The Bayerischer Hof hotel is based on a design by the renowned Bavarian architect Leo von Klenze and is connected to Klenze’s role as court architect to the Bavarian royal family. Klenze, primarily known for his Neoclassical buildings, significantly shaped the hotel’s appearance with his design. The Bayerischer Hof is thus one of Starnberg’s architecturally and historically significant buildings and reflects the prestigious aspirations of the era.

Architecturally, the Bayerischer Hof presents itself as a three-story Gründerzeit-era building with Neoclassical influences. The clearly structured building with its central projection, gabled roof, and impressive terrace with a grand staircase lends the building a dignified yet understated elegance. Extensions from the late 19th and early 20th centuries—including outbuildings, balconies, and terraces—blend harmoniously into the original design and attest to the hotel’s continuous development.

Inside, historical room layouts and functional areas reflect its original use as a hotel. Vaulted cellars, former utility rooms, and stables tell of a time when guests arrived by horse-drawn carriage, ice from Lake Starnberg was used for cooling, and the hotel was largely self-sufficient. The Bayerischer Hof was not only a place to stay but also a social hub and an integral part of the region’s cultural life.

Due to its significant historical, architectural, and urban planning importance, the Bayerischer Hof is now a listed building. It is considered one of the last largely intact Gründerzeit (late 19th-century) buildings around the train station square and continues to shape the Starnberg cityscape. Its history is closely intertwined with the town’s development, making it an important landmark for residents and visitors alike.

The Bayerischer Hof thus symbolizes Starnberg’s transformation from a small lakeside village to a significant town in the Munich metropolitan area – while simultaneously preserving the character and atmosphere of a bygone era.

The building has been in the Wittelsbach family’s possession since 1905. Owned by the Ducal Brewery of Tegernsee, the “Starnberg Hotel Management Company” thoroughly renovated the building in 1952, without altering its architecture. The hotel has since passed into the ownership of the town of Starnberg. In 2025, the European Heritage Project (EHP) was finally able to acquire the Bayerischer Hof from the town for a symbolic sum. In accordance with its principles, the EHP is committed to the professional restoration of the listed historic building. A cozy café is planned for the ground floor, intended to give visitors the feeling of encountering royalty from bygone days. The primary goal is to restore the Bayerischer Hof to its former glory and once again make it a historic landmark for the town.