There are lots of interesting places to visit in and around Garmisch-Partenkirchen, including Werdenfels castle ruins, the pilgrimage church of St. Anton, King Ludwig II's Schachen hunting lodge, the Werdenfels Museum, the Olympic ski stadium (1936 Olympic Games), the Richard Strauss Institute, historic Ludwigstrasse and the casino.Olympic venues
The Olympic Ice Stadium was built for the 1936 Olympic Games and has been extended and remodelled over the years. As well as the classic winter sports such as ice-skating, ice hockey and curling, the stadium is used in summer to host major events such as the military music festival, the brass band festival, the Free Flight Exhibition and a variety of conferences.Werdenfels castle ruins
The once mighty Werdenfels Castle is now just a ruin. Thought to date back to 1219, it was built in the Romanesque-Gothic style by Otto VII, Count of Andechs, who wanted an impressive fortress to guard the military road. Over the centuries many different meanings have been imputed to its name – "Wehr den Fels“ ("defence of the rock") is the most likely interpretation.St. Anton pilgrimage church
The St. Anton pilgrimage church in Partenkirchen began life as a simple Antonius chapel built at the end of the 17th century. Apart from certain late-baroque elements, the church is primarily built in the rococo style and is the work of Wessobrunnen architect Josef Schmutzer (1683-1752). The dome fresco painted by Johann Evangelist Holzer in 1736 is the jewel in the church's crown, and is the only one of Holzer's works to have been preserved.