Historic Olympic town with Bavarian wine tradition

The twin villages of Garmisch and Partenkirchen retain painted Lüftlmalerei facades and traditional Bavarian charm. The pedestrian Ludwigstraße is lined with wine taverns and restaurants serving Franconian and Austrian wines alongside hearty Alpine cuisine.

What to do there

3 things to do

1. 1 Hunt the Wedding That Survived Hitler's Merger History · Free

   In 1935, Garmisch and Partenkirchen voted to REJECT merging, but Hitler forced it anyway for his 1936 Olympics. To this day, they maintain separate ski clubs, yodel clubs, and fire brigades — they still see themselves as TWO towns. The lüftlmalerei painted facade on Gasthof Fraundorfer (Ludwigstraße 24) shows a BAVARIAN WEDDING SCENE painted by Heinrich Bickel in 1949, AFTER the war, AFTER the forced merger stuck. It's a visual middle finger wrapped in beauty: "You can force political merger, but our traditions, our weddings, our identity — those are OURS." Walk down the pedestrian Ludwigstraße and look UP at #24. The wedding scene is unmistakable — bride, groom, Bavarian costumes, celebration. Read it as defiance.

   Backup: Other Bickel works on Ludwigstraße - #31 (couple with city coats of arms, 1950), and the Lödermann-Haus at #15 by Sebastian Pfeffer (1981 nativity scene with Mary and Joseph in Bavarian costume).

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2. 2 Taste the Wine Germany Doesn't Export Wine · Price: low

   Franconia is Bavaria's ONLY wine region, and their signature Silvaner grape produces THE BEST Silvaner in the world — better than anywhere else that grows it. Since 2020, Silvaner covers 25% of Franconian vineyards and comes in unmistakable Bocksbeutel bottles (flat, rounded, uniquely Franconian). Here's the secret: Franconian Silvaner is dry, earthy, food-friendly, perfect with Bavaria's spring white asparagus obsession and Käsespätzle. But you won't find it internationally — Germans drink it all themselves. Walk to Wein Wittig (Klammstraße 4) and ask: "Haben Sie Fränkischen Silvaner?" Look for the BOCKSBEUTEL bottle shape — that's your visual cue. Budget €10-20 for wine you literally cannot buy outside Germany.

   Backup: Gasthof Fraundorfer (Ludwigstraße 24) serves Bavarian food with wine, beer, and "der most" (homemade cider). Open Mon/Wed-Sun, closed Tuesdays. Not a wine-focused spot but pairs local food with drinks.

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3. 3 Toast the New Year on Hitler's Ski Jump Adventure · Free · Optional

   Every New Year's Day since 1953, ski jumping's most prestigious Four Hills Tournament happens here on Hitler's 1936 Olympic ski jump. The Große Olympiaschanze was built for the Nazi Olympics — same Games where Alpine skiing debuted, where antisemitic signs were temporarily removed for international visitors, then put back up after. You can visit the stadium for free (except during events), walk around the base, and feel both athletic glory and the regime that built it. The Olympiahaus restaurant overlooks the jump with local food, beer, and huge cakes. If the museum is open, see the 1936 artifacts and propaganda displays.

   Backup: Werdenfels Museum in town has the ORIGINAL 1851 Zugspitze summit cross - the one that survived 14 lightning strikes AND WWII bullet holes. It's a 150kg iron cross, battle-scarred. Museum also has 1936 Olympics memorabilia, traditional Bavarian costumes, religious wood carvings.

   Log Memory

Insider tips

• Visit the 1936 Olympic Stadium and ski jump - still in use today

• Gasthof Fraundorfer offers traditional Bavarian evening with live music and wine

• Try Franconian Silvaner - the underrated German white that pairs perfectly with Alpine food