Some places of longing lie far away — Lake Starnberg does not. Not half an hour south-west of Munich one of Germany's most water-rich and most fashionable lake landscapes begins: deep blue water against an Alpine backdrop, villas on the shore, the stories of Sisi and King Ludwig II — and wellness houses that put all of it within reach.
The lake at the gates of Munich
At 56 square kilometres Lake Starnberg is the fifth-largest lake in Germany — and because of its depth of up to 128 metres it holds more water than any other after Lake Constance. It forms the heart of the Five Lakes region, which also includes the Ammersee, the Wörthsee, the Pilsensee and the Wesslinger See. From Munich the suburban railway (line S6) brings guests to Starnberg on the northern shore in around 30 minutes — the lake is Munich's classic local recreation destination and at the same time one of the most expensive residential areas in the country.
Sisi, Ludwig II and the Rose Island
Hardly any lake carries so much Bavarian history. In Possenhofen on the western shore the later Empress Elisabeth — “Sisi” — spent her childhood. And near Berg, King Ludwig II met his death in 1886 under circumstances unexplained to this day; a votive chapel and a wooden cross in the shallow water commemorate him. Off Possenhofen lies the Rose Island with its little casino villa and its historic rose garden — reachable by a flat ferry boat, the “Plette”.
On the water and along the shore
In summer the lake is a stage: sailors, windsurfers and stand-up paddlers make use of the reliable winds, and at the designated bathing places the day can be idled away. Whoever prefers comfort boards one of the excursion steamers of the Bavarian Lake Shipping company and circles the lake from the water. Cycling and hiking trails run all around the shore, and in many places you can stop at beer gardens and lakeside restaurants with a view of the water.
Wellness by the lake
After a day on the water the spa area is the loveliest full stop: sauna, massage and rest rooms, often with a view into the green. The appeal of Lake Starnberg lies in the contrast — proximity to the big city and pre-Alpine calm in one. Whoever is specifically looking for wellness by the water can browse our topic special wellness by the lake.