In the Berchtesgaden salt mine you ride a miners' train 650 metres into the mountain – and slide down like the miners.

Berchtesgaden lies about 30 kilometres south-west of Salzburg, just across the Bavarian border, nestled between the Watzmann and the Untersberg. The town has been shaped by salt for centuries: the Berchtesgaden salt mine has operated since 1517 and is one of the oldest still-active salt mines in the world.

The visit begins with the classic ritual: you slip into traditional miners' clothing and ride the narrow mine train about 650 metres into the mountain. Down there a walk through illuminated tunnels awaits, two original wooden miners' slides that once let the miners descend faster, and the spectacular raft ride across a mirror-still underground salt lake.

The highlight is the so-called "salt cathedral" – a large underground chamber where a light-and-sound installation tells the story of how the salt formed. The whole circuit takes about 90 minutes, is family-friendly (children from age 4) and runs year-round at a constant cool 12 degrees – an ideal stop even in rain or heat.

After the mine, a stroll through Berchtesgaden's old town is worthwhile, with the castle square, painted house façades and cosy cafés. With more time, combine the day with the nearby Königssee, the Eagle's Nest (Kehlsteinhaus) or the documentation centre at the Obersalzberg.

Because the Königssee, the salt mine and the Eagle's Nest all lie in the same valley, Berchtesgaden is ideal for a flexible combination. Tell us what interests you when you inquire – we arrange the route and timing so nothing feels rushed.