The Empress Elisabeth Museum is housed in the former royal railway station in Possenhofen, now Possenhofen S-Bahn station on the S6 line, east exit. The museum thus brings together a specific site in railway history and the cultural history surrounding Empress Elisabeth. Pöcking offers other highlights too: cultural and historical trails, villa architecture, and landscapes around Maising and Lake Starnberg.

Empress Elisabeth and the History of the Railway Station

At the museum, you can see images, printed materials, memorabilia, literature, and historical documents about Empress Elisabeth and her family. The items come from different periods of their lives. Other exhibits focus on King Ludwig II, Lake Starnberg, and the history of the railway station. The permanent exhibition is complemented by special exhibitions on specific themes.

Empress Elisabeth spent her childhood and youth at Possenhofen Castle. The Elisabeth Trail draws on this history and forms a cultural and historical circular walk from the museum to Possenhofen Castle and the crossing to Rose Island. Walking times are given as approximately 10 and 30 minutes, respectively. This makes it easy to combine a museum visit with a route whose stops also reflect the castle’s historical connection.

A tour of the museum is available in six languages and can be accessed using your own smartphone and headphones. Bring both if you would like to use the tour. This means the visit is not limited to the exhibits: the themes range from Elisabeth’s family to the history of the railway station and the lake.

Trails through Pöcking and Maising

The Maising circular trail runs between Pöcking and Maising, passing the Pöckinger Alm and following the Maisinger Bach to the center of Maising. The return route to Pöcking follows a footpath along the edge of the forest. If you are interested in architecture, the Villa Trail offers a different focus: it starts at the public library and passes villas and country houses.

Some of the old buildings along the Villa Trail have been preserved almost in their original condition and illustrate 19th-century architecture. The difference between the trails lies in their themes: the Villa Trail focuses on architectural history, while the Maising circular trail follows the stream and passes the Alm on its way to the center of Maising. The descriptions offer different points of reference when choosing a walk, without specifying a walking time for either trail.

Lake Maising, Moorland and Swimming Spots

The Maising Moor is a protected breeding area for rare bird species. Lake Maising is Bavaria’s oldest nature reserve and has been protected since 1941; it provides a habitat for rare bird and plant species. Reeds and extensive moorland are also part of its landscape. These conservation and habitat features give a visit a different focus from the cultural and historical sites around the museum and castle.

The location matters for swimming: swimming is permitted at the dam near Seehof on Lake Maising. This is separate from Paradies, an extensive recreational area directly on Lake Starnberg with a swimming spot. The Maising Gorge is also designated as a water protection and recreational area. Together, these places offer different ways to enjoy nature and recreation, from protected habitats to designated swimming spots.

Getting There and Finding Your Way

Pöcking can be reached by bus and train via Possenhofen S-Bahn station. The districts of Possenhofen and Niederpöcking border Lake Starnberg and therefore have access to the lake’s shipping services, which are predominantly geared toward tourism. When planning your trip, you can therefore distinguish between arriving via Possenhofen and the lake-related options in these two districts.

For planning your visit, cultural history and landscape offer distinct areas of focus: the museum and Elisabeth Trail lead you to Empress Elisabeth and the history of the railway station; the Villa Trail draws attention to 19th-century architecture. Around Maising, there is also the circular trail, the moor, and the lake. You can choose what to see in Pöcking based on whether you would like to focus your stay on cultural sites, trails, or places for nature and swimming.

Discover more destinations: Possenhofen, Herrsching Am Ammersee, Weßling, Gilching, Gauting, Allmannshausen, Wörthsee, Andechs

For the main travel overview: Starnberg.