Frozen Königssee

Since Lake Königssee is very large and, above all, deep, it rarely freezes over completely. In addition to cold temperatures, a long period of relative calm is necessary to keep water circulation to a minimum and allow a load-bearing ice sheet to form. Once the lake has frozen over and a sufficiently thick layer of ice has formed, it is opened to pedestrians and cross-country skiers. A path is even marked out, providing the safest route to Sankt Bartholomä. You should not stray from this path: with one track for the outward journey and one for the return, it leads across the thickest layer of ice on Königssee. Some people even cycle across the frozen lake. The last time there was a walkable ice cover on Königssee was in 2006.

For 29 days, Königssee turned into a rare winter spectacle. A sheet of ice—up to 40 centimeters thick—carried walkers, cross-country skiers, and ski tourers all the way to St. Bartholomä and beyond.

For a brief moment, the lake became Bavaria’s most sought-after winter destination. Even Germany’s national news, Tagesschau, picked up the story.