Rappensee is a high-altitude Bavarian lake sitting at 2,047 metres in the Central Main Ridge of the Allgäu Alps. It holds the title of Germany's southernmost lake, tucked into a glacial cirque surrounded by dramatic peaks.

The setting is truly alpine — the lake is ringed to the south by a wall of summits including Kleiner Rappenkopf, Hochrappenkopf, Rappenseekopf, Hochgundspitze, Rotgundspitze and Linkerskopf, while to the north the cirque is closed off by the Seebichel ridge leading down to the Rappenalptal valley. In summer the clear water reflects the surrounding rock faces and alpine meadows, creating a peaceful, remote atmosphere that draws hikers seeking solitude far from the crowds. In winter, snow blankets the basin, transforming it into a quiet, frozen high-mountain landscape.

How to get there

• Oberstdorf / Einödsbach — mountain trail, several hours, moderate to demanding difficulty
• Alternative approach via the Rappenalptal valley from the north

Practical information

• The Rappenseehütte (2,091 m) mountain hut lies close by and makes a good base
• The lake belongs to the municipality of Oberstdorf

Just 200 metres to the northeast lies its smaller neighbour, the Kleiner Rappensee, which despite the proximity drains in a completely different direction, tumbling in a waterfall down the rocky Gamswand.