Goldbachsee, Lake in Waldenburg, Germany

The Goldbachsee is a forest lake near Waldenburg surrounded by woodland hills and characterized by its small, undisturbed surface. A stream feeds into the water, creating a calm body that sits within a larger protected natural area.

The lake was created by monks from a nearby monastery in medieval times as a fish farming facility to support their community. This original purpose shaped the landscape for centuries.

The pond is used for fish farming by the Hohenloher Fischereiverein Öhringen e.V., and the monks of Goldbach Monastery originally created it for that purpose. The weiler of Goldbach above the shore still shows building remains of the monastery. Cattails grow in the marshy inlet and along one bank, and water lilies and pond lilies float on the water.

The lake is accessible via walking paths that wind through the surrounding forest and offer good views of the water. Sturdy footwear is recommended since the terrain is hilly and conditions vary depending on the season.

The lake's catchment area is only about 1.0 km², because the Goldbach valley was beheaded further upstream by erosion from the Beltersroter Bach. The monks of Goldbach monastery created the pond for fish farming, and it appears at roughly its present extent on older maps.