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.
Location: Feldafing
Elevation above the sea: 591 m
Length: 233 m
Width: 176 m
Operator: Bayerische Verwaltung der staatlichen Schlösser, Gärten und Seen
Part of: prehistoric pile dwellings around the Alps
Address: Roseninsel 1
Website: http://schloesser.bayern.de/deutsch/schloss/objekte/feldafin.htm
GPS coordinates: 47.94155,11.30877
Latest update: December 6, 2025 16:01
Bavaria combines medieval castles, baroque churches, and natural areas into one region. Palaces sit in forests, old monasteries stand near rivers, and mountain lakes dot the Alps. Cities preserve their medieval buildings and streets while the landscape spreads across mountains, lakes, and hiking trails that follow historical routes. Visitors encounter places like Burghausen with its long fortress, the Wies Church with its ornate interior, and Herrenchiemsee Palace built on an island in the Chiemsee lake. Bamberg's old town shows half-timbered houses and waterways, while Regensburg holds one of Germany's largest medieval centers with stone buildings from centuries past. Nature lovers can explore the Königssee and Weißensee, walk through the Partnach Gorge, or take the cable car up Zugspitze. The region draws visitors to monasteries like Weltenburg and Ottobeuren, which display remarkable artwork and decoration, and to palaces such as Linderhof where King Ludwig II spent time. Nature paths like the Baumwipfelpfad Steigerwald or walks through Franconian Switzerland show the region's green character. Thermal baths in Erding offer warmth and relaxation, while villages like Oberammergau and Mittenwald display painted house fronts that catch the eye.
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Prehistoric pile dwellings around the Alps
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Feldafinger Park
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Villa Steidele
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Haus Seeblick
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Villa Jordan
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Villa Niggl
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Villa Pschorr
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Villa Feinhals
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Hotel Kaiserin Elisabeth
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Bernheimer-Brunnen
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Pschorrbrunnen
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Wörth
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Landhaus Pschorr
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Villa Albart
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