Camping by the Altmühl Lake

Great bathing beaches, playgrounds and a huge range of leisure activities for water sports enthusiasts: Lake Altmühlsee in the heart of the Franconian Lake District is one of the most beautiful lakes in the region and a wonderful place for a camping holiday in the sunny south of Germany. The Altmühlsee is a popular destination for bathing holidaymakers and families with children, especially in summer. Nature lovers will find a true paradise in the beautiful Altmühltal Nature Park and can explore the picture-book landscape with its romantic little towns on numerous well-maintained cycle and hiking trails.

Special features of camping on the Altmühlsee

The Altmühlsee is located in the heart of the Franconian Lake District, a popular holiday region south-west of Nuremberg and, together with the nearby Brombachsee, is one of the most visited lakes in the region. Campers can look forward to numerous beautiful campsites right on the shores of the Altmühlsee - the water is often just a few steps away. Together with the wide range of leisure activities for children and the many sandy beaches, this makes the Altmühlsee a popular destination for families, especially in summer. Water sports enthusiasts also get their money's worth at the Altmühlsee: at the three lake centres, a wide range of water sports such as surfing, sailing, kitesurfing and canoeing invite you to spend exciting hours on the water. Those who prefer to stay on land can explore the lake on the 12 km circular trail or visit the nearby Altmühltal Nature Park - a true paradise for active holidaymakers. Guests with dogs are also very welcome at the Altmühlsee: Dogs are allowed at many campsites. There is also a designated dog beach at the Schlungenhof lake centre.

Popular campsites on Lake Altmühlsee

The campsites on Lake Altmühlsee offer excellent facilities for a camping holiday with the whole family. In addition to beautiful lakeside pitches for caravans and motorhome pitches, cosy bungalows, mobile homes and other rental accommodation are often on offer. In the high season in summer, it is advisable to book well in advance, as the lake is an extremely popular holiday destination.

Altmühlsee-Camping Herzog

The popular Herzog Altmühlsee campsite is in a great location in the immediate vicinity of Gunzenhausen's large bathing beach and is the perfect place for bathing holidaymakers and families. The well-kept site offers spacious pitches, clean sanitary facilities and excellent transport links: The dog beach and lake centre are just a few minutes' walk away, as is the centre of Gunzenhausen with its cosy beer gardens and cafés.

Kon-Tiki family campsite Muhr am See

The Kon-Tiki family campsite is part of the lake adventure centre of the same name in Muhr am See. So there is no need to complain about a lack of leisure activities. There is a choice of SUP, kayak, bike and e-bike hire and sports areas for table tennis and volleyball - the perfect place for active holidaymakers and water sports enthusiasts. Tents can also be hired on site. There are also pitches for motorhomes.

Camping site zum Fischer-Michl

The quiet and well-kept Campingplatz zum Fischer-Michl campsite is located just a few minutes from Lake Altmühlsee. The beach is within easy walking distance and the popular Altmühlsee adventure playground is right next door. The pitches are pleasantly spacious and offer plenty of room even for larger families. We also highly recommend the campsite's own restaurant, which offers excellent food at reasonable prices.

Favourite destinations in the region

There are numerous pretty villages around the Altmühlsee that are well worth a visit! A good starting point is the charming little town of Gunzenhausen. The state-approved resort town on the Limes offers a wide range of leisure activities around the lake, a pretty town centre and a number of sights dating back to Roman times. Dollnstein in the heart of the Altmühl Valley is the perfect starting point for hikes in the Altmühl Valley, for example on the famous Altmühl Valley Panorama Trail. Culture lovers should also plan a visit to Ansbach. The former residence of the Margraves of Brandenburg-Ansbach offers a wealth of magnificent historical monuments.

Gunzenhausen

The charming small town of Gunzenhausen is located on the southern shore of Lake Altmühlsee and combines a wide range of leisure activities and bathing beaches on the lake with a pretty town centre and numerous sights. The historic market square with the town hall and the magnificent baroque Palais Heydenab are a good starting point for a relaxed stroll through the town between pretty half-timbered houses and cosy beer gardens and cafés. A beautiful excursion destination in the neighbourhood is the Burgstallwald forest with remains from Roman times such as watchtowers and an old fort. The Gunzenhausen town museum and the fossil and lithographic museum provide visitors with fascinating insights into the history of the town.

Dollnstein

Situated in a wide basin of the Altmühltal valley and surrounded by a medieval defence wall, the beautiful village of Dollnstein is a popular starting point for hikers and cyclists who want to explore the Altmühltal valley. Great hiking and cycling trails lead in all directions. There are also a number of quarries in the surrounding area where visitors can collect fossils. The town itself is also worth a visit: the historic parish church with its ornate frescoes, the magnificent baroque vicarage, the well-preserved curtain wall with the gate tower and the traditional Altmühltal houses made of Jura stone are all worth seeing. The Dollnstein Castle Altmühl Valley Centre is also home to the Dollnstein Treasure, which was discovered on site and contains almost 4,000 silver coins and various items of jewellery.

Ansbach

Ansbach, the government capital of Middle Franconia and former residence of the Margraves of Brandenburg-Ansbach, can look back on over 1250 years of history. Accordingly, there is a lot to see in the "City of Franconian Rococo". Among the many impressive monuments, the Court Chancellery, the two beautiful churches of St. Johannis and St. Gumbertus and the imposing Residence with its 27 state rooms and the Mirror Cabinet with Meissen porcelain stand out in particular. After visiting the residence, it is worth taking a stroll through the magnificent orangery in the courtyard garden and admiring the numerous medicinal plants in the herb garden. The annual Rococo Festival also takes place here in summer.

Sights and excursion destinations

• Vogelinsel in the Altmühlsee: The Vogelinsel nature reserve, which covers over 200 hectares, takes up almost half the surface area of the Altmühlsee and is one of the most important breeding and resting places for birds in Bavaria.
• Brombachsee: The large Brombachsee is one of the region's main attractions and a great destination for water lovers. In addition to a wide range of water sports, the trimaran "MS Brombachsee" is particularly popular.
• Schlungenhof MS Altmühlsee lake centre: swimming, relaxing and numerous opportunities for water sports enthusiasts. The lake centre in Schlungenhof is one of the most popular places for bathing holidaymakers on Lake Altmühlsee. The "MS Altmühlsee" also departs from here for excursions on the lake.
• Altmühlsee adventure playground: The adventure playground on the western shore of the Altmühlsee is a popular excursion destination for families. The playground is located in the immediate vicinity of the Limes and offers a climbing and sliding facility as well as opportunities to play in the water.
• Altmühltal Nature Park: The Altmühltal Nature Park is a dream for nature lovers and active holidaymakers. A dense network of cycling and hiking trails leads through the park, including the "Altmühltal-Panoramaweg" quality hiking trail, which is over 200 kilometres long and is one of the most beautiful hiking trails in Germany.

Tour tip

Fancy spending a little more time in Bavaria? Then a road trip in a motorhome is just the right programme! The German Alpine Road is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful campervan tours in southern Germany and, with its magnificent Alpine panoramas, offers just the right contrast to the rather flat landscape around Lake Altmühlsee. The tour leads from beautiful Lindau on Lake Constance to Königssee in Berchtesgadener Land and offers motorhome travellers a first-class drive. Blooming alpine meadows, dense forests and mighty mountain peaks. In between, quaint little villages and some of Bavaria's most beautiful towns such as Füssen, Garmisch-Partenkirchen and Bad Tölz. A real dream tour! Find out more