Tegernsee is one of Bavaria's cleanest and most charming lakes, located about 50 km south of Munich in the Bavarian Alps. Surrounded by forests and gentle peaks, it has drawn visitors since King Maximilian I Joseph fell in love with the area in the 19th century.

The landscape around the lake bears clear signs of glacial origin - its elongated shape was carved by the Inn glacier during the last Ice Age. The shores are almost entirely publicly accessible and often lined with reeds, and the southern part features two bays: Ringsee and the Egern Bay, known locally as Malerwinkel for its picturesque view of St. Laurentius church. In summer the lake invites swimming and boating, while in winter the surrounding hills and forests create a peaceful, snow-covered backdrop for walking.

• Tegernsee (town) — reachable via roads B307 (east) and B318 (west), easy, short walk from parking to the shore
• Tegernsee or Gmund railway station — train connection from Schaftlach, then a short walk to the lake

• The lake lies within the protected landscape area 'Schutz des Tegernsees und Umgebung'
• The shores are almost fully publicly accessible, unlike many other Upper Bavarian lakes
• A traditional rowing ferry has operated between Rottach-Egern and the Point peninsula for 500 years

Fun fact: thanks to a ring sewer system built already in the 1960s, Tegernsee has retained exceptional water quality and is considered one of the cleanest lakes in all of Bavaria.