Rose Island

The Roseninsel lies in Lake Starnberg, just off the shore of the Landkreis Starnberg. It is the only island on the lake and holds a small royal villa built for Ludwig II of Bavaria by his father. Ludwig spent much time there, adding to the garden and remodelling the villa, known as the Casino. Among his visitors were Richard Wagner, Prince Paul of Thurn and Taxis, Empress Elisabeth of Austria and Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia. The villa is now a small museum open to visitors. It can be reached by a short ferry ride from the mainland. In 2011 the island was placed on the UNESCO World Heritage list as one of the 111 Prehistoric pile dwellings around the Alps. A visitor finds a quiet island with the white villa standing among trimmed lawns and flowerbeds. The rooms inside display items from Ludwig’s time, giving a sense of his tastes and friendships. Views across the lake stretch to the Bavarian Alps on clear days. The ferry dock sits close to the villa, making the crossing brief and easy. The island’s small size keeps the walk around it short, yet the setting feels secluded and peaceful.