A lavish volume about Munich's "bathtub," its cultural history and natural beauties, architecture, and biographies. Historical photographic documents and previously unpublished photographs. The Starnberger See is Munich's "bathtub," and its proximity to the Bavarian capital has always been both a blessing and a curse. Wittelsbach electors celebrated with great fanfare on a replica of the Venetian ceremonial ship "Bucentaur" during water music and fireworks. Later, a host of painters, led by Georg von Dillis, Christian Morgenstern, and Carl Rottmann, arrived. Their paintings opened the eyes of others to the previously unrecognized charms of this landscape. They were the vanguard of a settlement that began around 1850, characterized by castle-like villas and country houses in a rustic style. This resulted in a unique architectural ensemble along both shores.