Located only 27 km south of the inner city, Starnberger See is Munich's closest neighbouring lake. With a maximum depth of 127 meters, covering 57 squared km, and offering a view of the Alps, this lake is quite a sight to behold. The lake got famous because of the mysterious dead of King Ludwig II. The outstanding location attracts of course the rich and the beauty. So no wonder that the density of millionaires is the highest here in Germany. The lake Starnberg has a single, small island, the Roseninsel (Rose Island) with a royal villa of the former Bavarian King Ludwig II. Only one person is living on the island - the gardener. In Possenhofen, on the west side of the lake, is a modest house where Princess Elisabeth was born, who was to become empress of Austria.

Was it murder? Was it suicide? Did he die trying to flee? Lots of questions stay unanswered about the mysterious dead of the Bavarian King Ludwig II. A wooden cross marks the spot were he was found lifeless at June 13th, 1886, after having been for a walk with Prof. von Gudden.

It was on 21 August 1909, that Gabriele Münter bought the little property. The Münter Haus was the inspiration and starting point for a new artistic movement – Expressionism. It was a meeting point for the avant-garde and a haven for artists: Franz Marc, Alexej Jawlensky, Marianne von Werefkin, August Macke and Arnold Schönberg were regular visitors, as were collectors and gallery owners. "The Blue Rider" almanac is likewise said to have been created here.

The alps in the background and the Staffelsee close by - this is Murnau. World-famous painters like Kandinsky, Gabriele Münter and other members of the Blue Rider movement made Murnau their summer residence. Here and in the adjoining streets and alleys, you will find lively hustle and bustle: in art galleries and studios, in historic coffee houses and modern restaurants and in the lovingly renovated pedestrian zone itself.

Known as ‘Wies’ for short, the Wieskirche is one of Bavaria's best-known baroque churches and a Unesco-listed heritage site. About a million visitors a year flock to see this decorated marvel, the monumental work of the legendary artist brothers, Dominikus and Johann Baptist Zimmermann. In 1730, a farmer in Steingaden, about 30 km northeast of Füssen, witnessed the miracle of his Christ statue shedding tears. Pilgrims poured into the town in such numbers over the next decade that the local abbot commissioned a new church to house the weepy work. Inside the almost circular structure, eight snow-white pillars are topped by gold capital stones and swirling decorations. The unsupported dome must have seemed like God's work in the mid-18th century, its surface adorned with a pastel ceiling fresco celebrating Christ’s resurrection. (ww.lonelyplanet.com)

Seeg, the village of milk and honey… Honey and beekeeping actually have a very long tradition there. Back in 1905 the first beekeeping club was founded. Everyone who knows Seeg connects it with honey and it is the first honey village of Germany. 55 active beekeepers and 600 hives support the village to show the visitors the immense importance of the bees for humans and nature. A special highlight in the honey village is to experience beekeeping in an exhibition bee house. What is propolis? How do you know the queen? How warm is the hive and how do the bees regulate the temperature? The bee keepers will tell us this and a lot more on a tour. Whoever needs a useful souvenir - here you can buy everything from the bee.

The Allgäu is situated on the Northern edge of the Alps, mostly in Bavaria and is characterized by mountains, lakes and natural monuments. Flax used to be cultivated here in the past which is why it was called the blue Allgäu. Today dairy farming is a big economic factor. Green meadows and cows are part of the landscape. The people here are down to earth and love their traditions. Every region has its own dialect which is treasured and spoken. Cooking is a passion here, Allgäuer Kässpätzle, Krautkrapfen or Flädlesuppe are a must to try. A beer from one of the many breweries or a schnapps from Lake Constance - the world is still ok here.

At 538 km² (220 sq miles) Lake Constance is Germany's, Austria's, and Switzerland's largest and Central Europe's third-largest lake. Formed by the Rhine Glacier during the ice ages it receives the water of the Rhine at its eastern end, only to release the river again on the other side, sending it off to the Rhine Falls and, eventually, to the North Sea. The local fishermen catch about 1,000 tons of fish per year and a lot of people in the surrounding areas depend on the lake for their freshwater supply. Large bodies of water usually create their own climate and this is the case here as well. The entire area is known as a fruit and wine basket, due to its mild temperatures.

Immenstadt is the oldest of the cities in upper Allgäu. Due to its location between the Mittag mountain and Alpsee Lake it is a big playground for all kind of outdoor sports. The beautiful renovated town center attracts young and old.

The long distance cycle trail from Lake Constance to Königssee Lake was a giant touristic project. Starting out from Lindau in the West Allgäu, you cycle a total of 418 kilometers to Königssee Lake. During the tour, you will conquer a total elevation of approximately 3,300 meters on a number of pleasant and varied stages. This is one of the most attractive cycling routes in Bavaria and provides you with a totally different way of exploring the magnificent landscape of the Alpine foothills and a whole series of world-famous cultural monuments. Beside all that it is perfectly signposted in both directions and the path is very well maintained.

Füssen is a city on the northern edge of the Alps, which has its origins in the Roman times. Its original name Foetibus/Foetes, over time, developed from Fozen, Fuozzen, and Füzzen into the name it has today. Excavations at Füssen's Schlossberg showed foundations of a late roman fort dating back to the 4./5. century. It is, however, believed that a roman military camp had been erected at this strategically important location even before the year 260. Over the centuries, Füssen has lived through an eventful history and, today, with its lovely medieval old town, its castle and its abbey belongs to one of the most frequently visited sites in southern Germany. King Ludwig's castles Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau are located nearby, a fact that helps with bringing in the tourists... Another attraction is the Lechfall, the falls of the river Lech. It dates back to the Würm glaciation and developed due to the fact that the Lech glacier was retreating. Until today, the Lech gorge is the only gorge in the Bavarian Alps, which freely carries the waters of a large Alpine river without any man-made barriers in-between.

King Ludwig II of Bavaria (1845-1886) is one of the tragic figures in Bavarian history. After his father died in 1864, Ludwig became king at a very young age. His interest in art and the love of his country inspired the idea of a new and spectacular castle replacing the ruins in front of the mountain called Schwanstein. In 1868 the plans were completed, in 1869 construction began, and the castle was finished in 1886. Its architecture perfectly matched the surreal dream world that King Ludwig had escaped to. He only lived here for 120 days before he was moved to Lake Starnberg after his deposition by the Bavarian parliament. There he died under mysterious circumstances.

The beauty of this lake has been recognized since the 15th century, when it was part of the hunting and fishing grounds of the local rulers. Embedded in the mountain ranges, its crystal clear water attracts tourists from near and far. Enjoy the curvy road along its shore!

The only castle built by King Ludwig II that was finished during his lifetime. Also his favorite place and situated in a beautifully landscaped garden. It is located in one of the valleys where the Bavarian kings used to hunt. Built between 1869 and 1879, it resembles a French palace. The King‘s soft spot for the German composer Richard Wagner was expressed in the building called the Grotto, which interprets a scene from the opera Tannhäuser.

The baroque Ettal Monastery was founded in 1330 by Emperor Ludwig the Bavarian and is today a popular tourist destination. The Benedictine monastery includes agricultural operations, several inns as well as a high school with an attached boarding school, an art publishing house, a distillery for the production of the monastery liqueur and a brewery. The famous Ettal Madonna - a picture of the Virgin Mary brought from Pisa - became the destination of pilgrimages, especially since the Baroque reconstruction of the monastery. The monastery church is consecrated to St. Mary: St. Mary's Assumption. The majestic dome of the Ettal Basilica, the heart of the monastery, rises in front of the cliffs of the Alps, which jut out of the mountain forest. Even the first Gothic building of the church was erected in such a way that the enormous dome, as a symbol of the sanctuary of "our dear Lady Foundress" visible from afar, left an unmistakable mark on the then still so lonely mountain valley. The monastery, which was built in the 18th century and extensively renovated in the 20th century, was built around the church. Thus it is already architecturally visible that the service is the center of monastic life. (www.kloster-ettal.de)

Around a dozen master violin makers are active in Mittenwald and their pieces are highly desired in the music world. Mittenwald is also famous for their historical outdoor frescoes. The magnificent "picture books" on houses are typical of the Werdenfels region and Upper Bavaria.