Fichtelsee
Fee required
Water
Parking available
Discover Fichtelsee, a picturesque reservoir in Northern Bavaria, offering year-round activities from swimming and hiking to winter sports, nestled amidst the stunning Fichtelgebirge mountains.

📜 A picturesque reservoir in Northern Bavaria, nestled in the Fichtelgebirge mountains, offering year-round activities.
🏞️ Originally an artificial reservoir from 1607, expanded to its current 10.5-hectare size in 1983-1986, with a maximum depth of 16 meters.

Why Go

🌊 Enjoy swimming and bathing in good water quality, especially in the southern and middle parts, with sand, jetty, and rocky beaches.
🚶‍♀️ Explore a well-maintained 2.5 km circular path suitable for families, or embark on longer hikes to peaks like Ochsenkopf and Schneeberg.
🛶 Try stand-up paddling (SUP) or boat rentals on the lake, including pedal boats.
🌲 Discover the surrounding nature reserve "Seelohe" with high moor and forest, home to the iron-rich Jean-Paul-Brunnen.
❄️ Experience winter walks or ice skating on the lake, with an artificial ice rink available.

Why Avoid

⚠️ Crowds on hot summer weekends – arrive early or visit on weekdays.
🅿️ Parking is paid and not directly at the water's edge.
🚧 The 2.5 km circular path can be rocky in parts, making it less suitable for strollers or wheelchairs.
🐕 Dogs are restricted in non-swimmer zones, but generally allowed in the area with designated swimming spots nearby.

🏊‍♀️Swimming

🏊‍♀️ Pleasant bathing in summer, especially in the southern and middle parts, with good water quality.
🏖️ Popular spots include a sand beach, bathing jetty, and rocky beach.

🚶‍♀️Hiking

🚶‍♀️ Easy 2.5 km circular path around the lake, suitable for strollers.
🏔️ Longer, challenging hikes to Ochsenkopf, Schneeberg, Drei-Brüder-Felsen, Rudolfstein, and Weißmainquelle.

🛶Water Sports

🛶 Stand-Up Paddling (SUP) and boat rentals available, including pedal boats.

🅿️ Parking

🅿️ Public parking spaces near the lake are subject to fees (since 2020, with changes in 2024).
🚶‍♂️ No public parking directly at the water's edge; a short walk is required.

❄️Winter Activities

⛸️ Enjoy ice skating on the lake when conditions allow, or use the artificial ice rink with floodlight.
🚶‍♀️ Winter walks are possible, but ice cleats are recommended for slippery conditions.

Tags
lakereservoirnaturehikingswimmingboatingstand-up-paddlingfamily-friendlyoutdoornature-reserveforestmountainsgermanybavaria