Rose Island () in

Lake Starnberg Lake Starnberg, or ''Starnberger See'' ) — called Lake Würm or ''Würmsee'' until 1962 — is Germany's second-largest body of fresh water, having great depth, and fifth-largest lake by area. It and its surroundings lie in three different Bava ...

is the only island in the lake and the site of a royal villa of

Ludwig II of Bavaria Ludwig II (Ludwig Otto Friedrich Wilhelm; 25 August 1845 – 13 June 1886), also called the Swan King or the Fairy Tale King (), was King of Bavaria from 1864 until his death in 1886. He also held the titles of Count Palatine of the Rhine, Duke ...

which had been commissioned by his father. He was particularly attached to this place and made frequent renovations and remodelings of the small garden and the villa, which is called ''the Casino''. Guests on the island included the composer

Richard Wagner Wilhelm Richard Wagner ( ; ; 22 May 181313 February 1883) was a German composer, theatre director, essayist, and conductor who is chiefly known for his operas (or, as some of his mature works were later known, "music dramas"). Unlike most o ...

, his close friend Prince Paul of Thurn and Taxis,

Empress Elisabeth of Austria Elisabeth (born Duchess Elisabeth Amalie Eugenie in Bavaria; 24 December 1837 – 10 September 1898), nicknamed Sisi or Sissi, was Empress of Austria and List of Hungarian consorts, Queen of Hungary from her marriage to Franz Joseph I of Austri ...

and Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia. The villa is today a small museum, open to the general public and is accessible by a small ferry ride. It was declared part of the

UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO ) is a List of specialized agencies of the United Nations, specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) with the aim of promoting world peace and International secur ...

World Heritage World Heritage Sites are landmarks and areas with legal protection under an treaty, international treaty administered by UNESCO for having cultural, historical, or scientific significance. The sites are judged to contain "cultural and natural ...

list in 2011 as one of the 111 locations under the Prehistoric pile dwellings around the Alps listing.

References

External links

Bavarian Palace Department , Rose Island
Museums in Bavaria Castles in Bavaria Royal residences in Bavaria Gardens in Bavaria Historic house museums in Germany Lake islands of Germany Starnberg (district) {{Bavaria-struct-stub