Discover Seehausen a.Staffelsee: lake, trails and chapels

Seehausen a.Staffelsee brings together Lake Staffelsee, paths through the village and a layered history. Water, outdoor activities and culture offer different points of focus for planning your trip: perhaps you would like to spend time by the lake, plan a hike, or discover historic chapels and the local painting tradition. These highlights can help you decide which experiences should take priority when choosing your accommodation.

Lake Staffelsee and the lido

Lake Staffelsee is a well-known warm-water swimming lake. In midsummer, water temperatures range from 22 to 26 °C, and the lake has seven islands. The Seehausen lido has a large sunbathing lawn, a café terrace and a gently sloping beach more than 300 metres long. This means that days focused on the water can revolve around both the lake itself and the facilities at the lido.

Two trail descriptions are worth considering when planning activities by the lake: the Lake Staffelsee Circular Trail starts in Seehausen and is 20.5 kilometres long. In summer, you can walk or cycle around Lake Staffelsee on a signposted circular trail measuring 22 kilometres. If you prefer to explore the village, Seehausen has hiking information boards and trail maps for a village walk. The route includes, among other places, St. Mauritius Chapel and Rieden Castle; the legend of the White Lady of Buchau Island is also one of its themes.

The hiking options mentioned in Seehausen also include meditation trails with a spiritual background. The choice therefore ranges from a long circuit around the lake to routes with a different thematic focus. When planning your trip, you can consider whether you would prefer a walk or cycle ride around the lake, a route through the village, or a spiritually themed trail.

Chapels, church and painting tradition

The building history of St. Michael’s Church connects Seehausen with Wörth Island: stones from the island’s former church, demolished in 1773/1774, were used to build it. Prince-Bishop Wenzeslaus consecrated St. Michael’s in 1782. In 1838, St. Simpert Island Chapel was also founded on Wörth Island in the neo-Romanesque style, replacing the demolished monastery church. The histories of the two buildings give the village and the island their own distinct historical points of reference.

Other religious sites can be found in the districts. The Mauritius Chapel in Riedhausen dates back to the founding of the village and features 15th-century wall paintings. In Rieden, St. Peter and Paul Chapel stands right next to Rieden Castle. It dates from the 15th century, while its high altar dates from the 17th century. These different dates make the churches and chapels a subject in their own right for culturally minded visitors.

Reverse-glass painting is another defining feature of Seehausen’s cultural history. The Staffelsee Museum explores this painting technique; Seehausen was an important centre for reverse-glass painting, with the Gege and Noder families of painters. The village’s architectural and artistic history thus complement each other: its churches and chapels tell stories spanning several centuries, while the museum focuses on the local painting tradition.

More nature and culture in Garmisch-Partenkirchen

Garmisch-Partenkirchen offers a range of its own attractions. At Partnach Gorge, visitors can walk between towering rock walls and experience the water rushing below. The gorge was declared a natural monument and opened to visitors in 1912. At 1,780 metres, Mount Wank, Partenkirchen’s local mountain, is ideal for leisurely hikes with far-reaching views.

Garmisch-Partenkirchen also has more to offer visitors interested in culture: the Richard Strauss Institute is housed in the historic Villa Christina in Partenkirchen’s spa gardens and has a permanent exhibition on Strauss’s life and work. Walks through Garmisch-Partenkirchen also offer the chance to discover Lüftlmalerei, decorative paintings on house façades. These themes complement Seehausen’s lake and village history with distinct interests in nature and culture in the Garmisch-Partenkirchen destination.

Discover more destinations: Uffing Am Staffelsee, Saulgrub, Ettal, Mittenwald, Bad Kohlgrub, Ohlstadt, Oberammergau, Grainau.

Back to the main travel overview: Garmisch-Partenkirchen.