Upper Bavaria

on the trail of the Blue Rider

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The sparkling mosaic of lakes, forests and meadows has held a magnetic attraction for artists for centuries. In 1911 Wassily Kandinsky and Franz Marc were the leading protagonists in establishing the artistic movement Der Blaue Reiter (The Blue Rider). It led the way for the development of modern art in the 20th Century, and is today the companion of this amazing journey through the picturesque lake and mountain scenery, captured for eternity in the shrill paintings by the expressionist artists.

Route profile

Country: Germany
Distance: 200 km
Absolute Driving time : 7 h
Recommended tour duration: 1 Day
Best touring season: May - Oct.

Route course

Rottach-Egern - Tegernsee - Gmund - Lake Starnberg - Murnau - Kochel am See - Kesselbergstrasse - Lake Walchen - Jachenau - Tegernsee - Rottach-Egern

Route character

Track
exhilarating 0 relaxing
Landscape
wild 3 picturesque
Destinations
intellectual -3 pleasurable

Comments:
All BMW routes are available exclusively to BMW ConnectedDrive contract customers for import to vehicles via BMW Online. Select a BMW route of your choice in your vehicle and discover some of the most beautiful areas of Europe, conveniently guided to your destination by your BMW navigation system.

Destinations

  • Seehotel Überfahrt

    0 km

    Countries: Germany
    Category: Hotels

    At the Seehotel Überfahrt, traditional hospitality is combined with the luxury of international top class standards. In 2001, the new building designed by the Munich architect Jo Stahr was opened with 135 rooms and 53 suites in the romantic "Malerwinkel" of Rottach-Egern. In 2004, the 2000m² Royal Spa was crowned "Wellness Hotel of the Year". At the start of August 2008, the new gourmet restaurant Überfahrt is opening its doors under the stewardship of its head chef Christian Jürgens.

    Address:
    Seehotel Überfahrt, Überfahrtstrasse 10, 83700 Rottach-Egern, Germany
    Contact:
    Kurt Wagner, host
    Tel.: +49–(0)8022–669 0 Fax: +49–(0)8022–669 0
    E-Mail: info@seehotel-ueberfahrt.com
    Parking:
    Parking available right next to the building.
    Opening hours:
    Open year-round.
    Good to know:
    Right in front of the hotel there is a jetty for the Tegernsee boat tours; on the sunbathing area right next to it hotel guests can enjoy the view to the Malerwinkel (Painter's Corner) and the magnificent panoramic view of the Alps.
    Further information:
    www.seehotel-ueberfahrt.com

  • Olaf-Gulbransson Museum

    4 km

    Countries: Germany
    Category: Museums

    The Olaf Gulbransson Museum, which opened in 1966, brought together large parts of the artistic legacy of the Norwegian illustrator, lithographic artist and painter Olaf Gulbransson, who died in Tegernsee in 1958 at the age of 86. Portrait and landscape illustrations along with rare oil paintings are on display on the upper floor. A changing selection of the Simplicissimus caricatures is on display in the basement. The new building opened in June 2008 and houses comics, cartoons and caricatures.

    Address:
    Olaf-Gulbransson-Museum, Im Kurgarten, 83684 Tegernsee, Germany
    Contact:
    Dr. Ekkehard Storck, museum director
    Tel.: +49–(0)8022–3338 Fax: +49–(0)8022–3338
    E-Mail: olaf.gulbransson@gmx.de
    Parking:
    Parking available right next to the building.
    Opening hours:
    Tue. - Sun. from 10:00 - 17:00 hrs; closed Mondays.
    Good to know:
    Admission charges: Adults € 6.00 / children up to 15 admission free. The collection is enhanced by a changing series of special exhibitions featuring famous caricaturists and illustrators.
    Further information:
    www.olaf-gulbransson-museum.de

  • Buchheim Museum

    59 km

    Countries: Germany
    Category: Museums

    The museum was opened in May 2001 and combines four collections: the exceptional expressionist collection shows paintings, illustrations and prints. The museum is also an ethnological treasure trove. Arts and craft from all over the world, Bavarian folk art, cult objects from Africa and other non-European countries are vibrant highlights of the exhibition. Buchheim Museum is a true experience. Visitors engage with the collection from three perspectives: nature, art and architecture.

    Address:
    Buchheim Museum, Am Hischgarten 1, 82347 Bernried, Germany
    Contact:
    Dr. Clelia Segieth, museum director
    Tel.: +49–(0)8158–9970 0 Fax: +49–(0)8158–9970 0
    E-Mail: info@buchheimmuseum.de
    Parking:
    Parking available right next to the building.
    Opening hours:
    Open Tue. - Sun. and on public holidays, April - October from 10:00 - 18:00 hrs; November - March from 10:00 - 17:00 hrs; closed Mondays.
    Good to know:
    Admission charges: Adults € 8.50 / children € 3.50 / children under 5 admission free. From May to October guests can travel to the museum over Lake Starnberg on the museum's ship Phantasie.
    Further information:
    www.buchheimmuseum.de

  • Castle & Museum Murnau

    91 km

    Countries: Germany
    Category: Museums

    The tin-crowned gables of the the castle rise impressively above the roofs of Murnau. For over 400 years, the castle provided the administrative and living quarters for the caretakers of the Ettal monastery. Today, the castle hosts a museum. It displays the most comprehensive collection of paintings by Gabriele Münter and her close colleagues from the Der Blaue Reiter. The museum also houses an exhibition on the history of the Murnau market and the development of the regional landscape.

    Address:
    Schlossmuseum Murnau, Schlosshof 4-5, 82418 Murnau am Staffelsee, Germany
    Contact:
    Brigitte Salmen, museum director
    Tel.: +49–(0)8841–476 200 Fax: +49–(0)8841–476 200
    E-Mail: schlossmuseum@murnau.de
    Parking:
    Parking available right next to the castle.
    Opening hours:
    Tue. - Sun. and on public holidays from 14:00 - 17:00 hrs; closed Mondays.
    Good to know:
    Admission charges: Adults € 4.50 / children up to 15 € 2.00 / children under 7 admission free. Apart from the Schlossmuseum in Murnau, the Münterhaus in Murnau and the museums in Bernried and Kochel also have magnificent collections of expressionist art.
    Further information:
    www.schlossmuseum-murnau.de

  • The Münterhouse in Murnau

    93 km

    Countries: Germany
    Category: Museums

    Gabriele Münter lived here together with Wassily Kandinsky during the summer months between 1909 - 1914. Works and ideas created here later became synonymous with the movement known as Der Blaue Reiter. The house was the permanent dwelling place of Gabriele Münter from the twenties until her death in 1962. It was the express wish of the artist that her house should be turned into a place of remembrance to her art and that of Kandinsky. The house has been open to the public since 1998/99.

    Address:
    Das Münterhaus in Murnau, Kottmüllerallee 6, 82418 Murnau am Staffelsee, Germany
    Contact:
    Peter Paul Walter, director
    Tel.: +49–(0)8841–6288 80 Fax: +49–(0)8841–6288 80
    Parking:
    Public parking facilities available nearby the house.
    Opening hours:
    Tue. - Sun. from 14:00 - 17:00 hrs; closed Mondays.
    Good to know:
    Apart from the Münterhaus, the Schlossmuseum in Murnau and the museums in Bernried and Kochel also have magnificent collections of expressionist art.
    Further information:
    www.lenbachhaus.de

  • Franz Marc Museum

    111 km

    Countries: Germany
    Category: Museums

    The Franz Marc Museum showcases works by Franz Marc, the most significant Bavarian artist of the classical modern era. Two dozen paintings from all of his creative periods sit alongside an exhibition of the artist's personal belongings including school reports, his pipe, etc. Visitors can also enjoy a large number of paintings by Marc's artistic colleagues from the Der Blaue Reiter and the NKVM (New Art Group of Munich) schools, with works from Kandinsky, Münter and Werefkin, among others.

    Address:
    Franz Marc Museum, Herzogstandweg 43, 82431 Kochel am See, Germany
    Contact:
    Cathrin Klingsöhr-Leroy, museum artistic director
    Tel.: +49–(0)8851–7114 Fax: +49–(0)8851–7114
    E-Mail: franz-marc-museum@kochel.de
    Parking:
    Parking available right next to the building.
    Opening hours:
    Open Tue. - Sun. and on public holidays; April - October from 10:00 - 18:00 hrs; November - March from 10:00 - 17:00; closed Mondays.
    Good to know:
    Admission charges: Adults € 7.50 / children up to 6 admission free. Opened in 2008 the modern new building is a harmonious extension to the old house and provides space for many more works by Franz Marc.
    Further information:
    www.franz-marc-museum.de

  • Power Station Walchensee

    117 km

    Countries: Germany
    Category: Sightseeing

    The imposing Walchensee power station with its surge chamber and pressure pipelines is visible from afar. The water of Walchensee first started driving turbines in 1924. Today the Walchensee power station is still one of Germany's largest high pressure reservoir power stations. The great volumes of water fall 200 metres between the Walchensee and Kochelsee lakes. A new information centre was built: built into the edge of the slope it houses a restaurant and exhibition rooms.

    Address:
    Erlebniskraftwerk Walchensee, Altjoch 21, 82431 Kochel am See, Germany
    Contact:
    Infozentrum Erlebniskraftwerk Walchensee
    Tel.: +49–(0)8851–772 11 Fax: +49–(0)8851–772 11
    Parking:
    Parking available right next to the building.
    Opening hours:
    Open daily from 09:00 - 17:00 hrs.
    Good to know:
    Admission charges: Admission is free. In the information centre is the Oskar-von-Miller Bistro and its beer garden.
    Further information:
    www.eon-wasserkraft.com