Königssee (2016)

While my parents watched over A., M. and I embarked on a one-night getaway to the Königssee in the southeasternmost corner of Bavaria. Embedded in the Berchtesgaden National Park, and surrounded by Austria on three sides, the Königssee is Germany's third deepest lake and one of its cleanest and clearest. Upon arrival in the village of Schönau on Saturday, we decided to leave the lake itself for the next day and first take the gondola lift up to the top of the adjacent Jenner mountain (1874 m, 6148 ft).

View from the Jenner gondola lift.

Panoramic view from near the top of the Jenner.

View from near the top of the Jenner.

View from near the top of the Jenner.

The Königssee seen from near the top of the Jenner.

Flowers were scattered everywhere along the short walk we did near the top of the Jenner. Based on our "Flowers of the Alps" field guide, these bluish purple ones are spring gentians (Gentiana verna; NL: voorjaarsgentianen; DE: Frühlings-Enziane). The yellow ones behind them appear to be some type of buttercup, while the yellow-white ones in the bottom left are probably shrubby milkwort (Polygala chamaebuxus; NL: buxusvleugeltjesbloemen; DE: Buchs-Kreuzblumen).

Trumpet gentians (Gentiana clusii; NL: grootbloemige gentianen; DE: Clusius-Enziane).

Spring heath or Alpine heath (Erica carnea; NL: sneeuwheide; DE: Schneeheide).

Bald-stemmed globularias (Globularia nudicaulis; NL: kogelbloemen; DE: Nacktstängelige Kugelblumen).

Auricula, also called mountain cowslip or bear's ear (Primula auricula; NL: aurikel; DE: Aurikel).

Some more auricula.

Not sure, possibly some type of buttercup.

Not sure about this one. Someone on Flickr suggested it might be an alpine pasqueflower (Pulsatilla alpina; NL: alpenanemoon; DE: Alpen-Kuhschelle).

Assorted flowers scattered among the rocks.

Near the top of the Jenner.

View down to Schönau and Berchtesgaden from near the top of the Jenner.

Sunday started with this bright and sunny view from our hotel room.

We walked down to the Königssee and boarded one of the electric boats to the Hirschau peninsula halfway down the lake.

Wooden boat houses.

View from the boat dock in Schönau.

The Hirschau peninsula with the St. Bartholomew pilgrimage church (St.-Bartholomä-Kapelle) from 1697.

Panoramic view of the Königssee from next to the St. Bartholomew church.

A fish smokehouse near the St. Bartholomew church.

View of the mountains surrounding the Hirschau peninsula.

One more look at the boat dock, church, smokehouse and other buildings as we departed the Hirschau peninsula on our way back to Schönau.

The return trip to Schönau offered a good look at the Sleeping Witch (Schlafende Hexe), otherwise known as the Rotofen mountain. The witch's head is near the center of the photo, with her nose and chin sticking up prominently.

Another look at the Sleeping Witch on our way back home. From right to left: her forehead, nose and chin, and a very pointy breast.