Thomas Mann Trail

The Mann family traveled to Bad Tölz only by train. Since 1874, Tölz had a railway connection to Munich. Until the extension of the train line to Lenggries in 1924, this was the terminus for travelers in Bad Tölz. This old station was also the arrival point for visitors to the Mann family. 

With the expansion of the new line from Bad Tölz further to Lenggries in 1924, the current station was also built and the old station building was abandoned. In place of the old station building, there is now a residential building from the 1960s. Only the railway guard's house still stands.

Station 2: Klammerweiher 

The Klammerweiher served as a bathing lake in the summer for the Mann children. Ideally, it was within sight of the country house.

Station 3: Stele 4

The Friends of the Mann family in Bad Tölz organized, at the suggestion of the Thomas Mann Support Circle Munich, a "tree campaign". A peace oak personally planted by Golo Mann in 1989 unfortunately had to be cut down. In return, in 2006, the city dedicated a characteristic tree to each member of the Mann family who had lived in Tölz. For Thomas Mann, the dignified sycamore maple was planted, for his wife Katia a hospitable lime tree, for Erika a sensual pear tree, for Klaus a walnut tree – symbol of wisdom, for Golo again a sturdy oak, and for Monika a youthful birch.

Station 4: Country House of the Mann Family

"Herrensitzchen" – that’s what Thomas Mann called his country house, which he moved into with his family in 1909. Since 1926, the country house has been owned by the Order of the Poor School Sisters. The house is not open to the public. According to the third mayor Christof Botzenhart, it is „the only authentic Thomas Mann house in the German-speaking area“, as other buildings have been converted or even demolished. From the outside, the villa still looks almost the same as in Mann's lifetime, amidst the huge garden. Inside, hardly anything remains that reminds one of the times when Thomas Mann and his family were here. Only the floor plan and a small cabinet in his former study have been preserved.

Station 5: The Prinzregent-Luitpold Home

In the construction file for the "convalescent home for poor, visually impaired children" Thomas Mann appears on the donor list. As a future neighbor of the convalescent home, he already announced a donation of 200 Reichsmark in a letter to the mayor of Tölz, Stollreither. The foundation stone of the house, built by Gabriel von Seidl, was laid on March 12, 1911, for the 90th birthday of Prince Regent Luitpold. After the war, the building served as a children's recovery home. Today, it is a care facility of Lebenshilfe and cannot be visited.

Station 6: Café am Wald

The Café am Wald, built at the same time as the Mann country house, served Thomas Mann from the start as a preferred accommodation for his overnight guests. When the two guest rooms in his country house were occupied, he had his guests first reserve in this guesthouse. The Café am Wald was built in 1908 and taken over by the Fritz family in 1913 and operated as a café with some guest rooms. In 1958, the café was handed over to Heinz Fritz, who rebuilt the café into an inn with hotel operation. Finally, it was transferred to the Peter Fritz family in 1993. The café was then completely converted into a hotel and has been continuously modernized and expanded by Peter Fritz.

Station 7: Schlittenberg

Actually, Bad Tölz was the Mann family’s summer residence. But it also happened, especially during wartime, that the writer stayed there with his family in winter. Then sledding on the Galgenleite, thanks to snowy winters, was the favorite pastime of the Mann children. Thomas Mann experienced his first severe snowy winter in Bad Tölz and incorporated it into the “snow chapter” of "The Magic Mountain."  Even today, the slope is used for winter fun.   

Station 8: Thomas Mann Room ( City Library)

The current city library, formerly Bahnhofstraße 21, was originally the Royal District Court for Bad Tölz and its surroundings. On the first floor there is a replica of Thomas Mann’s study. The room largely corresponds to the rooms in which Thomas Mann worked on his works. Among other things, there is a neo-baroque desk, the matching chair, and two shelves. The faithfully reproduced furniture were film props that the Thomas Mann Forum Munich e.V. donated to the city of Bad Tölz. In addition to other props, the library impresses with many first editions of the Nobel Prize-winning author. Unfortunately, the room is not open to the public.

Explore the Thomas Mann Room in the Tölz city library with the help of a true connoisseur of the famous writer: Dirk Heißerer. The video can be found at the following link