Amselsee, reservoir
Amselsee is a small reservoir near Rathen created in 1934 when a dam was built on the Grünbach stream and now serves as a recreation area. The lake stretches about 1.1 kilometers around its perimeter, is ringed by rock formations, and can be explored on foot or by rental rowboat and pedal boat.
The lake formed in 1934 when a dam was built to hold water from the Grünbach stream, originally serving ice production and fish farming. By the 1960s the water was opened to visitors and gradually transformed from an industrial facility into a recreational destination.
The name Amselsee comes from the blackbird species found in the region, and the water shapes how people experience the valley. Today, visitors use the lake mainly for boating and walking, making it a place where locals and tourists alike come to unwind.
A walk around the lake takes about 20 minutes along an easy path beside the water. Boat rentals are available from April through October, with rowboats and pedal boats available depending on weather conditions.
The rock formations around the lake have local nicknames like Locomotive, Great Goose, and Stork's Nest that match their shapes and look different from various angles. In rare winters the water freezes thick enough for ice skating, completely changing the experience of the place.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
