If you visit anywhere in Germany then this place should be it, forget the beerfest, forget the wall, forget Berlin, come to Berchtesgaden.

The area of Berchtesgadenerland is a national park, and rightly so.  A twisting, near death defying road meanders round the foothills of the alps and eventually drops you into Berchtesgaden, from there it is only a 7km route through the incredibly flat valley towards the Konigsee (King’s Lake).

Parking is only 2 euros for the whole day so Luke and I parked the van, said another hello to our next-camping-pitch-neighbour from the night before and duly trotted off in search of the incredible views.

The town of Konigsee is completely traffic free, but has become an absolute tourist mecca, so – my best advice – is to grab a pretzel for some energy and keep on moving through, though you must stop at the shop that sells traditional German dress, (Lederhosen for the men and Dirdl for the Women).

You can either hire a rowing boat for a day or grab one of the electric boats that silently sail across the lake or you can walk!

A walk up to the viewing platform is highly recommended, I think that no human will every be able to express the sheer beauty of this lake, the cliffs falling instantly into the clear lake, turned green only from the reflection of the trees, the waterfalls that echo occasionaly as they fall onto rocks and beaches before joining the lake, nor the man made creation of St Bartholomews church, nestles on a tiny spit of flat land and shimmering red reflections across the perfectly still water.

In fact, I think now is the time for the photos….

Hopefully now you see what I mean, jaw dropping, awe insiring beauty.