The Bavarian state government, which oversees this area through relevant departments, is considering the complete dismantling of the dilapidated wooden piers. This decision has sparked a powerful wave of protest among local residents, environmentalists, and representatives of the tourism business, who see the destruction of the infrastructure as a direct threat to the recreational potential of the entire region.
Possenhofen — Just before the start of summer, “Paradies” faces the loss of its familiar appearance. As reported by Merkur reporter Tobias Gmach, the state structures acting as owners of this territory intend to complete the demolition of the decayed structures as soon as possible. On the shores of Lake Starnberg, located within the Starnberg district, this news has provoked sharp dissatisfaction, uniting ordinary vacationers and entrepreneurs whose activities directly depend on the accessibility of shore facilities in their protest.
The owner justifies the plans based on the critical condition of the facilities. This concerns piers one through three, which serve as key water access points for many thousands of visitors annually.
Expert Discovers Serious Damage to the “Paradies” Piers
The primary legal and technical argument for these radical measures is an expert opinion from a timber specialist dated April 26. The document confirms deep structural damage to the crossbeams and joists, calling into question the overall stability of the structures. The fourth pier has already been dismantled previously for safety reasons. The official notification from the department emphasizes: “The structure is currently still capable of supporting the weight of individual visitors; however, there is an urgent need for action due to the risk of mass loads.”
Given the extent of the wear and tear, rapid restorative repair has been deemed impossible. Consequently, the owner is pushing for the complete dismantling of the objects even before the peak summer temperatures arrive. This news has come as a heavy blow to the region’s tourism industry. Christoph Winkelkötter, manager of the Economic and Tourism Development Society (gwt), openly criticizes the authorities’ policy. In his view, the sudden closure of the facilities without prior notice jeopardizes the resort’s reputation and deprives relevant services of the opportunity to respond adequately to guest requests.
Starnberg Kneipp Society Intends to Fight for the Preservation of the Facilities
The Kneipp Society in Starnberg has also actively opposed the removal of the piers. The chairperson of the organization, Burkhard Schütz, intends to move the discussion of the problem to a higher political level. He is convinced that with proper public support, the owner can be forced to reconsider the decision in favor of phased reconstruction rather than immediate destruction.
As an alternative, authorities announced an intention to equip barrier-free access to the lake in the future; however, specific details and implementation timelines remain unannounced. A representative from the construction department, commenting on the situation, cited an extremely tight budget. She explicitly stated that these piers are not “legally mandatory for ensuring the bathing process,” effectively admitting that the owner’s economic priorities currently stand above the interests of vacationers in Possenhofen. Thus, the fate of the popular recreation area remains uncertain, and tension between district residents and the landowners continues to grow.
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