Jenner / Jennerbahn
Beginner-friendly viewpoint mountain with a modern cable car above the Königssee
Photo: Jörg Braukmann / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Address
Talstation Jennerbahn, Jennerbahnstraße 18, 83471 Schönau am Königssee, Bayern
GPS
47.5756, 13.0203
Web
At 1,874 m the Jenner is a well-known viewpoint mountain right by the Königssee. The gondola reopened in 2019 takes visitors comfortably to the top station at around 1,800 m with panoramic views of the Watzmann and Königssee.
Highlights
- Panoramic view of the Watzmann and the Königssee around 600 m below
- Modern gondola (2019) with a mid-station, family-friendly
- Viewing platform and a short summit path from the top station
- Sunrise/sunset rides and themed trails in the national-park surroundings
- Starting point for hikes towards the Schneibstein
Good to know
| Elevation | 1,874 m a.s.l. (summit) |
| Top station | approx. 1,800 m |
| Mid station | approx. 1,185 m |
| Mountain range | Berchtesgadener Alpen |
| Cable car | 10-person gondola, rebuilt 2017–2019, ride time approx. 20 min. |
| Valley station | Schönau am Königssee |
Practical info
Getting there: By car to Schönau am Königssee to the valley station (parking); by public transport by train to Berchtesgaden and bus to the Königssee/Jenner.
Best time: May to October for hikes; clear days for the long views. Operating times seasonal (please verify).
Duration: Half-day trip; summit path from the top station approx. 20–30 minutes each way.
Cost: Cable-car ticket payable, depending on up/down trip and season (please verify).
Tips:
- Secure tickets online in advance in peak season
- An early ride for clear views and fewer crowds
- Bring sturdy footwear for the summit climb
- Combine with a boat trip on the Königssee
Background & History
The Jenner rises above the Berchtesgaden region and is regarded as one of the finest viewing mountains of the Bavarian Alps, for from its summit opens what is perhaps the most famous view of the fjord-like Königssee, which lies far below between the sheer walls of the Watzmann and the Hagen mountains. The Watzmann itself, the second-highest mountain in Germany, is entwined with one of the best-known legends of the Alpine region: a tyrannical king is said to have been turned to stone, together with his wife and children, as punishment for his cruelty, and in the peaks of the massif people believed they could recognise the petrified family.
The whole area lies in the heart of the Berchtesgaden National Park, the only Alpine national park in Germany, in which golden eagles, chamois and marmots have a home. For centuries salt mining shaped the fate of the region and secured the prosperity of the prince-provostry of Berchtesgaden, before tourism discovered the mountains. Deep down on the shore of the Königssee lies the famous pilgrimage church of St. Bartholomä with its red onion domes, once accessible only by water and to this day a symbol of this secluded mountain world. A cableway now leads up to the summit area of the Jenner and makes the great panorama accessible to anyone who wishes to experience the silent power of the Königssee and its mountain backdrop from above, there where the sheer walls rise almost without transition from the dark water.
To make your trip run smoothly , our guides and gear tips for this destination:
