Hegratsrieder See is a small, peaceful lake in the Bavarian foothills, tucked just a few hundred meters east of the much larger Forggensee. It offers a quieter alternative to the crowds heading for nearby Neuschwanstein Castle, wrapped in a gentle, rural landscape.

Covering roughly 10 hectares at an elevation of 794 meters, the lake sits amid soft hills and boggy meadows typical of this pre-alpine region of Bavaria. In summer, its waters draw swimmers to the bathing spot on the eastern shore, while spring and autumn bring a calm, unhurried atmosphere with views across the countryside toward Forggensee. The lake even has a bit of history behind it — it was reportedly created as an artificial fish pond back in 1560.

How to get there

• Rauhenbichl (part of Halblech) — via Hegratsrieder Straße, branching off the OAL1 county road, easy walk or bike ride of about 30-40 minutes
• The Forggensee-Runde cycling route, plus the long-distance Romantische Straße and König-Ludwig-Weg trails, all pass directly by the lake

Good to know

• Beyond the lake, the road toward Brunnen (Schwangau) is closed to general traffic, open only to agricultural vehicles
• The nearest bus stop, Rauhenbichl/Greith, is about 2.5 km away on the OAL1 road
• The bathing area on the eastern shore is free and open to everyone

Interestingly, the name Hegratsried likely derives from an old personal name combined with a word for a reed-covered, marshy place — a nod to the boggy landscape that still surrounds the lake today.