Greetings from Berchtesgaden!

Nestled deep in the Bavarian Alps, Berchtesgaden is one of my favorite getaways in Germany. Lederhosen and dirndls abound in this little Bavarian town, and you can be sure to find freshly baked apple streusel and steaming mugs of kinderpunsch during the winter months. The "altstadt" or old town is full of unique shops, quaint cafes, and restaurants serving up traditional Bavarian cuisine.
   There is a lot of important history in this tiny town. Berchtesgaden was one of the last German cities captured during the final months of World War II and is a must see for all of you war buffs. A close inspection of the railway station will reveal faint traces of the Third Reich, as the government emblem remains, carved into the stone facade of the station.
   Berchtesgaden is the perfect jumping off point for day trips to Lake Konigsee, a glacier lake that is the cleanest and deepest in Germany, or the Kehlsteinhaus, Adolf Hitler's former mountain retreat.
   You can find more information on Berchtesgaden and World War II, as well as Lake Konigsee and the Kehlsteinhaus in the Germany country book of my Mike's Adventure Packs Europe series. Find the book and so much more on my website: http://www.mikesadventurepacks.com.