Discover Weßling: Lake, art and living traditions

Weßling brings together Lake Weßling, a distinctive local art history and a festival tradition dating back to 1825. The “Wessy” dragon sculpture is in the lake, while the historic municipal gallery offers a glimpse into Weßling’s artistic community over the past two centuries. There is also a circular walking route and the Grünsink Festival. Together, they offer different perspectives on the town: the lake, art and living traditions.

By the lake: geological history and a circular route

Lake Weßling probably formed during the Würm glaciation as a kettle hole left by a stranded block of ice. Its origins can therefore be traced far back in time; today, the lake also provides a tangible starting point for exploring Weßling. “Wessy,” a dragon sculpture, is in the water and makes for an unusual work of art to discover. Nature and art meet here in the same place.

The circular route takes about 30 minutes to walk in full. This approximate duration is a practical guide for a short visit to the lake. Halfway around, there is a playground with a zip line. The route can also be covered with a balance bike or scooter—two practical considerations for families planning an outing together. At the end of the walk, the “Café am See” invites you to stop for a break. If you would like to time your walk around a visit, check in advance whether the café is open.

Art history in the former schoolhouse

The municipal gallery building was constructed as a schoolhouse in 1871/72. The historic municipal gallery reopened in 2016 and offers a glimpse into Weßling’s artistic community over the past two centuries. Architectural history and art come together here: the former schoolhouse is a tangible link to the past, while the gallery focuses on a long-standing local artistic tradition.

A historical episode also took place in this building: Pierre-Auguste Renoir and his family stayed in Weßling in August 1910. They lodged in the former schoolhouse, in the teacher Felix Besold’s apartment. The specific date and location make their stay a tangible part of Weßling’s cultural history.

Grünsink Festival: a Weßling tradition

The Grünsink Festival carries on a local Weßling tradition dating back to 1825. It combines living traditions with a convivial atmosphere and has brought people together for more than two centuries. The festival features market stalls, musical entertainment and a beer garden. If you are planning your stay around the festival, check the specific dates and program in advance.

Choose your arrival and accommodation based on your trip

Weßling is accessible from Munich on S-Bahn line S8. Check current MVV connections before you travel. By car, take the A96 Munich–Lindau to the Oberpfaffenhofen exit, then continue toward Weßling. These are two practical options to consider when planning your journey, without assuming a particular travel time.

When looking for a place to stay in Weßling, start by deciding what brings you here: would you like to focus on the lake and its roughly half-hour circular walk, are you mainly interested in art history, or are you planning your trip around a specific date for the Grünsink Festival? If your stay is centered on the festival, it is worth checking the dates and program; if you are visiting the lake, the approximate duration of the walk is a useful guide.

Further exploring Starnberg

The wider Starnberg travel destination offers other historical points of interest distinct from those in Weßling. The Bismarck Tower near Assenhausen was inaugurated on July 1, 1899. The listed Feldafing lido is still largely in its original 1927 condition. These two facts broaden the picture of the Starnberg travel destination without attributing them to Weßling.

Discover more destinations: Starnberg, Gauting, Berg, Wörthsee, Inning Am Ammersee, Herrsching Am Ammersee, Gilching, Allmannshausen

Back to the main travel overview: Starnberg.