Demolition of the inn in der Au: Starnberg's beer garden in danger!

Demolition of the inn in der Au: Starnberg's beer garden in danger!

The old inn in der Au in Starnberg is facing a huge change. The demolition of the traditional inn, which was built in 1839 and formerly served as a horse post station, is under discussion. Although the building is not listed, its cultural value is highly valued by the people of Starnberg. The owner family Ledic is planning a new development that includes four residential buildings and an underground car park. The city administration has already taken a first step in the form of a project-related development plan, which is intended to take into account the aspects of the existing pub and the popular beer garden. According to sueddeutsche.de, the building committee will soon deal with the project.

The rumors about the inn's closure have been circulating since 2019, when the previous tenants Marija and Bozo Ledic wanted to hand over their business. The beer garden, a popular meeting place for locals, saw drastic declines in sales before the coronavirus pandemic. To make matters worse, a barbecue ban was imposed in 2022 due to neighbor complaints, which made the situation even more difficult. In a letter, the city council demands that a restaurant with a beer garden be retained despite the new development. This shows the appreciation that is placed on the social aspects of the beer garden in Starnberg. The historic “chestnut trees” in this area should also be preserved in the future, which can be seen as a sign of solidarity with the region. This was also confirmed by Mayor Patrick Janik, who is actively committed to preserving the beer garden while at the same time seeing the need for development, according to nag-bayern.de.

An inconsistent situation

It was only recently announced that the city administration would like to draw up plans for the development process that take into account both clearance areas and noise protection regulations. However, this plan could take two to three years to process. In particular, a joint motion by city councilors to preserve the beer garden shows that there are many voices who are concerned about the social and cultural value of the facility. Concerns about the beer garden are increasing, especially given rising operating costs and declining guest numbers. Historians are therefore calling for more beer gardens to be protected as historical monuments in order to preserve their cultural value and give them a better perspective.

The situation around the Gasthof in der Au illustrates how complex social changes can be and how local needs and cultural values ​​are interwoven. While regional politicians and historians are committed to finding solutions, it is clear that the path to preserving these traditions is not easy and that it is important to maintain dialogue between stakeholders. The combination of new construction and preservation of historical heritage could be the key to finding a unified solution that preserves the charm of the beer garden while at the same time creating a modern living environment. The concern therefore appears to be not just a local one, but also reflects larger questions of appreciation and preservation of cultural identities, as are also discussed in higher-level studies, such as the study by Teilhabeatlas Deutschland.

The question of whether it will be possible to find a compromise that enables both investments and the preservation of the beer garden remains exciting. What is certain is that the Gasthof in der Au is a piece of Starnberg's history, and the outcome of this planning process directly affects many citizens.