The so-called Philosophenweg connects Farchant with Garmisch-Partenkirchen and vice versa and offers a leisurely, panoramic hike that can be enjoyed all year round.

Tour profile

Difficulty level: easy
Route length: approx. 5 km
ascents: 200 meters
descents: 150 meters

The trail is also wheelchair and stroller friendly and is cleared in winter. It is therefore not surprising that this trail is very popular with locals as a walking trail, jogging or Nordic walking trail. There are numerous seating options along the way that invite you to pause. The benches are also decorated with quotations from famous philosophers, from Plato, Nietzsche, Schopenhauer and many others — hence the name Philosophenweg. So take the time to stop at one bank or another and read the quote.

10:00 o'clock: After I had already gone on a mountain tour the day before, today is more of a relaxing day. I always have the feeling that my leg muscles have to get used to the altitude and climbs again in spring. However, the weather is too nice to just stay inside and so it should at least be a longer walk to enjoy the sun and the spring landscape. Since I would also like to stroll through the shops in Garmisch-Partenkirchen a bit, the Philosophenweg is perfect for combining both. And so I get on the bus in Grainau in the morning and drive to Farchant.

11:00 o'clock: Once in Farchant, I cross the bridge over the Loisach and follow the signs to Garmisch-Partenkirchen. There is a footpath behind the Farchant power plant and leads to the banks of the Loisach. I follow the course of the river for a while until I reach the Farchanter outdoor swimming pool. At the “Freibad/Skilift am Ried” car park, a path branches off and takes me over a small steep climb onto the Philosophenweg, which I now continue to follow. The first few meters lead through a wooded area whose firs and trees hide the view of the surrounding landscape. But soon the forest opens up and the mountains stretch out in front of me.

11:30 a.m.: Winter is not too long gone and is still showing its white garb on mountain peaks and at higher altitudes. At the beginning of May, you can expect snow again and again on mountain tours, even if at first glance the mountain appears to be free of snow, the view can be deceptive. On my tour yesterday, I too stood in the snow quite unexpectedly and was already annoyed that I only had lightweight sports shoes on, which were not really suitable for the snow and got my feet wet. However, snow is not to be expected on the Philosophenweg. Spring is in full bloom here. Behind me is now Farchant, whose houses and church tower can be seen in the green valley. The Philosophenweg runs along a huge landscape of meadows and pastures above the Farchanter Tunnel, through which the federal road from Garmisch to Oberau leads and brings holidaymakers to our beautiful region via Munich. From the federal road, it's hard to guess that such a beautiful green landscape is spread out here, inviting you to explore.

12:00 o'clock: At a fork in the road, I stick to the left and ascends slightly. The right path would lead me back to Farchant. From here, the Philosophenweg climbs slightly. After the winter break, the cows graze on the lush meadows again and also use the hiking trail to get to the next grass area. There can be slight conflicts here, because they don't always want to step aside.

12:20 o'clock: Garmisch-Partenkirchen is moving ever closer into focus and the first houses and St. Mary's Church can be identified. Before that, it was possible to take a look at the Werdenfels ruins, whose remains of the walls peeked out of the green of the forest. The ruin can be reached via Kramerplateauweg , which runs along the Kramer massif on the other side and connects Grainau with Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

12:45 p.m.: For me, I continue along the Philosophenweg until I reach the Schützenhaus restaurant. The restaurant is located just below the road that leads to the Wankbahn car park. You could stop here for lunch, a coffee break or in the evening. For me, however, I will continue to Garmisch-Partenkirchen. The rest of the trail is on the other side of the road and takes me the last little bit through the forest to Partenkirchen. In front of the pilgrimage church of St. Anton, I descend into the district of Partenkirchen. Here I am once again surrounded by lively activity. In the beautiful pedestrian zone of Partenkirchen, I am now treating myself to a break and a delicious lunch. After the peace and quiet in nature, I am now readjusting myself to the background noise of the city. After the break, I'm also ready for my shopping trip through the Garmisch shopping area before taking the Eibseebus back to Grainau and finally putting my feet up.

Information & tips:

perpetuity: approx. 1 hour 45 minutes, only one way
How to get there from the hotel am Badersee: Take the Eibsee bus to Marienplatz in Garmisch-Partenkirchen and from there take bus 4 to Farchant. Alternatively, take the Eibsee bus or the Zugspitzbahn to Garmisch station and from there by train to Farchant. Depending on where you complete the hiking trail, you can return by public transport: from Wank (change once), from Partenkirchen town center (directly with the Eibsee bus from St. Sebastian's Church) or from Garmisch (directly with the Eibsee bus or the Zugspitze railway without changing trains). If you arrive by car, it is best to park at the Farchanter Warmfreibad or at the train station in Farchant.

In the mood for a longer tour?

The hiking trail can be extended individually or combined with other trails.

• Kuhfluchtklamm: The Kuhfluchtwasserfälle Farchant is one of the highest waterfalls in Germany and is worth a visit at any time of the year.
• Spitzenwanderweg: The Philosopher's Journey is part of Top hiking trails Stage 2 from Eschenlohe to Garmisch-Partenkirchen (16 km).
• Kramerplateauweg: Anyone who wants to walk from Farchant to Grainau combines the Philosophenweg with the Kramerplateauweg (approx. 15 km). To do this, you walk from the end of the Philosophenweg to the city center of Garmisch and climb up the Kramerplateauweg near the Bayernhalle.
• Tannenhütte/Gschwandtnerbauer: Several trails lead directly from St. Anton through the forest via the popular Tannenhütte or through the valley to Berggasthof Gschwandtnerbauer. The inn is about 1.5 hours away on foot from Partenkirchen. Depending on your condition and time, you can choose a suitable route — e.g. the so-called Steinbichl hike.
• Wank: A combination of the Philosopher's Trail with the Wank Summit offers a grand finale to the hike. From the Schützenhaus restaurant, you walk briefly up the road to the Wankbahn and take the gondola up comfortably to the summit. At the summit, you can not only Have a good break and enjoy the view, you can also take the easy panoramic summit trail.
  

‍