They’re more used to winter sports and skiers but there will be some Scots football garnish in Garmisch this summer.
The Bavarian town, Garmisch-Partenkirchen to give it its full name, has become the location of choice for the Scotland football team.
For Euro 24 where they will take on hosts Germany, Switzerland and Hungary.
The Germans, as I discovered on my recce there last month, are ready to put on quite the show for football fans this summer.
Including a monster set of goalposts the breadth of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin.
Which, of course, Scotland’s Tartan Army will see for themselves when they get to the final.
Go with the snow
What they and the team will find in Garmisch before then is a valley town where the beer flows even when it doesn’t snow.
I visited Garmisch out of season although to be fair the peaks are always white.
And the townsfolk proudly display their winter sports successes and the occasion when they invited the world to their town.
That was back in 1936 when they put on a dress rehearsal for another more infamous Games in Berlin in the summer.
The champions of those Winter Games are adorned on the walls of the restaurant bar where we clink steins.
And sample the best Bratwurst sausages, Wiener Schnitzel, Black Forest Gateaux and Augustiner lager.
Part of Kirchen
At the heart of the scenic town is its ski jump… not for the faint-hearted.
Particularly when you’re at best a blue/red run skier.
Steve Clarke and his players, and the fans, may want to take in the excellent Garmisch-Partenkirchen historical walking tour.
The imposing Neuschwanstein Castle, the inspiration for the Disney Castle, is a short drive away.
Germany’s highest hill Zugspitze dominates the skyscape and hikers, including our Top Flight party, happily scurried up to enjoy the views.
Tartan party
Scotland’s footballers will have an even bigger mountain to scale when they face Germany in the competition opener on June 14 in Munich.
But win lose or draw there will be plenty of Scots football garnish in Garmisch next month.
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