Castle · Garmisch-Partenkirchen · Updated on 1 November 2026.

Castle Königshaus am Schachen in Garmisch-Partenkirchen

Königshaus am Schachen is a castle in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Bavaria. This place has an audio tour of about 2 minutes, in English or Dutch. 1 of the 19 well-known points of interest nearby is within 1 km. Within 70 m you'll find a bench and a public toilet.

Directions in Google Maps

Castle Königshaus am Schachen in Garmisch-Partenkirchen

Castle Königshaus am Schachen in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, photo 2

Castle Königshaus am Schachen in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, photo 3

The story

Wikipedia ↗

Audio tour · Königshaus am Schachen

2:16

You're standing at the King's House on Schachen, high up in the Wetterstein mountains, about ten kilometres south of Garmisch-Partenkirchen. If you made it here, you've earned it. The only way up is a ten-kilometre forest road, or a hike of around three hours with a thousand metres of climbing, starting from Garmisch-Partenkirchen or Schloss Elmau. Along the way you get a view of the Zugspitze, among other peaks.

Read and hear the whole story in the Outdoor Pitstop app: check in at this place and it is yours (with Pro; new users are Pro for the first 4 weeks).

Photos

10 photos from Wikimedia Commons. In the app you add your own photo when you are there.

1 / 10

Photo: Bjs · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0View the photo on Wikimedia Commons

Königshaus am Schachen Garmisch-Partenkirchen: castle of Ludwig II

The Königshaus am Schachen, also called the Schachenschloss, is a castle built by Ludwig II. He had it built to celebrate his birthday and other public holidays. The house is often called a hunting lodge, but Ludwig did not like hunting. Of all his castles, this is the least known. Since 2025 it has been on the Werelderfgoedlijst van Unesco, together with Neuschwanstein, Linderhof and Herrenchiemsee. You will find the Königshaus am Schachen high in the Wettersteingebergte, about 10 kilometres south of Garmisch-Partenkirchen in Beieren. Only a 10-kilometre forest road leads there. The Alpengarten auf dem Schachen, a garden of mountain plants, lies 124 metres away.

What you can see in and around the Königshaus

Standing at 1,866 metres, you'll find a modest wooden chalet that looks much like an ordinary mountain hut, with high peaks rising all around it. Along the way you'll already catch views of the Zugspitze. Nothing on the outside gives away what lies inside. Downstairs there is a living room, studies and a bedroom. Upstairs the mood changes completely. The whole floor is one large hall, the Turkse of Moorse Zaal, lavishly furnished in an oriental style that mixes many influences. The contrast with the plain exterior is striking. Next to the house lies a garden. More than 1,000 plant species grow here, from the Alpen to the Himalaya. The plants are arranged by region in 42 beds, including plants from the Karpaten, Patagonië and the Rocky Mountains. The Botanische Tuin van München-Nymphenburg looks after the garden. It is open daily, but only during the summer months.

Ludwig II's Schachen Castle and its history

King Ludwig II had the Königshaus am Schachen built between 1869 and 1872, so construction took about 3 years. Georg von Dollmann was the architect and drew up the design for the king. Since 1872 the wooden house has stood on the Schachen, in the mountains above Garmisch-Partenkirchen. It was built for the king himself, but today walkers can make their way there on foot.

Benches, toilet and drinking water along the way

The nearest bench is 16 metres from Königshaus am Schachen, close to Naturschutzgebiet Schachen und Reintal, and there are 2 benches within 500 metres. A public toilet is also available at that nature reserve. It stands 69 metres away and is the only public toilet within 500 metres. There is no drinking water near Königshaus am Schachen according to our map, as there is no water tap within 1 kilometre. Bring your own water.

Walking and seeing more nearby

If you walk to the Königshaus am Schachen, you don't have to stop there. The Outdoor Pitstop app shows the Alpengarten auf dem Schachen as an attraction close to the house, so you can easily include it in your walk. Open the app as well for the audio story about the Königshaus am Schachen. It lasts 2 minutes, and you can listen to it on the spot. That way you hear the story of the house while you are looking at it.

Facilities near Königshaus am Schachen

The nearest pitstop of each kind within 1 km, as the crow flies. No water point, bike pump or honesty box within 1 km.

Well-known points of interest nearby

19 well-known points of interest nearby, those with an audio tour first. 1 of the 19 well-known points of interest nearby is within 1 km.

CastleAudio story · 2 min

Schloss Elmau · 7.3 km

Photo: Schloss Elmau · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0View the photo on Wikimedia Commons

AttractionStory

Leutaschklamm · 9.9 km

Photo: Putput · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0View the photo on Wikimedia Commons

Hear the story of Schloss Elmau on the spot with the app

All 3,921 points of interest in Bavaria →

Walks within 2 km

Map ›

Explore further

More points of interest

Frequently asked questions

How do I get to the Königshaus am Schachen in Garmisch-Partenkirchen?

You walk there along a forest path of 10 kilometres from Garmisch-Partenkirchen or Schloss Elmau. Allow about 3 hours of walking with a 1,000 metre ascent.

Are there benches at the Königshaus am Schachen?

Yes, the nearest bench is 16 metres away, at Naturschutzgebiet Schachen und Reintal. There are 2 benches within 500 metres.

Is there a toilet at the Königshaus am Schachen?

Yes, the nearest public toilet is 69 metres away, at Naturschutzgebiet Schachen und Reintal. There is 1 public toilet within 500 metres.

Is there drinking water at the Königshaus am Schachen?

No, according to our map there is no water tap within 1 kilometre. Bring enough water with you for the trip.

What is there to see at the Königshaus am Schachen in Garmisch-Partenkirchen?

Next to the house itself, the Alpengarten auf dem Schachen is 124 metres away, with more than 1,000 plant species. The garden is only open in the summer months, daily from 8 to 5 o'clock.