Salt history in the cityscape

Preserved saltworks buildings and the Saltworks Chapel offer insight into Traunstein’s significant salt history. The Saltworks Chapel is the largest chapel in Germany. A historical city walk passes the Kulturforum Klosterkirche and then continues to the Saltworks Chapel, the saltworks buildings and the Salinenpark, which was built in 2019. These stops highlight different aspects: the architectural traces of the saltworks and a more recent park in the cityscape.

Museums also add to the picture of the city. The Heimathaus houses a local history and toy museum with exhibits on civic culture, sacred art and the history of the saltworks. Near the Jacklturm, the brewery museum is part of Hofbräuhaus Traunstein. Alongside the salt history, you can discover other subjects that shape Traunstein’s cultural character.

Museums and culture nearby

Nearby, other museums have their own areas of focus. The Siegsdorf Museum of Natural History and Mammoths traces the history of the Chiemgau region. The Bedaium Roman Museum in Seeon-Seebruck presents Roman-Noric finds alongside purpose-made reconstructions and a life-size diorama. The museums offer different ways to explore the region’s past: one is devoted to the Chiemgau, while the other puts archaeological finds and their reconstruction in the spotlight.

The Seeon Monastery complex is also nearby. It comprises the former Benedictine monastery on an island and the neighboring churches of St. Walburg and St. Maria. Concerts, exhibitions and courses are part of the cultural program at Seeon Monastery. The historic complex and today’s cultural events offer two distinct reasons to visit.

Lakes, protected areas and the Chiemgau Alps

Traunstein district includes Lake Chiemsee and Lake Waginger See. The Chiemgau Alps are home to more than 170 alpine pastures and peaks, with the peaks reaching elevations of up to 2,000 meters. Lakes and alpine landscapes thus offer two different sides of the district. The Seeoner Seen are among the district’s nature reserves; Lake Waginger See and Lake Tachinger See are part of its landscape conservation areas. These officially designated protected areas help preserve biodiversity, safeguard rare habitats and protect the natural and cultural landscape.

Exploring the area around Lake Waginger See

The area around Lake Waginger See, near Traunstein, can be explored by bicycle. One option is the Lake Waginger See Circular Route: this family-friendly cycling tour covers 29.8 kilometers around Lake Waginger See and Lake Tachinger See. Boating and stand-up paddleboarding are other ways to explore Lake Waginger See; equipment is available from boat rental providers. You can choose between a longer ride on land and an activity on the water.

The seasons also play a role in planning: the Genusswochen at Lake Waginger See take place every year in autumn. If you want to plan your trip around them, check the specific event dates in advance. Their seasonal timing makes the Genusswochen a different kind of outing from the cultural sites and landscapes described as year-round attractions.

Travel information

A regional bus service connects Seeon-Seebruck with two train stations: bus 9520 runs from there to both Prien and Traunstein without a change. Check the current timetable before travelling. This gives you a specific local connection to consider when planning your trip, alongside the sights.

Discover more destinations

Siegsdorf, Übersee, Inzell, Reit im Winkl, Unterwössen, Ruhpolding, Obing, Traunreut, Tittmoning, Marquartstein, Chieming, Schleching, Waldhausen, Bergen, Waging am See, Grabenstätt, Seeon-Seebruck, Schnaitsee, Fridolfing, Nußdorf, Traunstein, Tacherting, Trostberg an der Alz, Grassau, Petting, Engelsberg, Altenmarkt an der Alz, Kirchanschöring, Palling, Surberg, Staudach-Egerndach, Taching.

For the broader travel overview: Bavaria.