Top Flight 11/12-2021 | Page 121

Rottach-Egern

# 11 – 12 / 2021 TF

Exploring the lakes

Rottach-Egern

Just 50 km southeast of Munich , in the foothills of the Alps , you will find Lake Tegernsee . It is not so big ( only 6.5 km in length and less than 1.5 in width ) and muchhyped as Constance in neighboring Baden-Württemberg . Tegernsee is a real gem hidden from the eyes of foreign tourist and still very popular among the Bavarians themselves . Cystal clean water ( it is a glacial lake ), fresh mountain air , pine forests , alpine slopes , and pretty Bavarian wooden chalets with geraniums in the windows lie in wait for you in this gorgeous part of the world . No wonder its name means ‘ great lake ’ in Old High German ! Enjoy the peace and tranquility in this place as a single day of rest and relaxation would give as much energy as a long three-day weekend gives . You won ’ t find here any glitz and glamour , instead there are a lot of small , independent hotels offering an exemplary level of service and restaurants with first-class cuisine , some of which have been awarded Michelin stars !
It is believed that the first settlement on the banks of the Tegernsee was founded as early as in the 8th century by Benedictine monks who laid the foundation for Christianity in Tyrol and Lower Austria . Since then the small town of Tegernsee has maintained an ancient abbey ( called the castle of Tegernsee ), which , after the death of its last abbot in 1810 , was bought by King Maximilian I of Bavaria . Up to the present day , it belongs to the descendants of the royal family . Of course , the building has been rebuilt many times — the Carolingian architecture was replaced by Romanesque , and later by Gothic and Baroque architecture . In the northern wing , one of the oldest breweries in Bavaria had survived to the present day .
Rottach-Egern is one of Tegernsee ’ s most acclaimed resorts . It is located on the southern shore of the lake , on the border with Austria . It was once home to several tiny villages , which , after unification , gave the name to the municipality . Church of St . Lawrence ( built in 1111 ), which originally belonged to the same abbey , is the main historical attraction in the area . Today , its Gothic spire , towering against the backdrop of the lake and hillside , is the most popular image on local postcards . It is noteworthy that Russian prince Nikolay Vladimirovich Adlerberg , who fought in the Russian-Caucasian War and was the governor of Finland , is buried in the church . Adlerberg was also in charge for the construction of the famous Alexander Theater in Helsinki . In the last century and the century before the last century , the town was a big draw for the rich and famous . For example , the Austrian Empress Sissi holidayed here , and Adolf Hitler bought a house on the shore . In 1955 , one of the first beauty clinics in Europe , Gertraud Gruber , was established in Rottach-Egern , which has served the clients up to the present and is still open today .