Chiemsee Travel Guide
A detailed destination guide for your next Germany vacation
Chiemsee Overview
Herrenchiemsee is a complex of royal buildings on the Herreninsel, an island in the middle of the Chiemsee, Bavaria's largest lake, 60 km south east of Munich (Munich vacation rentals | Munich travel guide). The Augustine Monastery Herrenchiemsee, later converted into the Old Palace (Altes Schloss) and Herrenchiemsee Palace, also known as the New Palace (Neues Schloss) are the most famous of these buildings and are the biggest of Ludwig II of Bavaria's palaces.
The island Frauenchiemsee (often called Fraueninsel) is the second largest of the three islands in Chiemsee, Germany. It belongs to the municipality of Chiemsee in Upper Bavarian district of Rosenheim, which is the smallest municipality in all of Bavaria. The 15.5 ha large and car free Fraueninsel houses 300 permanent residents as well as an active Benedictine convent, which was founded in 782. Frauenchiemsee along with its sister island Herreninsel is one of the main tourist attractions on the Chiemsee, and is famous for the Kloster Liquor spirit, which is produced by the nuns.
The island is accessible by ship year round, usually from Gstadt, Prien, and Seebruck (Seebruck vacation rentals | Seebruck travel guide). There are also several boats that can take passengers from Frauenchiemsee to Herreninsel and back.
Where to stay in Chiemsee?
Check out our selection of hand-selected and quality Chiemsee vacation rentals and holiday apartments.
Things to See
Chiemsee is a freshwater lake in Bavaria, Germany, between Rosenheim (Rosenheim vacation rentals | Rosenheim travel guide), Germany, and Salzburg, Austria. It is often called the Bavarian Sea. The rivers Tiroler Achen and Prien flow into the lake; the river Alz, out of it. The Chiemsee is divided into the bigger, north section, in the northeast, called Weitsee, and the Inselsee, in the southwest.
The region around the Chiemsee is Chiemgau and is a famous recreation area.
Two of the main islands on the lake are Herrenchiemsee (Herrenchiemsee vacation rentals | Herrenchiemsee travel guide) (biggest island) and Frauenchiemsee (Frauenchiemsee vacation rentals | Frauenchiemsee travel guide), also called Herreninsel (gentleman's island) and Fraueninsel (lady's island), respectively. The third main island, Krautinsel (weed island), is smaller than Frauenchiemsee and is uninhabited.
- Herrenchiemsee has a palace built by King Ludwig II in 1878, also called Herrenchiemsee, which was never completed but was meant to be a replica of the Palace of Versailles, in France. Many of the rooms of the castle are open to tourists; tours of the castle and its extensive grounds on the island are conducted throughout the summer.
- Frauenchiemsee is the smaller of the two major islands on the Chiemsee, and houses a Benedictine nunnery, built in 782, as well as a small village. The nuns make a liquor called Klosterlikör (cloister liquor) and a very good marzipan (almond paste).
There are also three very small islands: the Schalch, to the west of Frauenchiemsee; and two unnamed islands, 54 and 80 meters south of the Krautinsel, with an area of 30 m² each.
[ source: wikipedia ]
Maps and Driving Directions to Chiemsee
Travel Insider Tips for Chiemsee
My aunt always told me that the next time I come back to Germany, she would take me there. Because, of all the castles and palaces, Herrenchiemsee is considered to be the most beautiful. More so than Neuschwanstein.
Shared by Linda Eppinger, Feb 2011
The two major attractions, of course, are Herrenchiemsee and the Fraueninsel. Did you know that the nuns there make there own Klosterlikoer and Marzipan?
Shared by Sandra Trader, Jan 2010
Chiemsee, wonderful the palace of King Ludwig, on Herren Chiemsee island as well as the smaller Frauen island , the lake offers many fun water activities, it's a beautiful place.Passau, the olde town, and river cruises, great!
Shared by Chuck Weikel, May 2010
We were there last summer. There are three islands on the lake, the largest, Herrenchiemsee, has a palace built on it by King Ludwig. Nice boat ride out to the island. Tour the palace, A day trip well worth taking.
Shared by Ben R White Sr., Feb 2011
From May 14th to October 16th is the 'Twilight of the Gods" exhibition to mark the 125th anniversary of the death of King Ludwig. This Bavarian State exhibition gives an insight into the life of the king.
Shared by Yvonne Salisbury, Feb 2011
Ich war dort im Juni [Herrenchiemsee], sie haben einige der schonsten Brunnenen, die ich jemals gesehen habe! Wonderful, I have never seen the like here in the States. The Little island
Frauen Chiemsee, is also interesting.
Shared by Chuck Weikel, Jan 2010
Chiemsee, in the Bavaria area was our favorite! Loved that place! Have to go see Herrenchiemsee on the Island in the lake. Beautiful place. http://www.chiemsee.de/de/
Shared by Vicky Hall-Mccurdy, Jul 2010
Nice boat ride to Herrenchiemsee. Interesting fountains and palace
. Great trails around the island!
Shared by Wendy Wrede Masuhr, Jan 2010
Chiemsee
[ source: Flickr]
Related Sites
We collected some useful links related to Chiemsee. If you know a few more sites not listed here, or also know some insider tips or point of interests for this destination? Please share and submit your Germany travel tip. If approved it will be shown on this page!
- Homepage of Chiemsee: Chiemsee (official home page)
- Wikipedia: Chiemsee
- Wikipedia: Chiemsee
- Wikivoyage: Chiemsee
- Schloss Herrenchiemsee
- Frauenwoerth Chiemsee
- Chiemsee Schifffahrt
- Fraueninsel Fuehrungen
- Herrenchiemsee Festspiele
- Interactive city guide
- Chiemsee (official home page)
More about the History of Chiemsee
From the New Stone Age to the Bronze and Iron Ages humans have left their traces in the Chiemgau. After that this region was settled by the Celts and later by the Romans. The Romans settled mainly near the river Alz and made a crossing for their Roman road which goes from Salzburg to Augsburg (Augsburg vacation rentals | Augsburg travel guide) at Seebruck (Seebruck vacation rentals | Seebruck travel guide) (Bedaium). At that time the Chiemgau was on the outskirts of the Roman province of 'Norcium'. The Chiemgau was for a long time closely connected with the Bavarian dukes and also the princebishops of Salzburg.
After the secularisation of 1803 the whole Chiemgau district became part of Bavaria.
The Chiemgau is a source of wood, iron and salt. The production of salt, which existed from 1619 till 1912, had a big cultural and economical influence on the Chiemgau.
The Chiemgau has traditionally been horse breeding country, especially workhorses.
[ source: wikipedia ]
What makes this Live Like a German Chiemsee Travel Guide special...
This Chiemsee travel guide provides you with an overview of Chiemsee, Chiemsee pictures, and a local travel guide that suggests many special trips, unique activities, and vacation ideas, that you can't find in a typical Germany travel guide.
Some of this information is compiled from popular and well-known sources (e.g., such as Wikipedia, Wikitravel, and great pictures from Flickr). However, what makes this Germany travel guide special is that most of the travel suggestions and insider tips are provided by local residents, property owners, and our readers, who share and submit their travel tips with us. All submissions are then editorially reviewed to ensure high quality. All this information is logically organized within this destination guide to make it easy for you to find things quickly.
In addition, the Chiemsee destination guide features restaurant recommendations, restaurant reviews, where to go for grocery shopping, sports activities, getting around, cultural events and highlights, entertainment, and health related information - so you are informed for your travel to Germany, and you can learn about all the cool things you can do during your Germany vacation!
