The Brine Pipe Path
Our insider trip for an unforgettable day trip in Berchtesgaden
Wonderful views of the townscape of Berchtesgaden and the magnificent mountain world of the Berchtesgaden Alps are guaranteed. In addition, display points and information boards provide fascinating insights into a historic engineering achievement – the brine pipeline from Berchtesgaden.
How it all began…
200 years ago, the engineer Georg von Reichenbach was commissioned to construct the brine pipeline. This pipeline was intended to transport brine from the salt mine in Berchtesgaden to the saltworks in Bad Reichenhall.
A total of 356 meters in elevation had to be overcome.
The only possible route—without crossing imperial Austrian territory—was over the mountain ridge between the Lattengebirge and the Reiter Alps. At the time, this was an almost insurmountable challenge due to the elevation difference. On September 14, 1816, the Bavarian King Max I Joseph gave the final order to construct the brine pipeline, which was to be completed within just one and a half years.
Thanks to the ingenious invention of a brine lifting machine by Georg von Reichenbach, the elevation difference of 356 meters at Ilsank could be overcome.
This massive brine lifting pump (known as the Reichenbach Pump) can still be viewed today in the visitor mine.
Already on December 22, 1817, the first Berchtesgaden brine flowed through wooden "Deicheln" (wooden pipes) over a distance of 29 kilometers and significant elevation changes from Berchtesgaden to Bad Reichenhall.
200 Years of Brine Pipelines
This brine pipeline remained in continuous operation until February 19, 1927 - a masterstroke that is a great credit to its inventor, both then and now.
In 2017, we celebrated the 200th anniversary of this technical masterpiece, which still transports the brine to the Bad Reichenhall salt works today (in a slightly more modern design, of course).In the salt works, the brine is still evaporated and processed into the famous Bad Reichenhaller AlpenSalz .
The Brine Pipeline Path – a hike for the whole familiy
If you want to see the brine pipeline for yourself and dive into the history of this technical masterpiece, this is the perfect place!
The Brine Pipeline Trail takes you from the Berchtesgaden Salt Mine through the historic Nonntal district to the Lockstein viewpoint.
The brine pipeline tubes along the way indicate the original route of the pipeline.
At this point, you’ve already reached the highest elevation of the hike.
To the House of Mountains
From here on, the trail continues gently along the hillside.
Signposts lead slightly downhill to the brine pipeline footbridge.
This daring wooden construction clings to a steep rock face and takes you to the “Reichenbach Niche.”
From the footbridge at the Reichenbach Niche, you’ll enjoy a wonderful view of Berchtesgaden’s townscape and the magnificent mountain scenery.
At the Hotel Kronprinz, the still-existing historical route of the brine pipeline begins—or ends.
From here, it’s just a 5–10 minute walk to the attractive final destination of the hike: the „House of Mountains“.
You’ll find the detailed route description for the Brine Pipeline Trail in the flyer.
My Programm Suggestion for an Unforgettable Day Trip – Ideal for Families With Children:
Get your online tickets for a visit to the Berchtesgaden Salt Mine in advance.This way you can avoid any waiting times on site.
After the guided tour, you can walk the brine pipeline path from the salt mine to the House of Mountains in 60 minutes.
In the centre of Berchtesgaden you have the opportunity to rest at one of the many traditional restaurants.
Afterwards, I recommend a detour to the Haus der Berge, the information centre of the Berchtesgaden National Park. In the award-winning exhibition "Vertical Wilderness", you can experience the four habitats of water, forest, alpine meadows, and rock up close with a constant change of seasons.
