Bavaria is Germany’s Texas: a relatively large part of the country (the largest Bundesland in Germany), with a distinct independent character and unique history, not to mention rural traditions that seem to embody, at least for outsiders, the national character. The American romantic image of Germany—youths in lederhosen and buxom girls drinking beer and eating pretzels against an Alpine backdrop—is a scene from Bavaria (perhaps because it was “our” sector after the war). Many Bavarians actually wear dirndls and lederhosen (at least for special occasions), raise maypoles in the spring, host lively Christmas markets in the winter, and frequent Oktoberfest-style beer halls throughout the year. Southern Bavaria is home to its most famous areas: the lively city of Munich and storybook castles nestled among snowy peaks. However, further north and east are some of Germany’s most worthwhile destinations, including the impressive Nürnberg, Würzburg, and Rothenburg ob der Tauber.
I visited this small German town a long time ago—about three years ago, actually. But its beauty has always stayed with me. It’s not just the scenery; it’s also the uniquely charming local homes. The town is called Garmisch-Partenkirchen.
If you haven’t heard of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, let me tell you a bit about it. This town is located in Bavaria, or Bayern, in southern Germany, right in the heart of the Alps and close to the Austrian border.
Garmisch-Partenkirchen is easily reachable, just a one-and-a-half-hour journey from Munich, Bavaria’s capital, via regional or intercity trains. Within the town, buses connect various tourist spots and neighboring villages. However, the town is also perfect for exploring on foot, which I preferred, as everything here is so beautiful to see.
The town center isn’t very large. Originally, Garmisch and Partenkirchen were two separate towns, but they merged to meet the requirements to host the Winter Olympics in Germany. Now, Garmisch-Partenkirchen spans 205.66 square kilometers, with a population of 26,249.
As with much of Bavaria, Garmisch-Partenkirchen is absolutely picturesque—a blend of modern town charm and stunning countryside landscapes. With a backdrop of massive stone mountains, the town looks like something out of a storybook. From my hotel window, the mountain views were spectacular.
What I want to tell you about here are the homes in this town. These typical Bavarian houses are incredibly captivating, from mountain village homes to those in the town center. The houses at the mountain’s base are still traditional, multi-storied, with rows of large windows. Made of wood, they look like something out of a fairy tale when covered in snow.
The town’s architecture features the beautiful Upper Bavarian style. While many homes are now concrete, the exteriors are uniquely decorated. They have beautiful paintings on their outer walls, and flower arrangements on the balconies by the windows. These paintings are mostly in soft cream tones.
The Bavarian people have a long history of decorating their homes’ exteriors with murals. These paintings often depict religious scenes, animals, historical stories, or images of things they don’t have, like flowers and windows, usually placed on the upper part of the walls.
So beautiful were these homes that I spent quite a while just admiring them. The snowy mountains in the background made the view even more breathtaking. It’s not just the houses—many buildings like pharmacies, hotels, and churches are also similarly adorned. If you don’t believe me, just take a look at the photos!