Sankt Heinrich can be explored through two distinct themes: the history of the former pilgrimage church and the swimming areas on Lake Starnberg. Water sports are another feature that shapes both the village and the wider destination of Münsing.
The former pilgrimage church and its art
The history of the former pilgrimage church goes back to a hermit’s cell associated with Blessed Heinrich. A stone church was built in the early 14th century and consecrated in 1324. This places the church’s origins in the early 14th century, while its furnishings span additional periods.
A 15th-century Pietà can be seen at the high altar. Other features include a stone tomb monument for Blessed Heinrich, made in 1626, and late Rococo stucco in the choir. The dates and features offer a concrete insight into the church’s long development without reducing it to a single architectural or artistic period.
Swimming areas and water sports
At the southern end of Lake Starnberg is the swimming area at the Karnifflbach. It includes a large sunbathing lawn and a bathing jetty; the local DLRG water rescue station is right next door. The features specifically mentioned here for a day by the water are the sunbathing area and jetty.
The swimming area at the Wirtsbach offers a shallow pebble beach and a launch site for sailboats. A windsurfing school with board hire and a campsite are nearby. Compared with the Karnifflbach, the Wirtsbach offers different specific options: in addition to swimming, there is access to sailing and a windsurfing facility.
In the wider destination of Münsing, Lake Starnberg offers further opportunities for sailing and boating, swimming and windsurfing. Along its 49-kilometre shoreline are developed circular routes for walking and cycling. These activities and routes are part of the wider Münsing region and should not be confused with the individual swimming areas in Sankt Heinrich.
Routes and activities in the wider destination of Münsing
Several Nordic walking routes in Münsing are described, with varying distances, elevation gains and stated durations. All five start at the sports grounds in Münsing. The comparison figures can help you choose between a shorter or longer loop, without equating routes of different difficulty levels:
- Route 19, the Vital-Brunnen Route, is of moderate difficulty, 8 km long, has an elevation gain of 112 metres and takes 1 hour 50 minutes.
- Route 20, the Schöner Ausblick or Erlebnisroute, is of moderate difficulty and covers 12.6 km, with an elevation gain of 178 metres, taking 3 hours.
- Route 21, the Castle and Church Route, is of moderate difficulty, 13.4 km long, has an elevation gain of 191 metres and takes 3 hours 10 minutes.
- Route 22, the Ambach Route, is classified as difficult; it covers 16 km, with an elevation gain of 231 metres, taking 4 hours 32 minutes.
- Route 23, the Lake Route, is easy, 8.1 km long, has an elevation gain of 59 metres and takes 1 hour 45 minutes.
The Lake Route and the Vital-Brunnen Route are a similar length, at around 8 km. The Lake Route is classified as easy, while the Vital-Brunnen Route is of moderate difficulty; their elevation gains and stated durations also differ. For a longer loop, Routes 20 and 21 offer two moderately difficult options of just over 12 km and just over 13 km, respectively. At 16 km, the Ambach Route is the longest of the five and is classified as difficult.
In the wider destination of Münsing, the WasserSportCenter Starnberger See offers catamaran sailing, windsurfing and stand-up paddleboarding. Check course and equipment-hire availability before travelling. As a guide, the Münsing leisure map includes site plans of the individual hamlets in the municipality, sights, and some hiking and cycling routes.
Discover other destinations: Schlehdorf, Eurasburg, Egling, Jachenau, Bad Tölz, Wackersberg, Sachsenkam, Greiling.
Back to the wider travel overview: Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen.
