If you’re visiting Bavaria in Germany, you may enjoy swimming in one of the many freshwater lakes or badesee that are dotted around the countryside here. The Bavarian lakes are popular with all ages for swimming in Germany, and often have facilities like small cafes, picnic tables and swimming platforms.
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Explore more of the region on this day-trip to the splendid castles of Neuschwanstein and Linderhof, lunch in Hohenschwangau, and through the little town of Oberammergau
We decided to hire bikes from the small town of Altötting, while on a 5 day trip that included a visit to the Oberammergau Passion Play. The rest of our party had decided to take a coach trip to nearby Salzburg to do some sightseeing but we fancied something a little more relaxing on a hot, sunny day. We set off after lunch armed with a map from the cycle shop and headed off on fairly busy roads, through a town landscape until we reached the River Inn (with a few stops to check directions).
Once we crossed the river we followed the cycle path beside it for about half an hour until we came across the swimming lake that the man in the shop had pointed out to us on the map. I’d expected something a little more commercial but in fact it was in a very natural surrounding, fringed with reeds and trees and surrounded by a grassy meadow with wildflowers and shady trees where numerous people had parked their bikes, laid out their towels and were swimming and sunbathing.
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We ventured in for a swim in the milky, green water, only hobbling a bit on the stony bottom and swam out into the sunshine. Further up the shore there was a swimming platform in the middle of the lake and we could see a cafe and boathouse on the other side. The fresh water was silky and refreshing after our cycle ride but there’s something about putting your foot on a squelchy, muddy bottom that I find a bit off-putting although my husband would prefer this kind of outdoor swimming to any other.
You may also enjoy: Painted houses and wood carving at Oberammergau – in Bavaria, Germany
After our swim we relaxed for a while in the shade and then cycled around to the cafe for a coffee and enormous slice of creamy peach cheesecake. On this side there was a car park and so there were far more people, especially families who had moved in with sun loungers and children splashing around with inflatable toys.
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We only stayed long enough to have our Café und Kuchen then decided that we’d run out of time to return via a forest path that we’d spotted on the map and instead returned the same way we’d come. If you’re sightseeing in Bavaria or Southern Germany, do look out for these swimming lakes – it’s a great thing to combine with a cycle ride and you’ll understand why the Germans love to get back to nature in such a beautiful rural setting.
More articles about our visit to Altötting from this trip to Bavaria
A pilgrimage to see the Black Madonna at Altötting in Germany
Hotels in Altötting – Review of Hotel Zur Post
Delicious Bavarian Food – Wiener Schnitzel and cherries
More articles about Oberammergau and the Passion Play
Tips for seeing the Oberammergau Passion Play
Painted houses and wood carving at Oberammergau – in Bavaria, Germany
An introduction to the Oberammergau Passion Play
Podcast: The Oberammergau Passion Play and visit to Altotting
Buy the Book and Music CD for the Oberammergau Passion Play 2022
Hotels in Alltotting
Here are some hotels in Alltotting that we recommend, but if none of these suit you, look at other hotels in Alltoting.
Hotel Zur Post – This historic 4-star hotel is set on the famous Kapellplatz square and features 5 stylish restaurants.
Stay at the Hotel Zur Post in Altötting – a traditional family run hotel on the main square
Hotel Muencher Hof – Located on Kapellplatz Square within a mansion-style building dating from 1681, offering stylish rooms and a traditional Bavarian restaurant.
Stay at Hotel Münchner Hof in Altötting – stylish rooms and a traditional Bavarian restaurant within a mansion-style building
Bavaria Lifestyle Hotel – Rooms offer one of 36 different types of sauna, including salt, aromatic, light, steam and Turkish baths. Massages can be booked and there is also an 59 foot swimming pool.
In Altötting stay at the Bavaria Lifestyle Hotel in featuring rooms with a private steam room or a spa bath
Altötting – Visitor Resources
More information to plan your trip is available on the Altötting official tourism website
Hotels in Altötting: We stayed at Hotel Zur Post, a pleasant and traditional family run hotel right on the main square. Check prices and book for Hotel Zur Post and other hotels in Altötting
Visit the Jerusalem Panorama in Altötting website
Oberammergau Passion Play – Visitor Resources
You can also get ideas for visiting Germany on the Germany Travel official tourism website and on the Bavaria tourism website.
Need a guide book for the Oberammergau Passion Play? We recommend A Pilgrim’s Guide to Oberammergau
Our 5 day tour to the Oberammergau Passion Play and other places in the region was booked with Pax Travel who organise holidays to many other pilgrimage destinations.
Looking for a guide to the Oberammergau passion play? We recommend The Pilgrim’s Guide to Oberammergau. If you need a guidebook for visiting Germany we recommend the DK Eyewitness Germany Travel Guide or the Lonely Planet Germany Travel Guide.
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This article is originally published at Heatheronhertravels.com
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Where Heather travelled in 2010 | Heather on her travels
Sunday 2nd of January 2011
[...] the Black Madonna in the town square, as well as the many other beautiful churches in the town, and hired bikes to seek out the badesee or local swimming [...]
Oberammergau Passion Play and Altötting in Bavaria - Podcast | Heather on her travels
Saturday 7th of August 2010
[...] around Altötting with many stories and anecdotes about the religious sites there and our afternoon cycling to the swimming lake or badesee. I’ll tell you about the painted houses of Oberammergau and wood carvings, with [...]
Pilgrimage and the Black Madonna at Altötting | Heather on her travels
Thursday 5th of August 2010
[...] A cycle and cool lake swim in the badesee- in Bavaria, Germany A Comfortable Bavarian Gasthaus at Hotel Zur Post in Altötting Tips for seeing the Oberammergau Passion Play [...]
Review of Hotel Zur Post at Altötting | Heather on her travels
Friday 23rd of July 2010
[...] sauna and had packed my costume in anticipation of a trying it out. In the event we did get some swimming in the badesee (swimming lake) nearby but the early starts meant that we didn’t get the time to try out the [...]
Bavarian food from Germany | Heather on her travels
Wednesday 21st of July 2010
[...] We bought a large punnet of raspberries in the market at Altötting for a picnic lunch before our cycle ride to the badesee, but the dark, glossy cherries looked the most beautiful. If I’m honest, I found that when [...]