Boedelesee, reservoir in the municipality of Schwarzenberg in the Bregenz Forest in Vorarlberg, Austria
The Boedelesee is a small man-made reservoir in the village of Schwarzenberg, located above 1,100 meters elevation and surrounded by forest and green mountains. The quiet water reflects the landscape and measures roughly 50 meters in length and width, fed by several mountain streams including the Winsauerbach.
The lake was created around 1902 by Otto Hämmerle, a factory owner from Dornbirn, initially for fire protection and fish breeding, later becoming a tourist destination. The city of Dornbirn, which owns the lake today, repaired the dam structure after storm damage in recent times.
The name comes from the Bödele, a former pasture where farmers once grazed livestock and managed grazing rights. Today, the lake shows how local places shift purpose while remaining important to different groups.
The lake is easily reached via a small road leading to a parking area, and the paths around it are simple to walk with comfortable shoes. It is best to arrive early or later in the day to enjoy the lake in quiet, as the location is generally not heavily visited.
In earlier times, visitors believed the lake's water had healing properties, drawing many who came to bathe and improve their health. This bathing tradition persists today with some using the lake for swimming during warm weather.
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