Honest, open, genuine and down-to-earth are some of the words used to describe the traditions and customs in the region. These traditions and the art and culture of the Berchtesgadener Land region are simply a part of life here and visitors to the region can experience them at first hand. Life here is an unusual mix of deeply rooted traditions, everyday customs and a clear perspective on the present.St. Bartholomew's Church at Lake Königssee
This small pilgrimage church is one of the most visited places in the Berchtesgadener Land region. Built on a spit of land beneath the famous east face of the Watzmann massif, it is set in one of the most beautiful lake districts in Bavaria. Today, most visitors or pilgrims approach this architectural jewel by taking one of the almost silent Lake Königssee electric motor boats across the lake. Originally built in a Gothic style, the church was enlarged in the 16th and 17th centuries. Modelled on Salzburg Cathedral the church gained a cloverleaf-shaped layout and its current baroque appearance. Both small towers, one octagonal and one round, were constructed later, and together with the five cupolas on the roof they give the church an extremely picturesque appearance. The interior of the church is dominated by a baroque high altar upon which is a representation of St. Bartholomew, patron saint of herdsmen and fishermen.Royal Palace
Berchtesgaden Palace, summer residence of the Wittelsbach dynasty since 1810, was previously the centre of a small ecclesiastical state. In the period following the introduction of High Justice (1294), the Augustine canon seminary, which was founded in around 1102/1105, gained imperial immediacy (Reichsunmittelbarkeit), meaning that it was under the direct authority of the Emperor. In 1559 it gained the status of a princedom (Fürstpropstei). The seminary continued to be the royal residence until secularisation in 1803. Going on a tour through the Berchtesgaden Royal Palace is like going on a journey through the history of art. From the Romanesque cloister to Gothic, baroque, rococo and Biedermeier styles you will see examples of architecture and art from a whole range of different stylistic periods. On display in one part of the building are exhibits from the Wittelsbach art collection. It includes valuable items of furniture, porcelain, paintings and hunting weapons.Local History Museum
The Local History Museum in Adelsheim Palace contains an extensive collection of local handicrafts such as the "Berchtesgadener War", which are items made out of materials such as wood or ivory, and examples of the cultural and historical development of the princedom of Berchtesgaden. The exhibits display typical Berchtesgaden craftsmanship such as wood carvings and Spanschachtels (boxes made of thin split wood), but also traditional dress and antique furniture as well as many other objects from Berchtesgaden's history.