Traunstein Map and Travel Information
Although born in tiny Marktl am Inn, Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, the new Pope Benedict XVI, studied theology at St. Michael's Seminary in Traunstein and occasionally returns.

Location of Traunstein and Marktl am Inn in Bavaria, Germany

Traunstein Map © 2005 by James Martin

Traunstein was where Ratzinger returned after deserting the German army in 1945, and it was the place where he was taken prisoner by U.S. troops. He was released from a U.S. prisoner-of-war camp in June of that year and hitched a ride home on a milk truck. Hometown cheers 'our Bavarian Pope'

Traunstein Travel Notes

Traunstein a regional center of 18,000 population has a very nice little medieval town center and central square. Nearby, on the Traun river in the centre of the picturesque Chiemgau, there is a hostel. Some transportation info for Traunstein is found here. A short history and overview of Traunstein is found in Wikipedia. Perhaps the best page for Tourism in Traunstein is Traunstein, by Tom Galvin. There is a review of the beers available at the Hofbräuhaus Traunstein.

Marktl am Inn Travel Notes

You can find some pictures of the new Bavarian Pope in his birthplace scattered through the official Marktl site. Some good pictures are also to be found at Travel-Write's Marktl am Inn page, which contains some lodging and other travel information.

A Bicycle tour through Marktl am Inn

The Inn Cycle Route--passing through Marktl am Inn--may become the most subscribed bicycle tour around for a while. (Info: PDF)

Vatican Information

For information on the Vatican, or for requesting an audience with the Pope in Rome, see our Vatican City resources.

Planning A Visit to the Pope's Bavaria

There are several other places in Bavaria which have influenced the new Pope's life, and we've put together a sample itinerary with map for exploring them: The Pope's Bavaria - Map and Information for Following in the Pope's Footsteps.