Whether it’s a mountain lake, a reservoir, or a quarry pond, we have them all in and around Munich. You don’t have to choose between natural or artificial bodies of water—you can try them all. Lake Forggensee in the Allgäu offers a particularly wide variety of activities , inviting you to both exercise and relax. In addition, the surrounding region is brimming with sights, so you can even take a short vacation here instead of just a day trip.
The villages around Lake Füssen
With a storage capacity of 168 cubic meters, Lake Forggensee is Germany’s largest reservoir and the fifth-largest lake in Bavaria. As a reservoir for the Lech River, it serves to generate electricity and provide flood protection. Although Lake Forggensee is an artificial reservoir, it lies in a basin that formed after the end of the Würm Glacial Period. This basin once contained Lake Füssen, which was even larger than today’s Lake Forggensee. Over time, however, it silted up, leaving behind the basin in which the reservoir was constructed in the 20th century to supply the hydroelectric power plant on the Lech.
To flood the Lech Reservoir, the villages of Brunnen, Deutenhausen, and Forggen— which belonged to Schwangau — had to be relocated, along with several other individual buildings. Several hundred people were resettled in the process to make way for the reservoir, similar to what happened with the Sylvenstein Reservoir. In winter, Lake Forggen is drained, and you can walk along the Roman road Via Claudi Augusta at the bottom of the lake and see the remains of the buildings. There are even guided tours that will tell you more about the history of the old villages.
A trip to Lake Forggensee
From June 1 to October 15, the Lech Reservoir is at full capacity. During this time, it is a popular destination as a local recreation area. If you want to sail against the backdrop of Neuschwanstein Castle, then Lake Forggensee is the place for you. You can also rent a pedal boat or a canoe and glide across the water, or go stand-up paddleboarding. If you’d rather just be a passenger, hop on one of the boats that will take you across the lake— a trip that pairs well with a hike. Along the shore, there are several swimming spots where you can cool off in the summer.
Not only Lake Forggensee itself, but also its surroundings have a lot to offer. In addition to the most famous castle in the world , you can also visit its little sister, Hohenschwangau. Füssen is also worth a detour, and another castle awaits you right there. From Füssen, it’s not far to the Lechfall, which offers a true spectacle with its five cascades. Just beyond the Lechfall lies Lake Forggensee once again, bringing us full circle.
