxi or bus is easy and affordable.  Plan on a taxi costing 20 Euro for 4-5 people or bus about 3-4 Euro per person as of October 2005.

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