Originally two separate towns, Garmisch and Partenkirchen were merged to host the 1936 Winter Olympic Games; a merger that was not particularly popular with residents at the time. Since hosting the final pre-war winter games, the town has grown, and the area remains a world class-ski resort - the leading winter resort in Germany. Garmisch-Partenkirchen hosts one of the leading downhill events on the annual skiing world cup programme on its famously tricky Kandahar course.
Bavaria's first cable-car was built in Garmisch in 1929, and four years later the cog railway to the Zugspitz glacier was constructed. Garmisch-Partenkirchen is much more than a ski resort - it attracts visitors throughout the year, with hikers, cyclists, mountain-climbers and ramblers flocking to the town during the warmer summer months. The town has some fine Baroque churches and beautiful historic houses, decorated with traditional frescoes.
By Lorna Heatley
24 January 2019
We’ve all heard the stories, be they from childhood or from an obsession with Disney. Boy meets girl. One of them is actually royalty. After some magical shenanigans, perhaps a misunderstanding or two, boy and girl live happily ever after.
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By Jack Stacey
22 December 2017
It’s the smell of Christmas more than anything. The puzzling fuzz of deep red glühwein, the sharp nostalgic crackle of a lit brazier, and the gentle waft of German incense.
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By Persephone Hallow
23 December 2015
We’re delving into the festive feasts and seasonal celebrations of Austria and Germany - from Christmas-tree praising, to Christkindl, and St Nicholas’ scary counterpart, Krampus.
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11 August 2014
Explore Germany's trains on a holiday from Great Rail Journeys. From narrow-gauge railways to high-speed locomotives, Germany is a rail-lover's dream.
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