Munich has many green oases where you can soak up a bit of nature. But as beautiful as these spots are, you never really forget that you’re in the city. For the best nature experiences, you have to get out of Munich and head to the Allgäu, for example. There you’ll find the magnificent Christlessee, which offers a beautiful sight in every season and never freezes over—not even at -30°C.
The lake that never freezes
Christlessee is located southeast of Oberstdorf in the Allgäu region, in the immediate vicinity of the Trettach Valley. At its bottom are several karst springs, whose water maintains a year-round temperature of 4 to 6°C. That is why Christlessee never freezes over, even when the air temperature is well below freezing. In February 2016, temperatures up here at an elevation of 916 meters dropped to nearly -30°C, yet the water in the lake remained liquid and no ice formed at all.
There’s also an old legend surrounding Lake Christlessee. Long ago, a scrawny little man from Venice is said to have dug up mud from the lake with a shovel and dried it. He did this year after year, searching for cobalt. Cobalt is used to color glass blue in glassblowing. However, the little man from Venice had no luck and always found only gold dust. The lake, on the other hand, kept the cobalt for itself, and it is said to still glow at the bottom to this day—a phenomenon that is especially visible in the summer.
Hiking to Christlessee
Since Christlessee never freezes over but also never exceeds 6°C, you can neither ice skate on it nor swim in it—though the latter is prohibited anyway. Nevertheless, a trip here is well worth it, as the water shimmers in gorgeous shades of blue and green and is so clear that the lake is also called the “Mirror of the Mountains.” The Christlessee has drinking-water quality, and you can always see the bottom, which is up to 10 meters deep.
Christlessee is the perfect destination for a hike from Oberstdorf. It takes about three hours to reach the mountain lake. There are several routes to choose from, though the one via the Moorweiher is especially recommended. At Christlessee itself , you can stop for a break at the café located on the northern shore. Whether you’re in the mood for hearty Kasspatzen and game dishes or sweet cakes and Kaiserschmarrn, you’ll find just the right treat here. From Christlessee, you can then continue on toward Hölltobel and Gerstruben, or head back to Oberstdorf.
