Garmisch-Partenkirchen

Garmisch-Partenkirchen is an Alpine ski town in Bavaria, southern Germany. It is the seat of government of the district of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, in the Oberbayern region, which borders Austria. The town is close to Germany's highest mountain, Zugspitze, which stands at 2,962 metres (9,718 ft) above sea level.

Garmisch-Partenkirchen is famous for hosting the 1936 Winter Olympic Games, the first Olympics to include alpine skiing. Today, it remains a popular place for many winter sports competitions.

History

Garmisch and Partenkirchen were two separate towns for many years, each with its own special character. Partenkirchen started as a place called Partanum a long time ago, near a busy trade route. Garmisch was first written about much later.

In the past, the area faced many challenges, like difficult farming land and animals that could be dangerous. The towns stayed separate until they were combined in 1935 to prepare for an important sports event. Today, people often call the place just "Garmisch," even though both towns have their own unique feel.

During a big war, the town helped care for many soldiers, but it was not damaged in fights.

Climate

Garmisch-Partenkirchen has an oceanic climate, which means its weather is influenced by the ocean. The winters here are colder than in other parts of Bavaria because of the town's higher elevation. The area gets a lot of snow and rain throughout the year. In fact, parts of Garmisch-Partenkirchen have some of the most thunderstorm days in Europe.

Transport

The town is connected by roads such as the B 2, continuing from the A 95 motorway, which ends at Eschenlohe 16 km north.

There is a train station in Garmisch-Partenkirchen on the Munich–Garmisch-Partenkirchen line and the Mittenwald Railway. Trains go to Munich Central Station and other places like Mittenwald and Innsbruck. Some special trains also go to cities such as Berlin and Hamburg.

You can also take trains to nearby places like Reutte in Tirol and up to Zugspitze, Germany’s highest mountain.

There are many hiking trails with great views from the town. The closest airports are Innsbruck Airport and Munich Airport.

Sports

Garmisch-Partenkirchen is a popular place for skiing, snowboarding, and hiking. It has some of the best skiing areas in Germany, like the Garmisch Classic and Zugspitze.

The town hosted the 1936 Winter Olympics, which was the first to include alpine skiing. It was also planned to host the 1940 Winter Olympics, but these were cancelled because of World War II. Many important ski races happen here, especially on the Kandahar Track. Every year on New Year's Day, there is a ski jumping contest as part of the Four Hills Tournament. The World Alpine Ski Championships were held in Garmisch in 1978 and 2011.

Garmisch-Partenkirchen worked with Munich to try to host the 2018 Winter Olympics, but the games were awarded to Pyeongchang. The last Winter Olympics in the German-speaking Alps was in nearby Innsbruck, Austria, in 1976.

The town has a professional ice hockey team, SC Riessersee, and a local association football team called 1.FC Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

Event highlights

Garmisch-Partenkirchen hosts many fun events throughout the year. In January, there is a ski jump and a special race called "Hornschlittenrennen." From January to February, the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup takes place. In February, there is a historic bob-race on the Olympic track at Riessersee.

In April, Partenkirchen has the "Georgimarkt" festival. From May to October, there is music in the park. In June, there is a trail running event around Zugspitze called Zugspitz Ultratrail, along with the Richard-Strauss Festival. July brings BMW Motorbike Days and a white night event. The "Festwoche" Festival happens in July and August in both Garmisch and Partenkirchen. August also features the "Alpentestival." In August and September, there is a street art festival. Finally, in November, Garmisch holds the "Martinimarkt" market.

Public institutions

Garmisch-Partenkirchen is home to the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies. This center helps train leaders from many countries, especially those from past Soviet Union and Eastern European nations. It began in June 1993.

Nearby is the Edelweiss Lodge and Resort, which serves U.S. and NATO military families for recreation. Some U.S. troops and workers are based in the town to support these centers. The German Centre for Pediatric and Adolescent Rheumatology, which helps children and teens with certain health conditions, has been in Garmisch-Partenkirchen since 1952.

Twin towns – sister cities

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Germany

Garmisch-Partenkirchen has friendly city partnerships with:

• Aspen, United States
• Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, France
• Lahti, Finland

Notable people

Garmisch-Partenkirchen has been home to many famous people from different fields. Some well-known individuals include Hermann Levi, a Jewish orchestral conductor, and Richard Strauss, a leading German composer. The town also saw the birth of Michael Ende, a writer famous for The Neverending Story, and Karl Popper, an influential philosopher.

The area has also produced many talented athletes. Notable sports figures include Rosi Mittermaier, an alpine ski racer and double Olympic gold medalist, and Magdalena Neuner, a biathlete who won many world championships and an Olympic title. Other famous athletes from the region include Maria Höfl-Riesch and Felix Neureuther, both accomplished alpine skiers.

• Hermann Levi (1839–1900), Jewish orchestral conductor
• Richard Strauss (1864–1949), leading German composer of the late Romantic and early modern eras.
• Ludwig Thoma (1867–1921), author, publisher and editor, who gained popularity through his partially exaggerated description of everyday Bavarian life
• Alfred Gerstenberg (1893–1959), Luftwaffe general
• Sir Karl Popper CH FBA FRS (1902–1994), Austrian-British philosopher and professor, regarded as one of the greatest philosophers of science of the 20th century
• Franz Klarwein (1914–1991), operatic tenor, husband of Sári Barabás
• Christoph Hermann Probst (1918–1943), student of medicine and member of the White Rose (Weiße Rose) resistance group
• Michael Ende (1929–1995), writer of fantasy and children's fiction, best known for The Neverending Story
• Hank Smith (1934–2002), Canadian country music singer
• Wolfgang Seiler (born 1940), biogeochemist and climatologist; after he retired, he was environmental officer (voluntary) for the town
• Ulla Mitzdorf (1944–2013), scientist, substantially contributed to diverse areas including physics, chemistry, psychology, physiology, medicine and gender studies
• Robert Rosner (born 1947), astrophysicist and founding director of the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago
• Hans Peter Blochwitz (born 1949), lyric tenor, sings parts in Mozart operas
• Michaela Steiger (born 1964), actress for theatre, film, television
• Marina Anna Eich (born 1976), film actress and producer

Notable people in sports

• Thaddäus Robl (1877–1910), cyclist
• Hanns Kilian (1905–1981), bobsledder
• Matthias Wörndle (1909–1942), cross-country skier
• Roman Wörndle (1913–1942), alpine skier
• Käthe Grasegger (1917–2001), alpine skier
• Michael Pössinger (1919–2003), bobsledder
• Pepi Bader (1941–2021), bobsledder
• Stefan Gaisreiter (born 1947), bobsledder
• Reinhard E. Ketterer (born 1948), figure skater
• Christian Neureuther (born 1949), alpine ski racer
• Rosi Mittermaier (1950–2023), alpine ski racer, double Olympic gold medalist
• Hans-Joachim Stuck (born 1951), racing driver
• Armin Bittner (born 1964), alpine skier
• Andrea Schöpp (born 1965), curler
• Monika Wagner (born 1965), curler
• Martina Beck (née Glagow) (born 1979), biathlete
• Maria Höfl-Riesch (born 1984), alpine skier
• Felix Neureuther (born 1984), alpine skier
• Susanne Riesch (born 1987), alpine skier
• Magdalena Neuner (born 1987), six-time biathlon world champion, Olympic champion, Biathlon World Cup winner
• Miriam Gössner (born 1990), biathlete
• Laura Dahlmeier (1993–2025), biathlete, double Olympic gold medalist

Points of interest

South of Partenkirchen is the Partnach Gorge, where the Partnach river flows through a narrow gap between high limestone cliffs. The Zugspitze, Germany's highest mountain, lies south of Garmisch near the village of Grainau and sits on the border with Austria. Another tall mountain nearby is the Leutasch Dreitorspitze, known as "Three-Gate Peak" because of its three peaks.

The King's House on Schachen, a small castle built for Ludwig II of Bavaria, is located in the mountains south of Garmisch-Partenkirchen. The area around it includes the Alpengarten auf dem Schachen, an alpine botanical garden.