GAPA AND THE olympics
A place with winter sports history
Garmisch-Partenkirchen and Olympia
SPORTS HISTORY AT YOUR FINGERTIPS
When you look up from the slope and your eyes wanders automatically to the mighty Zugspitze. When your heart beats up to your neck because you've just beaten your own best time. Then you feel it: that very special feeling. The feeling that anything is possible. And that is: here and now.
Perhaps it is this feeling that has characterized the vacation region at the foot of the Zugspitze since the 1936 olympic games. The air of victory and glory that has endured over the years. And still motivates many holidaymaker today to push themselves to their limits - and perhaps even beyond.
28 nations, 17 competitions and 619,000 spectators: the Winter Games back then were an experience you won't soon forget. And even if you don't achieve any top sporting performances, the same certainly applies to your next vacation in Garmisch-Partenkirchen...
FOR ALL THOSE WHO WANT TO AIM HIGH: OLYMPIA SKI JUMP
Being there is everything - this motto not only applied to the 1936 Olympic Games, but also to a guided tour of the "Great Olympic Ski Jump". After all, the impressive and easily accessible structure on the Gudiberg is not just worth seeing for ski jumping fans!
An artificial inrun tower was built on the slope of the Gudiberg back in 1923. After numerous modernizations, the building gave way to the "Olympic Freischwinger" in 2007: today's ski jumping hill, which floats freely 62 metres above the terrain with its 100-metre inrun tower. Blending harmoniously with the winter landscape during the day and a fascinating light sculpture at night: high above Garmisch-Partenkirchen, the Olympic ski jump dominates the vacation region with its characteristic silhouette.
Right next to it, the slalom slope on the Gudiberg leads into the ski stadium. This challenging slalom slope was not used for the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships. In 2022, a men's slalom race took place here for the first time in 11 years as part of the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup.
GUIDED TOURS TO THE SKI JUMP
- When: Saturdays: 15:00 all year round, Wednesdays: from Whitsun to Kirchweih at 18:00, Wednesdays from November to Whitsun at 15:00
- Please note: No guided tours are possible from 20.12.2022 to 8.1.2023, as the New Year's ski jumping takes place
- Prices: Adults: EUR 16; students, holidaymakers with GaPaCard and guest card holders Grainau, Farchant, Oberau, Eschenlohe: EUR 14; children and young people (6-15 years): EUR 8
- Minimum number of participants: 6 persons
- Duration: approx. 2 h
- Special tours: possible on individually arranged dates
- You can easily book tickets directly in our adventure store!
FOR "ICY" VACATION MEMORIES: OLYMPIC ICE SPORTS CENTER
The Olympic Ice Sports Centre is also an impressive "remnant" from the years 1936 and 1978. Built largely as an "open-air stadium" for the Winter Olympics at the time, it is still considered one of the largest and most modern of its kind today after being modernized several times.
Whether it's the Olympics, the European Ice Hockey Championships or the Curling World Championships - the professionals are all over the ice in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. The ice sports center is also a popular destination for holidaymakers for numerous off-slope winter sports activities.
FOR THE BRAVE: THE KANDAHAR DESCENT
Where more than 80 years ago the athletes of the Winter Games plunged down the icy slope, motivated skiers can still try their luck today - provided they have the courage. Because the legendary Kandahar downhill run not only demands skill, technique and sensitivity, but one thing above all else: plenty of courage.
The Kandahar at a glance:
Start: 1690 m
Finish: 770 m
Difference in altitude: 920 m
Length: 3300 m
Challenges: Speeds of up to 130 km/h, gradient of 92 %
