When temperatures regularly hit 30°C in July, it’s time once again to hit the swimming lakes in the Munich area. In addition to the ever-popular Starnberger See, there are many other bodies of water around the city on the Isar where you can relax and cool off on a weekend trip. If you haven’t visited it yet, you should definitely make a trip to Lake Wörth. It ’s considered not only one of the cleanest but also one of the warmest lakes in Bavaria, making it the ideal destination for a peaceful day of swimming.
The Island of the Mice
Lake Wörth owes its name to the island located within its waters, the Wörth. On the island stands the Wörtschlössl, which the Counts of Toerring had built here in 1772 as a summer residence. A manor house dating back to 1446 had previously stood on the site. According to legend, one of the noblemen fled to the island to escape a plague of mice. He is said to have had some of his subjects burned alive in a barn and sneered, “Can you hear the mice squeaking?” The rodents then came after him and followed him to the island, which they did not leave until they had exacted their revenge. Since then, Wörth has also been popularly known as “Mouse Island.”
Today, a 260-meter-long pier connects the island to the lake’s western shore. However, access is restricted to only a few. Both the island and Lake Wörth are owned by Count Cajetan zu Toerring-Jettenbach, who also owns Lake Pilsen and Seefeld Castle. A large portion of the lakeshore is also privately owned, but there are several public swimming areas you can visit.
A Swim in Lake Wörth
Lake Wörth is the third-largest lake in the “Land of Five Lakes” and was formerly part of Lake Ammer. Due to silting, it became a separate body of water and was also known as Lake Ausee for a time. Its water temperature reaches up to 22°C, making it one of the warmest lakes in Bavaria. At the same time, it’s also one of the cleanest, so you can expect high water quality in Lake Wörth.
A total of six public swimming areas around Lake Wörth invite you to swim and splash around, including two beach resorts. In addition to large sunbathing lawns, each swimming area also has restrooms and kiosks, so you can look forward to a relaxing day at the lake . But you can do more than just swim in Lake Wörth—you can also rent boats or go stand-up paddleboarding. Sailing and surfing are also possible here.
