Lake Starnberg is a popular excursion destination for many Munich residents , especially in summer. Strolling along the shore, renting a boat, cooling off with a dip in the water – these are probably the most popular activities around the lake. But the district has even more to offer. If you are interested in the history of Princess Elisabeth in Bavaria, you only have to take a 45-minute journey to marvel at her family’s country estate.
The castle by the lake
In 1536, the old part of today’s castle complex was built as a manor house on Lake Starnberg. The result was a magnificent building with four corner towers. The grounds also had a spacious park with an orchard, which at its height extended over almost the entire western shore of Lake Starnberg. Basselet von La Rosée later acquired the grounds together with the Rose Island in Lake Starnberg and had a baroque ornamental garden created.
When Max in Bavaria acquired the land 400 years later, he had the grounds extended to include the horseshoe structure. A boathouse and a lakeside terrace were built on the shore, where Karl Stieler painted portraits of Sisi’s siblings in 1854. The residence quickly became a favorite among the Duke’s eight children, whereas Max himself rarely spent time here.
After the end of the First World War, the family no longer had any use for the property, which is why it initially became a recreation home for children. During the Second World War, a Luftwaffe medical unit was housed there and it was later converted into a military hospital. After the end of the war, the ownership rights were transferred to the Free State of Bavaria, which made the castle available to industrialists who ran down the imposing building. The original interior was almost completely lost as a result.
In 1981, the artist Franz Schilke acquired the castle and restored it to its former glory. He had condominiums built in the complex, which is why it is not open to the public. However, there is a two-hectare area in front of the buildings that you can visit and view the castle from. At low tide, the foundations of the lake terrace are also visible.
Sisi at Possenhofen Palace
Princess Elisabeth Amalie Eugenie in Bavaria, daughter of Duke Max in Bavaria and Princess Ludovika Wilhelmine, was born on Christmas Eve 1837. She spent a large part of her childhood and youth in Munich and at Possenhofen Castle on Lake Starnberg. Her father was rarely present, instead she grew up with her seven siblings and her mother. The children affectionately called the castle grounds by the lake “Possi”, where they loved to spend their time. During her childhood, she had a good relationship with her siblings, which became cooler over time.
At the age of 15, Elisabeth married her cousin Fanz Joseph I and thus became Empress of Austria and Queen of Hungary. Despite this, she continued to spend time at Lake Starnberg, where she spent several weeks at a time at the Hotel Strauch for 24 years. Today, the guest house is called Hotel Kaiserin Elisabeth in her honor.
You can reach the castle from Munich in around 45 minutes by car or train. Even if you cannot enter the building, it is worth making a detour to admire the building from the outside. The municipality of Pöcking is also home to the Sisi Museum, which you can visit in summer.