The trip by car to the Bavarian Alps is becoming more expensive.
Zugspitze, Walchensee, Samerberg - parking fees are increasing everywhere.
The municipalities argue that things could not go on as before.
Munich
- If you want to park your car at the foot of Germany's highest peak in the future, you have to dig deep into your pocket. Because the Zugspitzbahn has increased the fees on its parking lot. The ticket costs 17 euros for four hours from now on, each additional hour one euro more - only those who also use the mountain railway get ten euros back afterwards. The appeal of the Zugspitzbahn is clear: “Come by train,” it says on the website. Because the parking lot, which is also actively used by many Eibsee visitors, is regularly overcrowded on sunny days. The significant price increase is being hotly debated on social networks. While some speak of rip-offs, others show understanding and say that this is still not enough to dispose of the backpackers' filth.
Parking fees - excursion hotspots charge more
Parking for hikers will be more expensive this year, and not just at the Zugspitze.
The prices are rising at many excursion hotspots.
In Schönau am Königssee, the 24-hour ticket has cost eight instead of five euros since May 1st.
In the hiking paradise of Samerberg in the Rosenheim district, prices also rose from three to five euros in May.
And ticket machines will soon also be available at Walchensee, for example on the Kesselberg or on the west bank, where parking was previously free.
“We just had to sort it out,” says Kochel Mayor Thomas Holz. The situation around the Walchensee was no longer acceptable in recent years. “The visitors stood with their cars in the driveway of the residents and parked all the escape routes.” That is why the local council decided to upgrade the existing parking spaces and put up over 300 new signs. “Of course that costs. Just like the disposal of the legacies that some day trippers leave here, ”says Holz. That is why the municipality of Kochel will in future charge six euros a day plus two euros for the daily health resort fee for parking in its area. The municipality of Jachenau, which is responsible for the other bank of the Walchensee, goes along with it. As soon as the microchips for the parking machines are delivered, it should start.“We hope that this will improve the situation,” says Holz.
The fees of popular hiking parking lots
Zugspitzbahn valley station |
17 euros for four hours, 10 euros back for a train journey |
|---|---|
Eibsee parking lot |
7 euros |
Wankbahn |
5 euros |
Kreuzeck / Alpspitzbahn |
free |
Hausbergbahn |
free |
Brauneck |
free |
Kochel municipality (Kesselberg, Walchensee west bank) |
In the future 6 euros per day plus 2 euros daily health resort contribution |
Samerberg |
5 euros |
Wendelsteinbahn |
5 euros, rail users free |
Stümpfling (Spitzingsee) |
5 euros, rail users free |
Curve lift (Spitzingsee) |
5 euros |
Taubensteinbahn |
5 euros |
Schoenau upon Kings sea |
8 euro |
Bayrischzell |
5 euros |
Oberstorf Kleinwalsertal mountain railways |
9 euros, 5 euros back when traveling by train |
Samerberg - Higher fees also for maintaining the hiking trails
Residents on Samerberg also complained about the overcrowded parking spaces for hikers. But that was not the reason why the community raised the fees by 66 percent, as Mayor Georg Huber explains. It is the costs of maintaining the hiking trails, preparing the trails, the natural swimming pool and, last but not least, the operation of the Hochriesbahn, for which the additional income is used. “Of course there was great anger about the higher fees,” says Huber. But the municipality accepts that this could lead to losses. New annual tickets have been introduced for regular guests. In addition, the community uses the income to finance its own hiking bus, which runs from Rosenheim train station to Samerberg for one euro, for example. Huber hopes to be able to straighten out the traffic in this way.
There is also a certain understanding of the price increases at the Alpine Club, in which many mountain sports enthusiasts are organized. "We can understand that parking space management is needed," says spokesman Thomas Bucher. Perhaps one or the other will be encouraged to travel in public. “As long as the municipalities work with moderation, we don't see any problem,” says Bucher. “That will level off, after all, the municipalities also want guests. Because day tourism is also an economic
factor
. "
(Dg / mc / we)
