Lake Fühlingen

In the summer, you can see many cyclists with large bags or beach towels on their luggage racks riding the main route from Cologne City to the north. Their destination: Fühlinger See, a 200-hectare area with seven lakes, meadows, paths, sports facilities, and leisure activities.  

Without a doubt, Fühlinger See has something for everyone: relaxation, walking, exercising, cheering on sports, dancing, celebrating, or experiencing medieval times—it’s all possible. Some facts to back this up? An average depth of 10 meters, a unique underwater world, approximately 19 kilometers of running, cycling, and walking paths, the venue for the largest reggae and dancehall festival outside Jamaica, seven lakes across the expansive grounds, a beach, a high ropes course, a regatta course, an archery range, a slackline area, boat and board rentals, and extensive lawns for picnicking, barbecuing, and relaxation.  

Recreational Area Since 1967  

Looking at a map, you might wonder why there are seven more or less connected bodies of water: Fühlinger is an artificial lake formed from gravel pits. Dredging began here in 1912, the pits filled with water, and by 1967, the recreational area with numerous activities was established in and around it. Each lake or section has its "purpose." Besides the regatta course, for example, Lake 1 serves as a warm-up lake, Lake 2 for fishing, Lake 4 is the boating lake, Lake 5 the diving lake, and Lake 6 for passing through to the regatta.  

The area is historically interesting in connection with the Fühlingen district due to the futuristic Alweg monorail, a high-speed monorail tested from 1952 as a transportation project in the northern area of Fühlinger See, but unfortunately completely dismantled in 1967. Today, only an artistic representation by the Cologne forest painter and a last remaining wall piece remind us of the monorail project, which reached up to 180 km/h.  

Swimming in Fühlinger See  

People have been swimming in Fühlinger See for over 100 years. Back then, it was a simple matter of jumping into the gravel pit to refresh. Today, the regulations are a bit stricter. Swimming is only permitted in a few designated areas: From May 2024, you can enjoy swimming for free at Lake 1 and Lake 7. Or you can head to the edge of the diving lake, at Lake 5, to Blackfoot Beach, which offers more than just a good swimming spot in a prime location.  

Beach, High Ropes Course, Archery, Beachball, Diving & More at Blackfoot Beach  

At Blackfoot Beach, besides swimming, numerous other activities are possible—not just in the summer: a high ropes course, archery, various beach-ball games, team or group activities, or diving with the Blue Malin dive school, which has its dive base here offering fun dives, buddy dives, courses, events, and equipment. Underwater, Fühlinger See presents a fascinating world with various fish such as pike, eels, and catfish.  
If you are a fisher, you might be interested in the waterway profile of Fühlinger See and where and when you are allowed to fish, which can be read on the Förderverein Fühlinger See e.V. website.  

Regatta Course  

The 2.3-kilometer-long regatta course with its clear water is impressive, and the view from the shore is exceedingly idyllic depending on the sunlight. Paved paths run on the sides—for inline skaters, joggers, walkers, or fans cheering on their regatta teams during races. You can inform yourself about upcoming sports events at the Regatta Association. The dragon boat festival with its races is also held regularly in the summer.  

Open-Air: Concerts, Festivals, Markets  

The spacious site is ideal for larger events. Among the best-known festivals is Summerjam, since 1986: artists and bands from the genres of reggae, dancehall, and hip-hop gather the first weekend of July in northern Cologne. For an entire weekend, it’s all about music, good vibes, and camping. In 2023, around 25,000 visitors attended.  

The EAT PLAY LOVE festival also takes place in the summer: a colorful mix of street food, dancing, wakeboarding, music, and culture.  

Last but not least the annual medieval festival Spectaculum is also popular: musicians, jesters, vendors, magicians, artists, and other performers create an medieval atmosphere around the lake.