Naturbad Leipzig-Südwest, Natural swimming pool in Leipzig, Germany

Naturbad Leipzig-Südwest is a swimming facility on about 4.4 hectares with naturally filtered water, sunbathing lawns, and open spaces for relaxation. Visitors can find different areas for sunbathing, swimming, and spending time outdoors.

A gravel pit of about 2 hectares between Windorf and Knautkleeberg filled with groundwater after its closure in the 1960s and was already used for bathing. On 29 May 1968 work began to turn it into a recreation area, financed largely by surpluses from the state lottery VEB Zahlenlotto and built by members of VEB Gießereianlagen Leipzig. The Naturbad Südwest opened in 1970; after the Cospudener See was flooded, the water level rose by about 10 metres and much of the beach disappeared.

Locals call the lake Kiesgrube, after the gravel pit it once was. The bathing area was financed largely by surpluses of the state lottery VEB Zahlenlotto, based in Leipzig, and planned by members of VEB Gießereianlagen Leipzig. Since 2004 the city classifies it as a landscape lake, so swimming is at your own risk and anglers also use the water.

The site lies at Dieskaustraße 292, between Windorf and Knautkleeberg. Since 2004 it has been classed as a landscape lake, so swimming is at your own risk and there are no lifeguards or changing rooms; anglers also use the water. The former beach on the west side largely disappeared when the water level rose about 10 metres after the Cospudener See was flooded.

A climate forest was planted at the northern end in 2010 to help reduce carbon dioxide in the surrounding area. This planting shows how the site combines recreation with environmental improvement.