Bernau a.Chiemsee brings together a variety of things to discover: cycling tours on Lake Chiemsee and in the Chiemgau, activities at Chiemseepark and traces of the town’s cultural history. When choosing where to stay, you can weigh up these highlights alongside your travel options. Bernau is accessible via the A8 Munich–Salzburg and by train; bus and train connections are also good.
Getting here and getting around
Holidaymakers can use some bus and train lines free of charge with the guest card. Take this into account when planning and check in advance whether your specific connection is included. This keeps travel options and local transport separate, but both remain important aspects of planning your trip: the motorway and train provide routes to Bernau, while the guest card offers an additional benefit on some lines.
Cycling tours and trails on the Hitzelsberg
Bernau is a starting point for cycling tours in the Chiemgau. Varied routes by bicycle or e-bike follow the shores of Lake Chiemsee and pass through the countryside. Mountain bikers can head into the surrounding mountains and up to alpine pastures. The cycling options described therefore range from routes by the lake and through the landscape to tours in more mountainous terrain.
The Hitzelsberg tour also combines different local themes: a detour on the southern side leads to the “From Blossom to Honey” information boards on the Bernau Bee Trail; as part of the Bernau Farm Trail, the route passes attractive old farmhouses. If you prefer walking, the Hitzelsberg family hike is another option. This tour offers views of the Chiemgau mountains. The starting point and destination are both in Kurpark Bernau, which sits on gentle hills in the heart of the town centre. This is distinct from the circular trail around the Hitzelsberg, where the forest chapel is located.
Chiemseepark Bernau-Felden
At Chiemseepark Bernau-Felden, visitors can rent a boat from a boat-hire service and take it out on Lake Chiemsee. The lido also has two beach volleyball courts, a beach soccer field, table tennis tables, a bocce court and two playgrounds. This means visitors can choose between an activity on the water and various options for exercise and play, all in the same place.
Views and local history
Several viewpoints offer different perspectives. The viewpoint at the historic water tower in the district of Bergham looks out over Bernau and Lake Chiemsee, including Herreninsel and Fraueninsel. The viewpoint at the war memorial in Hittenkirchen offers views across Bernau, Lake Chiemsee and Herreninsel. The Catholic curate church of St. Bartholomäus is also in the centre of Hittenkirchen and offers a view over Lake Chiemsee.
The Protestant Church of the Redeemer is in the town centre on Sommerlandstraße. The Catholic parish church of St. Laurentius is also in Bernau town centre; from there, you can enjoy a view of the Kampenwand and Lake Chiemsee. The Seisersäule tells a different kind of local story: it was already standing as a wayside marker between Bernau and Weisham in 1518 and has been at the foot of the church steps beside the Alter Wirt inn since 1958.
The school park is home to the four stone statues known as the “Greek Sages”. They were commissioned by King Ludwig I and adorned the grand entrance staircase of the Bavarian State Library in Munich from 1843 until after the Second World War. A more recent story from Bernau is told by Moni Stein’s bronze statue “Welcome”: the municipality acquired it in 2017 at the initiative of Bernau resident Ursula Bethe. It stands at the entrance to the new town hall and is intended to welcome residents and guests.
The Mariengrotte in Kraimoos, a district of Bernau, is also part of local history. The grotto, which is more than 150 years old, was once a popular venue for church celebrations, including May devotions, rogation processions, open-air field Masses and first Mass celebrations.
Cultural highlights in the wider destination of Rosenheim
In the wider destination of Rosenheim, Amerang has its own cultural and historical attractions. The museum in Amerang Castle offers insights into the castle’s architecture and the history of the noble family. The Amerang Farmhouse Museum, run by the District of Upper Bavaria, showcases farmhouses, craft buildings and technical installations from the Chiemgau. Amerang Open-Air Museum offers bespoke guided tours and group activities. As visitor services may change and arrangements may need to be made in advance, it is advisable to check the current options beforehand.
The moorland educational trail between Amerang and Halfing, established in 2010, offers another perspective on the landscape. Its stations explain how the moorland formed after the Ice Age and introduce the native wildlife and plant life. These destinations complement the view of Bernau with distinct cultural and natural attractions in the wider destination of Rosenheim.
Discover more destinations: Prien Am Chiemsee, Eiselfing, NuĂźdorf Am Inn, Riedering, Chiemsee, Feldkirchen-Westerham, Bad Aibling, Kolbermoor
Return to the overview of the wider destination: Rosenheim.
