Three-Lakes Tour in Upper Bavaria

On this sunny day in early May, the journey is the destination. This time I wanted to visit those lakes in Upper Bavaria that are often left behind on the way to various mountain tours – Kirchsee, Sylvenstein Reservoir and Tegernsee. The first destination in the morning is Kirchsee, which is somewhat hidden north of the road from Holzkirchen to Bad Tölz.Kirchsee is a moorland lake nestled in the remaining moraine hills of the Ice Age glaciers and is designated as a nature reserve. However, there are a few spots on the north shore where swimming is allowed. From there, you have a magnificent view across the lake to the Bavarian Prealps with the Brauneck and Benediktenwand. Unfortunately, the wind has already picked up, so there’s no reflection in the dark brown water. Instead, I had some nice encounters. First with an angler who proudly showed me his catch, and then a snake that quickly slithered from its sunny spot into the undergrowth.

The next destination was the Sylvenstein Reservoir. This time I was luckier with the weather; it was perfectly still. I stopped immediately and walked down the few metres of the steep bank. What a fantastic panorama opened up from this vantage point – the still snow-capped mountains of the Karwendel, such as the Schafreuther, reflected in the calm surface of the turquoise water. Above it, a white-and-blue Bavarian sky and a warming spring sun. 

After this highlight, I let the day wind down at my final stop, Tegernsee, which was very busy that day. Many visitors were strolling along the crowded lakeside promenades, so I was drawn up to one of the quieter mountains with great views above the lake to the Gasthof Neureuth.