Renovation mishap in the Starnberg seaside resort: Sauna remains closed for the time being!

Renovation mishap in the Starnberg seaside resort: Sauna remains closed for the time being!

In picturesque Starnberg, the sauna at the local seaside resort continues to cause excitement. On June 30, 2025, the city gave a detailed insight into the status of the renovation work, which became urgently necessary since water damage occurred in the fall of the previous year. The information comes from a report that was presented to the building committee by Christina Frei from the city's building construction department. It is becoming clear that the list of defects is getting longer and the necessary repairs are presenting major challenges. The current situation is described as anything but rosy - the seaside resort remains completely closed to its visitors.

The renovation of the sauna, which has been closed since September, is accompanied by extensive problems. Massive damage was discovered during the inspection work, as city architect Stephan Weinl informed the city council. The daily water loss of around 800 liters in certain areas has caused metal parts to start rusting and the entire infrastructure is affected. The outdoor and indoor showers of the “reed sauna” as well as the ground floor area with the sauna lounge, the whirlpool and the steam bath are particularly affected. Water damage in the form of leaky pipes and damp walls are the main problems here.

Gradual renovation

Not only will the repair of the screed in the delivery area to the catering industry and in other rooms take some time - these areas will remain inaccessible for over eleven weeks. In order to contain the acute problems in the short term, refrigerated containers were set up outside, while a temporary route for the supply lines was set up inside.

On June 11th, a coordination meeting took place with the insurance expert to clarify the next steps for the peripheral areas that had not yet been demolished, such as the sauna bar and the massage room. The insurance company will probably take over the settlement of the damage, but the exact amount of the damage is currently unclear. It is currently difficult to assess whether these can be remedied by drying buildings.

Hope for funding

In the midst of all these difficulties, however, an opportunity for financial support could arise, as Federal Minister Klara Geywitz recently announced. The federal government is promising a total of 400 million euros for the energy-related renovation of municipal facilities in 2023 - the people of Starnberg could also benefit from this in the near future. These funds are intended in particular for sports halls and swimming pools as well as other important cultural facilities and could help cover the renovation needs in Starnberg.

The queue of works is expected to continue for some time. However, the city of Starnberg does not want to give an exact date for the reopening of the sauna, as further undetected leaks and the complexity of the renovation measures are still unclear. The situation remains a challenge for the city, but there is hope that the misery will end soon.

Sustainable development and ensuring high quality standards during renovation are more important than ever these days. The aim is that people from Starnberg will not only be able to go to the sauna again soon, but also be able to relax in a modernized and safe ambience.

Further information on the developments can be found at Mercury, South Germans and BMWSB.