The Tegernsee, 50 km to the south of Munich, is one of a string of lakes running along the foot of the Bavarian Alps. Its exceptional environment is dotted with quiet, charming little towns and a very fine old Benedictine abbey.

The poetry of the Bavarian lakes is universally appreciated. With its timeless shoreline and wide array of nautical activities, just a stone’s throw from Austria, the Tegernsee is no exception, characterised by the tranquil opulence of its houses and holiday homes. Small (9 km²) compared with the Ammersee, the lake is easy to drive around. Depending on whether the sun is shining, visitors will appreciate gazing out over the sometimes sparkling, sometimes sombre surface of the lake, where beautiful rivers such as the Rottach and Alpbach converge, and at the small, isolated, uninhabited island standing neatly in the water.

Your route will also take you through some fine examples of German-style living, including the quiet towns of Bad Wiessee and Gmund am Tegernsee, ideal for a quick drink in a biergarten (beer garden) on the shore in summer, spotting the trout, tench, pikeperch and eels that populate the waters of the lake. To the south, the little town of Tegernsee is home to the lake’s greatest example of heritage. The abbey and its basilica, founded in the 8th century, housed the largest Benedictine community in Bavaria until the beginning of the 19th century. A wonderful place for fine dining, Tegernsee is also an ideal starting point for excursions to Munich, Innsbruck or Salzburg.