One Of Germany's Largest Artificial Lakes Is A Scenic Mountain Gem With Fishing, Boating, And Hiking
In the German state of Thuringia, the Saale river winds through forested hills and deep valleys of the Thuringian Slate Mountains. A series of dams along the river has transformed it into a chain of reservoirs known as the Saale Cascade. The largest of these reservoirs is called Bleiloch, the largest in Germany by water storage capacity, according to Ostdeutsche Allgemeine. It extends for over 17 miles, forming part of the so-called "Thuringian Sea." With enough shoreline for long-distance hiking and the town of Saalburg-Ebersdorf on its banks, Bleiloch is an idyllic spot for a leisurely weekend getaway or a day of boating and fishing.
Bleiloch Reservoir sits within the Thuringian Slate Mountains/Upper Saale Nature Park, a landscape of ridges, rocky slopes, and dense forest. Unlike a typical lake, Bleiloch Reservoir winds amid cliffs and around narrow bends, giving it a fjord-like character. The Thuringian Slate Mountains are low in elevation, while still offering relatively challenging climbs with scenic viewpoints. Saalburg-Ebersdorf, a small lakeside resort town, sits right against the Thuringian Sea, offering views of the reservoir and hillsides from its waterfront.
If you're visiting Thuringia — the relaxing German state with gorgeous architecture – Bleiloch Reservoir is a doable day trip from several of its cities. It's about an hour-long drive from the university city of Jena and an hour-and-a-half from the capital city of Erfurt. The distance is about the same from Leipzig, an underrated German city that has the magic of Berlin with fewer crowds.
Activities by the water of Bleiloch Reservoir
The Saalburg-Ebersdorf website lists around 50 miles of hiking trails around the reservoir. An approachable hiking option is the 5-Hütten Rundweg, or the 5-Huts Circular Route. It covers about 2.8 miles, though it does involve a nearly 500-foot climb. The trail starts at the Echobank shelter in Ebersdorf and leads past five huts, each providing a different vantage point of the landscape. If you're up for a longer adventure, a roughly 7.5-mile circular hike starts from the Ebersdorf town center and hits many of the area's unique sights: the Ebersdorf Castle, the Reuß family tomb, and the Heinrichstein viewpoint.
If you want to venture onto the reservoir rather than simply admire it from shore, you can rent a boat from local operators. Bootsverleih Saalburg has 4.4 stars on Google Maps, as of this writing, and rents canoes, fishing boats, electric boats, and motor boats. Bootsservice & Yachthafen Dirk Süßenguth holds 4.9 stars and offers boat rentals alongside catamaran trips. Paddle through the reservoir's widest area, called the "Klosterplatte," and look for the fascinating rose-shaped rock formations over the water.
As for fishing, Bleiloch has an interesting variety of species, thanks to its mix of steep banks and sheltered bays. The reservoir holds zander, perch, pike, bream, and catfish, to name a few, according to the Landesanglerverband Thüringen (LAVT). The LAVT fishing guide points to the area behind the dam as a productive spot for targeting perch, while pike and zander lurk near rocky areas. The Saale fishing shop Angelhütte recommends casting from the shore around the JBS Saalburg, a youth hostel. If Bavaria is next on your German itinerary, you can keep the lake fun going with a trip to Walchensee, known as the "Bavarian Caribbean" for its mesmerizing blue water.