Discover Starnberg

Starnberg offers a variety of options for a stay: the permanent exhibition at the Museum of Lake Starnberg explores boats and ships, while the palace garden combines a small historic park with a viewpoint. There is also a cultural walk, a hike and seasonal boat cruises. If you are looking for a hotel in Starnberg, you can plan your visit around whether you are mainly interested in exhibits, time in the garden, a walk with information panels or a longer hike.

The history of boats at the Museum of Lake Starnberg

The permanent exhibition at the Museum of Lake Starnberg offers a glimpse into the region’s past through the history of boats and ships on the lake. One of its most important exhibits is the Lochmannhaus, which has a history stretching back around 500 years. The house still has a kitchen with an open hearth from that period. Alongside the boats, the exhibition therefore also highlights a historic building that provides a tangible glimpse of its former interior.

The exhibition also features an original dugout canoe, like those used by fishermen on Lake Starnberg until the 19th century. A model of the Bucentaur showcases one of Bavaria’s best-known and largest ceremonial ships. The centrepiece of the permanent exhibition is the only boat from the royal fleet that is still fully intact: it was built for King Ludwig I in 1837 and named Delphin after its figurehead. Together, the exhibits offer different insights into the history of boating on the lake, from the dugout canoe to a vessel from the royal fleet.

Palace garden and opening hours

In the 1970s, the town of Starnberg redesigned the small park within the walls of the historic palace garden in the Renaissance style. A viewpoint sits atop the wall. The garden’s history and design give it a distinctive character, different from the exhibits in the museum. Schlossgarten Park is open daily from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm. Check the opening hours again before your visit to make sure they fit your schedule.

The archaeological monument of St. Benedict also has set opening hours: it is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. As this information is important when planning a specific visit, it is advisable to check again before travelling.

Cultural walk, hike and boat cruise

The cultural walk includes 24 information panels. Ten of them feature audio tracks that you can access on site using a QR code. This gives visitors planning the route two ways to learn more: information on the panels, with audio available via QR code at some of them. The number of panels and access to the audio tracks are defining features of this walk.

The circular route through Maisinger Gorge is listed as a longer hike, taking 2.5 hours. It starts in Starnberg and passes the Maisinger Bach stream and the village of Maising, before continuing past Lake Maising. This duration can be factored directly into your daily plans. The route therefore differs from the cultural walk not only in its named waypoints, but also in its specified duration.

Boat cruises are a seasonal option: they run from April to October, departing from the boat landing at the lakeside promenade in Starnberg. If you would like to include a cruise in your stay, take this period into account when choosing your travel dates and check the timetable in advance. The season is a specific point to consider when planning, while the museum, park and routes mentioned offer other options.

The season and opening hours can help you plan activities around your travel dates; no specific accommodation location is implied.

Discover more destinations: Herrsching on Lake Ammersee, Tutzing, Feldafing, Andechs, Seefeld, Berg, Pöcking, Wörthsee

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