Gstadt on Lake Chiemsee: Shoreline, nature and island connections

Lakeside and nature at Hofanger

At the Hofanger lakeshore, visitors can swim in Lake Chiemsee, play beach volleyball, sail and windsurf. Hofanger Nature Park also has a rose garden, a medicinal plant display garden and herb beds. A small stone labyrinth evokes the idea of a “path to the center.” Several themes come together here: activities on the water, gardens and a place to pause.

The Mund-ART Trail Gstadt complements these offerings with an easy walk exploring flora and fauna. Six stops are located in Hofanger Nature Park in Gstadt. For those interested in nature, the trail offers a different kind of activity from those along the shore: the focus is on plants and wildlife rather than the water or beach.

Boat connections and trails

Passenger boats run from Gstadt to Fraueninsel and Herreninsel year-round. The onward journey to Prien takes 15 minutes; in summer, there is also a direct connection from Gstadt to Herreninsel. If you are planning a visit to one of the islands, check the timetable before setting off to make sure the connection fits your day’s plans.

The surf school in Gstadt also offers a range of ways to enjoy the water: windsurfing courses are available for beginners and advanced participants. The school has been operating since 1981; course offerings and seasonal operations may change. From the surf school, you can paddle alone or in a group by kayak to nearby Fraueninsel or to the uninhabited Krautinsel, right next to it. Water conditions and operations may change, so check with the surf school in advance to confirm that the activity will go ahead.

Two routes through the landscape are described differently. The signposted nature trail passes through glacial landscapes along the north and west shores of Lake Chiemsee and past the Eggstätt Lakes. Its outer loop is about 42 kilometers long; from Gstadt, you can join parts of the nature trail. The Chiemsee Circular Trail leads to Gstadt, passing Keilbacher Bay and Mühlner Winkel along the way. This makes it easy to distinguish between an option to join part of the nature trail and a route that leads to Gstadt via the places mentioned.

Church and local history

The branch church of St. Peter in Gstadt is one of the oldest places of worship in the Chiemgau. Its original structure is Romanesque. Around 1500, the church received a Gothic choir; delicate Rococo ornaments were added around 1778. The building shows the chronology of its stylistic elements: from the Romanesque structure to the Gothic choir and the later Rococo ornaments.

Culture in the wider Rosenheim travel destination

Within the wider Rosenheim travel destination, Amerang offers its own cultural focus. The museum at Amerang Castle provides insights into castle architecture and the history of the noble family. The Amerang Farmhouse Museum, run by the Upper Bavarian district, features farmhouses, craft buildings and technical installations from the Chiemgau. The Amerang Open-Air Museum offers private guided tours and activities for groups; advance arrangements may be required. If you are planning a visit, confirm your preferred activities and dates in advance.

Another point of interest within the wider Rosenheim travel destination is the Moor Educational Trail, established in 2010 between Amerang and Halfing. It explains how the moorland formed after the Ice Age and introduces the local flora and fauna. Together with its museums, Amerang offers a distinctive perspective on the landscape, architectural history and regional ways of life.

Discover more destinations: Chiemsee, Bad Aibling, Flintsbach am Inn, Bad Feilnbach, Raubling, Kiefersfelden, Bernau on Lake Chiemsee, Oberaudorf.

Back to the wider travel overview: Rosenheim.