Crystal clear lakes, beautiful landscapes and an Alpine panorama that you just can’t get enough of. The Bavarian landscape in the Five Lakes Region near Munich offers all that.
Starnberger See, Ammersee, Wörthsee, Pilsensee, Weßlinger See – the five lakes are among the most beautiful and best lakes on the Bavarian map. The regions around the lakes offer a variety of recreational activities- such as water sports, hiking, cycling and fishing.
Lake Starnberg
Lake Starnberg is located about 25 kilometers southwest Bavaria’s capital Munich. With an area of 56.4 km², it is the fifth largest lake in Germany.
One of the most famous sights on Lake Starnberg is the Possenhofen Castle, which was once the summer residence of Empress Elisabeth of Austria (also known as Sisi). Today, Possenhofen Castle is probably one of the most exclusive residences in the Five Lakes Region.
Another attraction worth visiting on Lake Starnberg is the Roseninsel (Rose Island), a small island of 2.5 hectares in the middle of the lake, known for its mansion, the so-called “Casino”, and a magnificent rose garden. From May to October, small flat wooden boats depart daily from village Feldafing to the island. Further information can be found on the website https://www.roseninsel.bayern/.
If you want to enjoy a very special view on Lake Starnberg and the Bavarian Alps, you should definitely take a walk up to the Ilkahöhe. Just about 140 meters above the lake, an impressive panorama of the lake emerges. Whoever would like to grab a bite after the walk should try the Bavarian restaurant Forsthaus Ilkahöhe https://www.restaurant-ilkahoehe.de – this is just the local place for you.
Ammersee
Lake Ammersee is situated in Bavaria´s south, about 13 kilometers northwest of Lake Starnberg. It is the third largest lake in Bavaria with an area of 47 square kilometers.
One of the most famous sights on the Ammersee is the Andechs Monastery. Located almost 150 meters above the eastern shore of Ammersee, it offers a beautiful view of the alpenious skyline. The monastery was founded in the 15th century and is still an important pilgrimage site in Bavaria. The associated brewery produces some of the most famous beer of the region. A visit to the well-known pilgrimage church is also a must. As well as a visit to the Bräustüberl, a delicious Bavarian restaurant, next door. All information about the monastery on the “Holy Mountain” can be found at https://www.andechs.de/ . From village Herrsching on the lakeside, an easy hiking trail leads a path through the beautiful forest landscape of the Kiental (Kien Valley) up to Andechs. The hike takes about 1.5 hours.
When on Lake Starnberg, you can take a boat trip on Lake Ammersee. All routes can be found on the website of the Bayerische Seenschifffahrt (Bavarian Lake Shipping), including prices and departure times: https://www.seenschifffahrt.de/de/ammersee/fahrplan/fahrplan/.
Wörthsee
Lake Wörth is considered one of the most beautiful and cleanest Bavarian swimming lakes, although its water exchange is quite slow. It takes an overall eight years for its water to renew itself.
Due to its low gradient around the lake, the Wörthsee is also popular with cyclists and hikers. After completing the just under 11 km trail around the lake, there are several opportunities to catch a breath at a popular restaurant with a view of the lake. The Augustiner Restaurant at Wörthsee https://augustineramwoerthsee.de/ offers a lido with an accompanying kiosk in addition to its restaurant. The lido is open to the public and does not charge an entrance fee. Whether for swimming, feasting or a sundowner – the Augustiner beer at the Wörthsee is the cherry on top after a long day.
Pilsensee
In the immediate vicinity of Lake Wörth and thus also Lake Ammer, lies Lake Pilsen – famously known as Pilsensee in German. With an area of about 1.9 square kilometers, it counts as one of the smaller but not less beautiful lakes in the region.
Above Lake Pilsen lies Seefeld Castle, which was once home to the Counts of Toerring, who were lords of the surrounding area for many centuries. Today the castle houses small boutiques, a cinema, a restaurant and much more: http://schloss-seefeld.com/index.html
A small Christmas market is held in the castle courtyard every year on an Advent weekend.
Weßlinger See
Weßlinger See is situated just under 4 kilometers west of the Wörthsee. With its area of 0.2 square kilometers, it is the smallest in the best 5 Bavarian lakes range. Weßlinger See is an isolated lake – this means that it has a lack of natural inflows or outflows and is fed exclusively by underground springs. Therefore, there is no naturally grown fish stock in it.
The lake can be walked around along the shore within about 30-45 minutes. In summer it is a popular bathing place for the residents of the village. The café at the lake https://cafe-aenishaenslin.de/ offers special homemade pies and cakes.
Overall, the Five Lakes Region is a picturesque and charming destination known for its scenic beauty as well as its cultural and historical attractions.
