Großensee: Swimming at the South Beach and nature by the lake

At Großensee, the lake and South Beach take center stage: here, swimming, outdoor activities and views of the landscape come together. If you’re planning a trip, you’ll find various ways to spend your time by the water—from swimming to watching the sunset.

Swimming and time at South Beach

At Großensee South Beach, you can swim in the lake, relax on the large sunbathing lawn or on the jetty, and watch the sunset. There is also a playground and a beach volleyball area. You can also get something to eat at a kiosk or restaurant in the bathing area. Opening hours and services may vary by season.

The lake and South Beach are in the Stormarn Switzerland. Wooded shore views define the landscape by the water; South Beach is also designated as a place to watch the sunset. This makes it easy to spend a day by the lake swimming, being active or enjoying a peaceful view of the wooded surroundings.

Staying by the lake and exploring the surrounding area

Campingplatz ABC is next to the Großensee bathing area and offers overnight stays right by the lake in tents, motorhomes or a glamping lodge. Accommodation options and availability may change. If this place to stay is important to your plans, check the current offers with the campsite in advance.

For more travel ideas, you can also explore the wider destination of Stormarn. Stormarn is in the Hamburg Metropolitan Region, between Hamburg and Lübeck, and is well suited to day trips. The cultural and nature destinations below complement the focus on the lake with other themes; they are separate destinations within the wider travel region.

Culture, trails and landscapes in Stormarn

Ahrensburg Castle was completed in 1585 and has served continuously as a museum since 1955. These two dates describe different aspects of the castle: its completion and its uninterrupted use as a museum. Gut Jersbek also offers a historical focus. Its Baroque garden, dating from the 18th century, is open to visitors; the estate dates back to the 16th century and has been farmed ever since.

Those interested in routes through Stormarn’s landscapes will find more than 20 cycling circuits, as well as BahnRadWege on disused railway lines. These BahnRadWege follow the routes of three former railway lines through Stormarn’s landscapes. For hiking, the Hahnheide offers a different setting: it is Stormarn’s largest nature reserve and offers extensive hiking opportunities.

The Herrenteich in Reinfeld is another example of natural and landscape history. In the 12th century, Cistercian monks created it as an artificial weir pond on the Heilsau for fish farming. The “Around the Herrenteich” nature trail is four kilometers long and has 16 stations right on the edge of the “Oberer Herrenteich” nature reserve. At Brenner Moor, Schleswig-Holstein’s largest inland salt marsh, there is a section on a wooden boardwalk and a trail with ten observation points.

This gives you two distinct focuses for planning your trip: Großensee, with swimming opportunities, a lake and views of wooded shores, and other cultural, hiking and nature experiences in the wider travel region of Stormarn.

Discover more destinations: Reinbek, Nienwohld, Hamfelde, Barsbüttel, Tangstedt, Hoisdorf, Köthel, Ammersbek

To the wider travel overview: Stormarn.