Alpsee, Lake in Ostallgäu, Bavaria, Germany

Alpsee is an 88-hectare lake in Bavaria's Ostallgäu district, near Füssen and the castles of Hohenschwangau and Neuschwanstein. It reaches a depth of 62 metres and has just under five kilometres of shoreline. Dark forested slopes drop to the water, and a circular path runs around the shore.

In the 19th century, the Bavarian royal family chose this location to build their summer residence Hohenschwangau and use the lake as part of their estate. The construction of this castle put the area on the map and continues to draw visitors today.

The name Alpsee comes from the Old High German alba, meaning a high pasture or mountain slope, and was first recorded as Albsee in 1523. The lake belongs to the Free State of Bavaria, with the Wittelsbacher Ausgleichsfonds as tenant. At the south shore stands the Museum of the Bavarian Kings, opened at the end of 2011, and the Pindarplatz viewpoint on a rock ledge above the water.

The shoreline is easy to reach and invites walks throughout the year, while boat rides are possible during warmer months. Parking and refreshment options are nearby, so a visit can be planned flexibly.

The lake's basin formed by leaching of soft Raibl gypsum, and its water seeps underground to feed the springs of the smaller Schwansee 400 metres north. The Alpsee belongs to the Free State of Bavaria, with the Wittelsbach Compensation Fund as tenant.