Berchtesgaden - St. Bartholomae

A first chapel at the lake was erected on the peninsula in 1134 by the Provosts of Berchtesgaden. It was dedicated to St. Bartholomew, patron saint of alpine farmers, and so a center of pilgrimage ever since.

It can by reached only by a long and strenuous hike over the nearby alpine ridge or very comfortable by one of the electric vessels, operating on the Lake Koenigsee.

The old chapel got demolished and replaced by this Baroque one in 1697. It fell in ruins again, but Ludwig II of Bavaria ordered a renovation mid 19th century on his own expenses.

In clouds, behind the peninsula, is the eastern face of the Watzmann massif. My grandmother had told me a story about an echo somewhere here - and, when we were in the middle of the lake, a crewman of the vessel, got out his trumpet - and did exactly like my grandmother had remembered. Nothing had changed! Only that the tip now came in Euro-coins.