Garmisch-Partenkirchen
On the edge of the Alps in Bayern, 29,875 inhabitants and loads of outdoor fun
As New Years approaches, all eyes are fixed on this double-town in upper Bayern where the annual New Year's ski-jumping takes place. The spa resort located at the foot of the Zugspitze (at 2.963 m the highest mountain in Germany) became famous when it hosted the Winter Olympic Games in 1936. It was here that the Pole Adam Małysz set the record for the longest Olympic ski jump at 129,5 m, a record which is yet to be broken. However, Garmisch-Partenkirchen is not only for sports pros: the lanes of the little Alpine town are brimming with Bayern hospitality. With its colourful traditional dress, dumplings and wheat beer, yodeling and brass bands, it's a great place to unwind.