Herzogstand

The Herzogstand is a 1,731-meter mountain in the Bavarian Pre-Alps, rising above the lakes Walchensee and Kochelsee, about 70 kilometers south of Munich. A cable car takes you most of the way up, so you can enjoy sweeping alpine views without a full-day climb. At the top you will find a mountain inn, ridge trails toward the neighboring Heimgarten and a classic Bavarian panorama. It is a good half-day trip from Munich for visitors who want mountain scenery.

Getting up the mountain

The Herzogstandbahn cable car starts on the west shore of the Walchensee, in the village of Walchensee, and runs to the Fahrenbergkopf at about 1,627 meters. It was rebuilt in 1994. From the top station a well-built path leads to the summit. If you prefer to hike, the shortest ascent (trail 446) starts at the valley station and takes about 2.5 hours. The crossing from the Heimgarten to the Herzogstand is part of the Maximiliansweg and the E4 long-distance trail.

A bit of history

The dukes Wilhelm IV and Ludwig X named the mountain in 1535. A viewing pavilion has stood on the summit since at least 1865. The Wittelsbach royal family built a hunting lodge here in 1857, and King Ludwig II had his own "Königshaus" built in 1865. The mountain inn, the Herzogstandhaus at 1,575 meters, was rebuilt after a fire in 1992. We could not confirm that a royal building can be visited, so come for the view.

Hours and tickets (as of October 2026)

The cable car runs daily through October 25, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:15 p.m., with the last ride up at 5:00 p.m. The operator does not say what happens after that date, so check before a later visit. A round trip costs 21 euros for adults and 6 euros for children ages 6 to 15, and children under 6 ride free. A one-way ticket is 12 euros for adults. Dogs pay 5 euros for the round trip. Parking is 7 euros per vehicle, set by the municipality of Kochel am See. The mountain inn is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., except Tuesdays.

How to get there

Walchensee is roughly one hour south of Munich by car. Parking fills up on busy days, so consider the bus from Kochel am See. Check Deutsche Bahn for trains to Kochel station and connections onward.

Practical tips

• Go early on a clear day to have the views to yourself.
• Children enjoy the cable car, but the summit trail needs sure footing.
• Dogs are allowed on the cable car with their own ticket.
• Combine the trip with a swim or boat ride at Lake Kochel.