Rose Island, Archaeological heritage site in Lake Starnberg, Germany.
Rose Island is a small island in Lake Starnberg featuring a royal villa and formal gardens that are part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The layout includes a main building with outbuildings and circular rose gardens positioned in front of the villa.
King Maximilian II commissioned the Casino villa in the 19th century, which his son Ludwig II of Bavaria later used as a residence. The island itself was inhabited in prehistoric times, as archaeological evidence found beneath the lake water shows.
The island's name comes from the roses that grow in formal beds surrounding the villa, shaping how visitors experience the place. Walking through the gardens, people see how nature and human design work together to create the character of this location.
The island is only accessible by ferry, which runs during specific seasons and has limited times of operation. Visitors should check ahead since crossings are not offered every day.
Beneath the water of the lake lie settlement remains from around 5000 years ago, revealing much about early human habitation. These submerged traces make the island a window into prehistoric life.
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