Overlooking the largest lake in Bavaria, Prien am Chiemsee is a historic village in the Rosenheim district of south-east Germany. It’s on the doorstep of Herreninsel, an island dominated by an immense palace built by King Ludwig II of Bavaria and home to the remains of a 12th-century Augustinian monastery.
Things to do in Prien am Chiemsee
In the centre of Prien am Chiemsee is the Heimatmuseum, which occupies a 14th-century craftsman’s house that stands adjacent to the Pfarrkirche Mariä Himmelfahrt Prien. Admire the traditional handicrafts on display and learn about early tourism in the region, then explore the Historical Gallery of Chiemsee Painters, where two centuries of works are exhibited.
Just east of Prien am Chiemsee is the island of Herreninsel and the Herrenchiemsee New Palace, a complex of royal buildings that was established by King Ludwig II of Bavaria from the 1870s. It was modelled on Versailles and built as a “Temple of Fame” on designs by Georg Dollmann. Marvel at the opulent State Bedroom and the Great Hall of Mirrors before wandering through the formal gardens.
Forming part of the complex is the Augustinian Monastery Museum, which houses an exhibit titled “From the Monastery to the King’s Palace”. Learn about the 8th-century Benedictine monastery that was originally built here before the Archbishop Konrad of Salzburg established an Augustinian monastery on the site in 1130. On the upper floor is the Maler am Chiemsee Gallery, where paintings by locally active artists are displayed.
Getting around Prien am Chiemsee
Prien am Chiemsee is just over an hour’s drive from Munich and 1.5 hours from Munich International Airport. Regular trains connect from both Munich and Salzburg to the Prien am Chiemsee railway station while buses travel throughout the town. The centre of Prien am Chiemsee is compact enough to explore on foot.