Completed in 1924, it was one of the largest hydroelectric power plants in the world at the time with an output of 124,000 kilowatts (124 megawatts). Even today, with an annual production of around 300 million kilowatt hours (300 gigawatt hours), it is still one of the largest high-pressure storage power plants in Germany. It has been a protected industrial monument since 1983. The facilities at Walchensee are a clear example of a storage power station. They utilise the difference in altitude between a high-altitude reservoir, in this case the Walchensee, and the Walchensee power station on the lower-lying Kochelsee. The water rushes from the Walchensee via the six 400 metre long penstocks to the turbines in the powerhouse at Kochelsee, which is around 200 metres lower down. After the potential energy of the water has been converted into mechanical rotational energy for the turbines, the water flows into the Kochelsee via the power station's outlet channel.

There is an information centre at the power station and admission is free. Visitors who are particularly interested in technology will get their money's worth here. Depending on your interests, you can plan between 30 minutes and an hour for the visit.

Tip: 5 minutes' walk from the power station is a landing stage for the Kochelsee motor boat service. You can therefore easily combine a round trip on the Kochelsee with a visit to the Walchensee power station information centre. If you want to stretch your legs afterwards, walk along the rocky path to Schlehdorf (approx. 1 hour). From there, the motorised boat will take you back to Kochel a. See in comfort.