5 Best Sights in The Bavarian Alps, Germany

This center documents the notorious history of the Third Reich, with a special focus on Obersalzberg and its role in the Holocaust and planning for World War II. The teaching museum includes some surprisingly rare archive material and access to the bunkers. English-language tours are only available for groups, but there is an audio guide in English. The center has been closed for renovations but is expected to reopen in 2022.

This violin-building history museum describes in fascinating detail the history of violin making in Mittenwald. Ask the museum curator to direct you to the nearest of several violin makers—they'll be happy to demonstrate the skills handed down to them.

This museum dedicated to local traditions displays historic examples of the wood craftsman's art and an outstanding collection of Christmas crèches dating from the mid-18th century. There's a bit about Oberammergau's role in organ-building and the influence local organs had on the design of U.S. churches. It's gotten a modern update with multimedia storytelling from the region while maintaining the traditional exhibits of wood-carved animals and puppetry.

Housed in the Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall), the museum has a permanent exhibition containing many fine examples of Bauernmöbel (farmhouse furniture), as well as fascinating information on the history of the town and its environs as well as their patron saint, Leonhard.

The region's culture and history are intriguingly presented in this museum, part of which is housed in a building dating from around 1200, with an addition and expansion completed in 2018 to make space for rotating art and local history exhibitions. Spread over 19 rooms and five floors, the exhibits explore traditional aspects of life in the Werdenfelser region, which was an independent state for more than 700 years, until 1802.