Kaiserin Elisabeth Museum

About the museum

The Kaiserin Elisabeth Museum of the municipality of Pöcking opened in 1998 on the first floor of the historic Possenhofen railway station. The listed station was built under King Ludwig II to plans by Georg von Dollmann; it connected nearby Possenhofen Castle, the summer residence of the ducal family, with Munich. Elisabeth and her relatives, as well as crowned heads and nobles, used the lavishly furnished waiting room for arrivals and departures; today it is one of the museum's four rooms. Elisabeth herself first arrived here in 1869 in her saloon carriage.

The holdings originated from the former Heinemann collection. Since May 2009 the museum has presented itself with a new concept: a tour through four ground-level rooms accompanies Elisabeth from her youth in Munich and Possenhofen through her time as Empress of Austria and Queen of Hungary to her assassination in Geneva. In 2010 a small collection on King Ludwig II with a connection to the region was added, and the exhibition is continually expanded with new acquisitions.

Operations are largely supported by the Förderverein Kaiserin Elisabeth Museum Possenhofen e.V. (friends' association), founded in 2005, whose volunteer team offers guided tours as well as programs for children and young people. Since 2013 a bronze statue of the Empress has stood in front of the station. After water damage in the Royal Salon, it was restored and shown again in early 2026.

Highlights

• Historic lavish waiting room in Possenhofen station
• Tour through Elisabeth's life with original exhibits
• Collection on King Ludwig II with a regional connection
• Free smartphone audio guide, also for children
• Bronze statue of the Empress in front of the museum

Permanent exhibitions

• Kaiserin Elisabeth und ihre Familie – Four rooms of the station trace Elisabeth's path with original pieces from her childhood in Possenhofen to her death in Geneva, including the historic waiting room.
• König Ludwig II. Sammlung – Two display cases with objects on the Bavarian fairy-tale king that have a connection to the Lake Starnberg region.

Founded

1998

Operated by

Gemeinde Pöcking; betreut vom Kaiserin Elisabeth Museum Possenhofen e.V.

Director

Rosemarie Mann-Stein

Admission & discounts

Cash only.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials
• Audio description: no information

All four museum rooms are on one level and accessible. An audio/video guide is available for deaf visitors.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide

Children's and family tours, holiday programs, class tours for 6- to 12-year-olds, and modules such as fan making, courtly dances, or calligraphy with a quill (registration required). Also a children's audio guide, an educational case for museum education, and a search game around Possenhofen Castle.

Getting there & parking

By car via the A95 Munich–Garmisch, exit Starnberg, then on the B2 toward Weilheim to the Pöcking-Nord exit; in Pöcking turn left at the traffic light onto Hindenburgstraße and after about 300 m cross the railway bridge to Possenhofen station (Schlossberg 2).

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Museum shop with souvenirs and books. Dogs are not allowed in the museum.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.

Plan your visit