Camping by the lake in Hesse

Around 60 official bathing waters make Hessen a popular holiday destination. Whether on the long Edersee or the unspoilt Affolderner See, many campsites are located directly on the shore. Well-kept stretches of shore such as the lido in Rehbach on Lake Edersee are particularly popular with families. Active holidaymakers will find plenty of opportunities to use the water for sporting purposes while sailing, surfing or canoeing.

Top tips

• Part of the 600 kilometre-long German Fairy Tale Route runs and branches out right across Hesse, as northern Hesse is the home of the Brothers Grimm. It is often not far from the campsite by the lake in Hesse to the next fairytale location. Museums, adventure parks and city tours are dedicated to the imaginative Grimm world full of princesses, sagas and legends.
• A special experience for all the senses is the Edersee primeval forest trail on Germany's second-largest reservoir. The trail bears the Wanderbares Deutschland quality seal. Over a length of 68 kilometres, the trail leads over imposing steep slopes and through some of the last primeval forests in Germany. One possible starting point is Waldeck Castle.
• Dogs are very welcome at many campsites by the lake in Hesse. Dog showers and fenced-off exercise areas are sometimes available for the four-legged friends. Dogs can cool off on the dog beaches on the Scheid peninsula on Lake Edersee, on Lake Twistesee and on Lake Diemelsee in Sauerland.

Activities and excursions

Numerous bathing lakes invite you to swim and enjoy water sports in Hesse. Culture lovers will appreciate the historical sights and diverse cities of this federal state in the centre of Germany.

Excursion destinations on a camping holiday in Hesse

When camping by the lake in Hesse, there are numerous romantic excursion destinations along the German Half-Timbered Road. Fritzlar, one of the historic towns, is located in the heart of the Edersee adventure region. Here, numerous half-timbered buildings line the romantic main square. Other landmarks include St Peter's Cathedral, whose towers can be seen from afar, and the spa town of Bad Wildungen is also worth a visit. Here, visitors are drawn to the historic Wandelhalle, where the spring museum provides information about the region's history. Also worth a visit is the Gothic town church, where the Wildungen Altarpiece, one of the region's most famous art treasures, can be found. Culture fans on holiday at Lake Gedern like to travel from the campsite by the lake in Hesse to the small town of Friedberg, 35 km away, where pop icon Elvis Presley once did his military service. The Wetterau Museum is dedicated to the musician's stay in Germany, among other things.

Water fun for young and old

In Hesse, which is rich in forests and water, there are marvellous lidos with many attractions. Many lakeside campsites have direct access to the water. The shore at Rehbach on the 12 km² Edersee is particularly popular with families. Here, a sandy beach invites you to play. Water sports enthusiasts use the wind for sailing and surfing or whizz across the lake on water skis. There are also plenty of fishing grounds for anglers; pike, perch and zander are native to many waters. With its gently sloping shore, Lake Gedern is also an attractive attraction for families. The 15-hectare body of water is of excellent quality and warms up to 24 degrees Celsius in midsummer. The youngest guests are delighted with the Aqua-Funpark water playground. There is also a playground and pedal boat hire.

Events

In Hessen, guests can expect a colourful programme of events with live concerts and interesting offers for the whole family.

May

• Frankenberg Whitsun Market: The multi-faceted programme of events at the Frankenberg Whitsun Festival ranges from an amusement park to an animal show and a giant firework display. There are special offers for children on Family Day on Tuesday.

July

• Folk in the Park: Renowned German and international artists provide a lively atmosphere at the Folk in the Park Festival in Bad Wildungen.

August

• Kaiserfest: In mid-August, visitors to the Kaiserfest in Fritzlar are transported back in time. In addition to the medieval market, there are spectacular fire shows, jugglers and jousting tournaments. On Sunday, when the shops in the old town are open for business, visitors can hunt for bargains.