More than just a place – a way of life

RIEDEL Magazine, Issue 03 Autumn 2025 | Text: Stephanie Geiger und Christian Bonk | Reading time: 8 minutes

Those who live on Lake Starnberg are not looking for the flashy, but for the refined. Writers and intellectuals, members of the aristocracy and city dwellers have shaped this distinctive lifestyle on Lake Starnberg for centuries. Discreet elegance, refined restraint and the art of savouring the essentials come together here to create a truly extraordinary way of life. Just half an hour’s drive south of Munich, Bavarian cosiness meets stylish cosmopolitanism, and an idyllic natural setting meets an exclusive lifestyle. Experience a multifaceted tour around the lake!

This article appeared in RIEDEL Magazine, Issue 03, Autumn/Winter 2025/26. The dates, shops and offers mentioned are correct as at the time of publication and should be checked before visiting.

Start in Starnberg

Let’s start in Starnberg, the legendary, wealthiest municipality in Germany, a magnet, as it were, for day-trippers from Munich, for visitors to Bavaria and for the residents of the ‘Land of Five Lakes’, whose largest – Lake Starnberg – invites visitors to enjoy all manner of lakeside romance with views of the Alps. Whether it’s sophisticated shopping, first-class cuisine, a visit to the Starnberg Museum with its insights into the kingdom’s history, or simply an atmospheric sunset amongst the boathouses on the promenade: In Starnberg, understated elegance and down-to-earth Bavarian charm complement each other in a unique way.

A popular destination on the western edge of the town – particularly for day-trippers from Munich and local walkers and cyclists – is the Maisinger Gorge, which supplies 80 per cent of the drinking water for the district town of Starnberg. The waterworks is visible from a distance. But the gorge is also fascinating from a geological perspective, which is why it has been classified as a ‘valuable geotope’ by the Bavarian State Office for the Environment.

Anyone looking for Advent decorations and Christmas tree ornaments during the festive season should definitely pop along to the Starnberg Christmas market. From 4 to 7 December, glassblowers, woodcarvers, violin makers and blacksmiths, amongst others, will be showcasing their work there. And for those who can’t do without ice cream even in the cold season, the Starnberg Ice Cream Workshop offers your favourite flavours all year round. A hidden gem is the violet ice cream – a flavour which, incidentally, even Empress Elisabeth couldn’t resist. RIEDEL has its new office right next to the Eiswerkstatt.

Stately villa with an oriel and tall windows behind old trees, with a sunlit meadow in front. — At Villa Waldberta, the City of Munich provides young scholarship holders in the fields of art and literature with a space to live, work, showcase their work and engage in discussion.

The regal and art-inspired west bank

Leaving Starnberg and heading south along the lakeshore, the route takes you via Pöcking – home to Possenhofen Castle (more on this from page 116) – to Feldafing, where Villa Waldberta offers a vivid insight into contemporary art. This stately villa, built at the start of the 20th century in an exclusive villa colony, provides a venue for the City of Munich’s artist-in-residence programme. Artists and academics from all over the world can live, work and exhibit their work there.

Even the most prominent landscape architect of his time, Peter Joseph Lenné – who was primarily active in Berlin and Potsdam – left his mark on the western shore of Lake Starnberg. King Max II dreamt of a ‘second Potsdam’, and Lenné was commissioned to realise this dream near Feldafing. Even today, the botanical grounds here, covering just under one hundred hectares, are regarded as a prime example of a landscape park.

Also well worth a visit is the so-called ‘Casino’ on Roseninsel. This small royal palace was built in the style of an Upper Italian villa. King Max II was not the only one to appreciate the special atmosphere of Roseninsel. People were already living there seven thousand years ago, as evidenced by the remains of a pile-dwelling settlement. These finds are so special that they were even added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2011.

Recumbent stone lion on a plinth on the lakeshore, with the wide expanse of water and autumnal trees behind. — The lakeside panorama in Tutzing, directly in front of the Midgardhaus, inevitably includes the majestic lion statue by Karl Effner (c. 1870).

Our exploration continues to the little village of Tutzing, which is also situated on the lakeshore. The walk to the Ilkahöhe offers a particularly lovely opportunity to admire Lake Starnberg in its entirety. The trail leads through the picturesque Waldschmittschlucht gorge and past several ponds to the highest point on the lake, at 726 metres. Of course, a stop at the Forsthaus to take in the wonderful Alpine panorama is a must.

The nature-rich & museum-filled south bank

Aerial view of the abbey complex with a church tower and red tiled roofs, surrounded by mature trees on the lakeshore. — Bernried Abbey and St Martin’s Church are inextricably linked. The combination of history, architecture, educational facilities and hospitality makes it a popular destination for day trips.

Our next stop takes us to Bernried on the southern western shore of Lake Starnberg. The town’s landmark is Bernried Abbey, whose history dates back to the 12th century. A stroll through the local park is particularly worthwhile, with its ancient trees – some of which even have names, such as Isolde or Wotan. The beech tree named Olga is said to be 300 years old. The atmosphere around the harbour has a Mediterranean feel to it. You can enjoy fine dining at the lakeside restaurant, a wonderful, picture-perfect venue for weddings, where ‘farm-to-table’ has been the guiding regional concept for many years.

From Bernried, we follow our route towards Seeshaupt, the southernmost village on Lake Starnberg, nestled in the foothills of the Alps with views of the Zugspitze and Wendelstein. The surrounding area is characterised by forests, moors and lakes – ideal for walking and cycling, but also for a wide range of water sports or a refreshing dip in the lake at one of the bathing spots around the pretty village, with its parish church of St Michael and the St Anne’s Chapel situated right next to it.

The sparsely populated and historic eastern bank

Windsurfer with a colourful sail gliding over choppy water, with the shoreline and the Alps on the horizon. — Lake Starnberg is a paradise, particularly for water sports enthusiasts – sailing, rowing, surfing… everything is possible.

A short while later, we’re already exploring the eastern shore of Lake Starnberg. For relaxation by the lake, there’s the Ambach recreation area – the largest bathing spot on the lake and a particular favourite with families. Generations have learnt to swim here. The lake is a paradise for water sports enthusiasts, who come here to sail, row or glide across the water on stand-up paddleboards.

Gradually, our tour takes us via Ammerland to the final stop on our circumnavigation of the lake – the village of Berg. Parts of the local, elegant castle park are open to the public. The Votive Chapel, a small place of worship in the early Romanesque style within the castle park, commemorates the ‘Fairy-Tale King’. Directly in front of it stands a cross in the water, marking the exact spot where Ludwig was found in the lake. From Berg, we opt for the most beautiful way to explore Lake Starnberg in all its diversity and buy a ticket for the Bavarian Lake Navigation fleet, heading back to our starting point, Starnberg. As we glide gently along, we enjoy the view of the Alpine panorama to the south, which seems close enough to touch, especially on ‘föhn days’.

Numerous parks around Lake Starnberg are perfect for long walks.

A truly wonderful place to live in every respect

Stone cross and memorial on a well-kept lakeside lawn in the evening light, with the lake and the setting sun behind. — Monument to King Ludwig II – directly in front of the Votive Chapel

Lake Starnberg, with its charming villages, is not only appealing for its picturesque setting. When it comes to stylish shopping, as well as culture, cuisine and education, the region around the lovely lakeshores is also an exceptionally liveable place. Here are a few outstanding examples:

Louisa’s in Starnberg has been selling swimwear, lingerie and homewear for more than thirty years. In St. Heinrich, the Anne Geuting Concept Store offers a colourful smorgasbord ranging from home accessories and classic furniture designs to fashion and books. And anyone looking for timeless fashion inspired by traditional costume is sure to find what they’re after at Heinzelstück, run by Julia Leyendecker in St. Heinrich. In Münsing, the Mein lieber Schwan concept store stocks everything from household and garden goods to stationery, fashion and accessories.

Culture, relaxation, shopping – all of this is first-class at Lake Starnberg.

Culture, relaxation, shopping – all of this is first-class on Lake Starnberg. The same goes for education. There are prestigious grammar schools in Starnberg, Tutzing and Icking. At the Landschulheim Kempfenhausen grammar school near Berg, learning and community, boarding and school, upbringing and teaching go hand in hand. And at the Munich International School, 1,200 pupils from 64 countries are guided towards obtaining their international A-levels.

Two dirndls in burgundy and muted blue hanging on a wooden rail, next to blouses and aprons in patterned fabric. — The pretty dirndls from Heinzelstück by Julia Leyendecker are a fine example of traditional craftsmanship on Lake Starnberg.

Conclusion

Anyone living on Lake Starnberg enjoys an exceptional quality of life. You live in the countryside without having to forego the benefits of a major city. This unique combination of nature, culture, education and a high standard of living makes life on Lake Starnberg extremely pleasant and desirable.

What shapes the market at Lake Starnberg

Elongated museum building with a glass front and cantilevered roof in a park, with lawn and old trees in front. — The Buchheim Museum is a real institution on Lake Starnberg. It is currently being expanded – a new exhibition hall, additional storage and work areas, and a solar panel system are being added.

The article itself highlights the key points: Starnberg is Germany’s wealthiest municipality, the journey to Munich takes half an hour, and the lakeside areas have developed over the centuries. This explains what shapes the market here: supply is limited, lakeside properties rarely change hands, and many sales take place without being advertised. Anyone looking to buy here needs patience and a connection.

For buyers and owners, an overview is available under ‘Property in Starnberg’; for houses near the lakeshore, see ‘Villa on Lake Starnberg ’ and ‘House on Lake Starnberg’. Elsewhere in the Five Lakes Region, we operate as estate agents in the Five Lakes Region. The Munich market report shows how supply and prices have developed recently.

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