The King’s House at Schachen near Garmisch

Royal house on the Schachen
in Garmisch-Partenkirchen

Around the year 1869, King Ludwig fulfilled a long-held wish: at an elevation of 1866 meters in the Wetterstein Mountains near Schachen, he built his first palace. Wooden shutters and balconies make the “Schachen Palace” appear modest from the outside, quite different from what one might expect from King Ludwig’s usual and subsequent buildings. The building is often referred to as a “hunting lodge,” although the owner had no interest in hunting. Once a year, around August 25th, the king and his entourage came to the palace to celebrate his birthday. Otherwise, he visited it only a few more days throughout the year.

The two floors could not be more different: while the ground floor is clad in pine wood and appears quite simple, the first floor is lavishly decorated. The king, who was a great fan of the Orient, had a “Turkish Hall” set up. A room straight out of Arabian Nights awaits you here: a fountain trickles, peacock feathers and gilded carvings adorn the hall, and colored glass windows create magical light displays from the sunlight. The room is furnished with ornate side benches, and fine carpets lend a wonderful atmosphere.

Guided tours of the King’s House on Schachen

You should definitely book a castle tour; here, you’ll learn many details about the elaborate construction of the palace.

Opening times, admission price and further information about the Königshaus am Schachen

The opening hours are from the beginning of June to the beginning of October (depending on the weather) from 9 am to 6 pm. Tickets are only available in advance! (5 Euro )

You can book the tour via Tel. 08822 9203-0 and Fax 08822 9203-11. Further information is available from the Bavarian Palace Administration.

Additional information about the King’s House on Schachen

The viewing pavilion

About 5 minutes from the palace, there is an observation pavilion. A wonderful view of the Reintal valley and the Zugspitze massif awaits you here.

The Alpine Garden at Schachen

The Botanical Garden in Munich offers a special attraction: an Alpine Garden with over 1,000 species of plants from various high mountain regions has been created here. The elevation allows for the growth of plants from the local Alps to the Rocky Mountains. Even “Edelweiss” is represented here.

Additional information about the Alpine Garden at Schachen

Hiking routes to the King’s House on Schachen near Garmisch

Route via the King’s Trail to Schachen

You can best start this route at the Elmau hiking parking lot. Follow the signs for the “Königsweg” (King’s Trail) from here. You will hike for about 1.5 hours on a forest road up to the Wettersteinalm.

Here, it’s the perfect opportunity for a first break with cake:

Additional information about the Wettersteinalm

From there, the trail becomes more varied as you continue through the idyllic nature. After approximately 4 hours, covering 10 km with an elevation gain of 850 meters, you will have reached the palace. This tour is the most well-known and easiest route, although it should not be underestimated: especially towards the end, the terrain becomes quite steep.

For those who want to take another break, the “Schachenhaus” is the perfect place: hearty Bavarian meals and coffee and cake await you there. Overnight stays in dormitories or rooms can also be booked. The Schachenhaus is located just below the palace.

Additional information about the King’s House on Schachen

Route via the Partnach Gorge and the Kälbersteig trail to Schachen

Another popular route takes you up through the impressive Partnach Gorge. This tour includes many sights: you start at the ski jump and hike through the world-famous Partnach Gorge, a geological wonder known for its roaring waterfalls and pools, which is very impressive. Continue upstream until you reach a fork in the path. Here, you hike straight ahead towards “Schachen via Kälbersteig.” You will now hike uphill for about 3 hours until you reach the Schachen Palace in its wonderful surroundings.

For this tour, you can park at the Olympic Stadium where there are ample paid parking spaces available.

You can view the King’s House on Schachen in Google Maps by searching for “King’s House on Schachen.”