Discover Pöcking: Museum, trails and nature

Pöcking combines cultural history with trails through a varied landscape: in Possenhofen, the story of Empress Elisabeth leads from the museum to historic sites by the lake, while moorland, reeds and protected habitats around Lake Maisinger See shape the character of the area. Which aspect you would like to experience most can also influence where you choose to stay during your trip.

Empress Elisabeth and the history of Possenhofen

The Kaiserin Elisabeth Museum is housed in the former royal railway station in Possenhofen, now Possenhofen S-Bahn station on the S6 line, east exit. The collection includes pictures, printed publications, memorabilia, literature and historical documents relating to Empress Elisabeth and her family at various stages of their lives. There are also exhibits about King Ludwig II, Lake Starnberg and the history of the station. The permanent exhibition is complemented by themed special exhibitions.

For the museum tour, you can use a guide in six languages on your own smartphone with headphones. This lets you tailor your visit to your interests in the Empress, her family and regional history. The place itself also tells a story: Empress Elisabeth spent her childhood and youth at Possenhofen Castle. The Elisabeth Trail leads from the museum to the castle and onward to the crossing to Rose Island. It takes about ten minutes to walk to the castle and about 30 minutes to the crossing—a practical guide for planning your time.

Villa Trail and 19th-century architecture

Another way to explore the town’s history is the Villa Trail. It starts at the municipal library and passes villas and country houses. Some of these historic buildings have been preserved almost in their original condition and illustrate 19th-century architecture. The trail offers a distinct perspective alongside the story of Empress Elisabeth, focusing on architectural styles and their preservation in the townscape. If you enjoy discovering cultural history on foot, the Villa Trail and the Elisabeth Trail offer two different themes and starting points.

Lake Maisinger See, moorland and trails through the landscape

Around Lake Maisinger See, you can discover another side of Pöcking. The lake is considered a birdwatcher’s paradise; reeds and extensive moorland shape its habitat. It is also Bavaria’s oldest nature reserve and has been protected since 1941. Rare bird and plant species find a habitat there. Maisinger Moor is also a protected breeding area for rare bird species. In Maisinger Gorge, water protection and recreation are both designated uses.

The Maisinger circular trail explores the landscape along a route between Pöcking and Maising. It passes Pöckinger Alm and follows Maisinger Bach to the centre of Maising; a footpath along the edge of the forest leads back to Pöcking. The centre of Maising is an intermediate point before the return route follows the forest edge back to Pöcking. If you would like to combine nature and local history in one stay, these landscape trails complement the cultural and historical sites around Possenhofen.

Lakeshores, swimming and choosing a base

A specific place is designated for swimming: it is permitted at the dam near Seehof on Lake Maisinger See. Paradies, meanwhile, is an extensive recreation area directly on Lake Starnberg, with a bathing area. These descriptions refer to different places, making them a useful guide when planning your time by the water.

The Pöcking districts of Possenhofen and Niederpöcking border Lake Starnberg and provide access to the lake’s predominantly tourist-oriented scheduled boat services. Pöcking can also be reached by bus and train via Possenhofen S-Bahn station. When choosing where to stay, you can therefore consider whether your trip will focus more on the museum and S-Bahn, the trails through the landscape, or the lakeside locations with access to boat services. If you plan to take a scheduled boat service, check the timetable for your travel dates.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Possenhofen, Tutzing, Andechs, Allmannshausen, Berg, Feldafing, Gauting, Seefeld.

Back to the main travel overview: Starnberg.