Halblech, Romantic Road

On the banks of the Halblech River is the small village of Halblech and its 3500 residents. Described as Bavaria’s largest nature reserve, Halblech is a year-round holiday destination, offering activities such as hiking, cycling, skiing, and cross-country skiing.

Halblech is located on the edge of the Alps, at the foot of the Ammer Mountains. An 18x18mi (30x30km) mountain range, the Ammer has low summits, with the tallest being “Daniel” at 7,680ft (2,340m), making it an ideal location for day-trip hikes or walks.

Near the village are several lakes, of which Forggensee is the largest. Forggensee is a man-made lake and the fifth-largest in Bavaria at 5.7mi² (15 km²). The River Lech runs through it. Forggensee was created in 1954 when the river was dammed to manage water flow from spring snowmelt.  The lake is used for recreational purposes such as sailing, boating and fishing.

For an aerial experience, the double chairlift floating at 1142m above sea level provides views of the valley and a multitude of nearby lakes. The chairlift terminates at a rustic mountain hut café, where a hearty Bavarian meal can be enjoyed whilst watching paragliders take off.

Bavarian cuisine was developed in the 19th century for wealthy households and further refined for the royal court. Meat, boiled dumplings, and potatoes are staple dishes for Brotzeit, a savoury snack consisting of bread, ham, boiled egg, butter, cheese, and condiments, a Bavarian speciality usually eaten between breakfast and lunch. A popular meat dish is Schweinshaxe, which is roasted ham hock served with fried potatoes and sauerkraut. Bayerische crème (Bavarian cream) is a milk-based dessert thickened with eggs, gelatin, and whipped cream, served with raspberry or apricot puree.

Bavarian cuisine is closely connected to Austrian cuisine especially from Tyrol or Salzburg. Apfelstrudel (apple strudel) is a popular dessert in Bavaria but it originates from Austria. Many of these influences arise from the time of the Austrian-Hungarian Empire particularly through the two major dynasties, the Wittelsbach of Bavaria and Habsburg of Austria. A small side fun fact is that Empress Elisabeth of Austria, affectionately known as Sisi, was a Bavarian royal from the House of Wittelsbach. She married Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria who was a royal from the Habsburg family. One might imagine that a royal banquet in this household would be a real culinary delight.