Skip to content
Outdoor Pitstop logoOutdoor Pitstop
DownloadDownload the app

Attraction · Schönau am Königssee · Updated on 1 November 2026.

St. Bartholomä in Schönau am Königssee

St. Bartholomä is an attraction in Schönau am Königssee, Bavaria. This place has an audio tour of about 2 minutes, in English or Dutch. 2 of the 21 well-known points of interest nearby are within 1 km. Within 90 m you'll find a bench, a water point and a public toilet.

Directions in Google Maps
St. Bartholomä in Schönau am Königssee
St. Bartholomä in Schönau am Königssee, photo 2
i
Photo: Geolina163 · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0View the photo on Wikimedia Commons
St. Bartholomä in Schönau am Königssee, photo 3
i
Photo: Geolina163 · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0View the photo on Wikimedia Commons

The story

Wikipedia ↗

Audio tour · St. Bartholomä

2:24

  • en
  • nl

You're standing on the Hirschau peninsula, on the western shore of the Königssee. In front of you is St. Bartholomew's, a pilgrimage church you've probably seen on a postcard or two. Look at the two onion domes and the red domed roofs. Behind them rises the huge face of the Watzmann, and all around, the water glows emerald green. It's hard to imagine a prettier spot for a church.

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).

Opening hours and admission

Wheelchair
Partly accessible

Source: OpenStreetMap and Wikidata.

Photos

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

St. Bartholomä in Schönau am Königssee
1 / 10

History of St. Bartholomä

The history of this place begins in 1134, when a simple chapel with a pointed tower was consecrated here. In 1522, the chapel was granted the right to sell indulgences by the pope. In 1688, more than 70 pilgrims drowned while crossing the lake to Dürrnberg, their destination at the time. The site then became the goal of the pilgrimage. Later, the chapel was demolished, and a domed church was built in its place in 1697. A few parts of the building are still very old. The ground plan resembles that of the cathedral in Salzburg. Later, the church fell into disrepair. It was restored, and in 1868 it was reconsecrated.

Toilets, drinking water and benches nearby

St. Bartholomä is well served for basic facilities. The nearest drinking water point is 80 metres away at Nationalpark Berchtesgaden, and within 500 metres it is the only one, so it is worth filling your bottle before you set off. The nearest public toilet is also at Nationalpark Berchtesgaden, 87 metres away, and you can use it free of charge. Within 500 metres there are 3 public toilets in total. If you want a place to sit down, the nearest bench is 23 metres away, again at Nationalpark Berchtesgaden, and there are 30 benches within 500 metres.

Walking and more to see nearby

If you want to keep walking after your visit, you will soon reach a few other spots on the peninsula. The Gedenkstein, an attraction along the route, is 630 metres from St. Bartholomä. A little further on, at 860 metres, you will find the Schultessteine, a memorial. Both are close enough for a relaxed stroll. You can also listen to an audio story about the church and the surroundings on the spot, in the Outdoor Pitstop app. It lasts 2 minutes, so it fits neatly into a short break.

Facilities near St. Bartholomä

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

Well-known points of interest nearby

21 well-known points of interest nearby, those with an audio tour first. 2 of the 21 well-known points of interest nearby are within 1 km.

Eagle's Nest
AttractionAudio story · 2 min

Eagle's Nest · 9.1 km

i
Photo: The original uploader was Florian S. at German Wikipedia. · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0View the photo on Wikimedia Commons
Berghof
AttractionAudio story · 2 min

Berghof · 11.2 km

i
Photo: Heinrich Hoffmann · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0 deView the photo on Wikimedia Commons
Obersalzberg
AttractionStory

Obersalzberg · 10.9 km

Hear the story of Eagle's Nest on the spot with the app

All 3,921 points of interest in Bavaria →

More about Bartholomew the Apostle

27 points of interest about this subject in Europe; these are the best known.

Explore further

More in Schönau am Königssee

More points of interest

Frequently asked questions

What can you do at St. Bartholomä?

You can see the baroque pilgrimage church with two onion-shaped towers and red dome roofs. The old hunting lodge stands next to the church, and it now houses a restaurant.

Where can I find drinking water at St. Bartholomä?

The nearest water point is 80 metres away, at Nationalpark Berchtesgaden. There is 1 water point within 500 metres.

Is there a public toilet at St. Bartholomä?

Yes, the nearest public toilet is 87 metres away, at Nationalpark Berchtesgaden, and it is free to use. There are 3 public toilets within 500 metres.

Are there benches at St. Bartholomä?

Yes, the nearest bench is 23 metres away, at Nationalpark Berchtesgaden. There are 30 benches within 500 metres.

How do you get to St. Bartholomä in Schönau am Königssee?

By boat, as this is the only easy way to get there. On foot, you have to take a long mountain hike.

What year is the church at St. Bartholomä from?

The baroque church dates from 1697. It replaced a chapel from 1134, and it was reconsecrated in 1868.

The free app

All of Outdoor Pitstop, in your pocket

Find the nearest pitstop, navigate there, listen to audio tours, earn XP and make routes and lists together.

Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play
How Outdoor Pitstop works →
The map of the app with pitstops nearby
A pitstop in the app, with a photo, a review and Navigate
Your profile in the app, with level and XP