Starnberg: Boating History and Castle Garden
Accommodation in Starnberg
Starnberg combines the maritime history of Lake Starnberg with a small castle garden and various ways to explore the town and its surroundings on foot or from the water. At the museum, boats tell the story of the region’s past; in the castle garden, historic landscaping meets a viewpoint. To help you plan, compare the options: alongside a hike with a stated duration, there is a cultural walk with QR-code audio tracks and seasonal boat trips.
Das Schiff Berg fährt in den Starnberger Hafen ein und vermittelt einen Eindruck vom Ausflugserlebnis auf dem Starnberger See.
Photo: Kritzolina via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Boats and History at the Lake Starnberg Museum
The permanent exhibition at the Lake Starnberg Museum offers a glimpse into the region’s past through the history of boats and ships on Lake Starnberg. It also features an original dugout canoe, used by fishermen on the lake until the 19th century. A model depicts the Bucentaur, probably Bavaria’s best-known and largest ceremonial ship.
The centrepiece of the exhibition is the only boat from the aristocratic fleet to have survived intact. It was built for King Ludwig I in 1837 and named Delphin after its figurehead. The exhibition therefore features both a type of boat used for fishing and a ship built for the king. Together, these examples bring the history of shipping to life.
The Lochmann House is also one of the museum’s important exhibits. Its history spans around 500 years. A kitchen with an open hearth from that period has been preserved in the house. The historic building thus complements the boats and ships with a tangible glimpse into a former living space.
Castle Garden and Historic Sites
In the 1970s, the town of Starnberg redesigned the small park within the walls of the historic castle garden in the Renaissance style. There is a viewpoint on top of the wall. The park is open daily from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm. If you are planning your visit in advance, check the opening hours again before setting off.
Another historic site is the St. Benedikt archaeological monument. It is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. For this visit too, check the current opening hours before you travel. This way, you can factor them into your day’s plans without assuming they are the same as those for the castle garden.
Boat Trip, Hike or Cultural Walk
Boat trips are available from April to October from the landing stage on Starnberg’s lakeside promenade. As the service is seasonal, it is worth checking the current timetable if you would like to include a trip in your plans. The circular trail through the Maisinger Gorge is another option for a hike: the 2.5-hour route starts in Starnberg and follows the Maisinger Bach, passes through Maising and then goes past Lake Maising.
The cultural walk offers a different focus. It includes 24 information panels, ten of which feature audio tracks that can be accessed on site via QR code. Unlike the hike, no duration is specified for this walk. For planning your day, you therefore have different points of reference: a set duration for the circular trail, QR-code audio options on the cultural walk and a seasonal period for the boat trips.
If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Starnberg, you can use these differences as a starting point for your plans. First decide whether the museum exhibition and castle garden, the hike with its stated duration or the seasonal boat trip should be the main focus of your stay. These priorities can help you outline the kind of trip you want without assuming a particular location or amenities for your accommodation.
Discover More Destinations
Discover more destinations: Gauting, Seefeld, Gilching, Inning Am Ammersee, Pöcking, Bernried Am Starnberger See, Weßling, Allmannshausen.
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