The Königssee Lake, Bavaria, Germany

The Königssee, located in the southeastern Berchtesgadener Land district of Bavaria, Germany, is a natural lake situated close to the Austrian border. The majority of the lake falls within the boundaries of the Berchtesgaden National Park.

The name Königssee is often thought to mean King’s Lake in a literal translation from German. However, it’s worth noting that there were no Bavarian kings from the time of Louis the German until Elector Maximilian I Joseph took on the royal title in 1806. As a result, it is more likely that the name originates from the first name Kuno of local nobles, which is found in historical sources referring to the donation of the Berchtesgaden Provostry in the twelfth century. In earlier times, the lake was known as Kunigsee.

Legend has it that a water nymph named Königin (Queen) resides in the depths of Lake Königsee, emerging occasionally to play a golden harp and lure men to her.

Since the 12th and 13th centuries, Lake Königssee and its surrounding areas have been part of an independent territory with the Augustinian monastery at its center. In 1559, Emperor Ferdinand I elevated this state, which was within the Holy Roman Empire, to the status of an ecclesiastical principality (Fürstpropstei Berchtesgaden), a position it held until 1803. Subsequently, it changed ownership multiple times (French, Austrian) before ultimately becoming part of Bavaria and a popular destination for visits by the Wittelsbachs, members of the Bavarian royal family.

A video made by me on my YouTube channel: