Location
Germany
Status
Informal / Traditional
Suitable for
Families and adults
Terrain
Grass / lawn
Best season
June to mid-September
About Baggersee Hirschau
The Baggersee Hirschau is a gravel-pit lake beside a quiet backwater of the Neckar between Tübingen and Hirschau, below the Wurmlinger Kapelle on its hill. It is one of two bathing lakes in the Landkreis Tübingen whose water the district health office monitors from 1 June to 15 September under the state bathing-water ordinance. A cycle path runs through the grounds, and the shore is broken into many small lawns at the water's edge, some well screened by bushes, with larger lying areas on the east side. Nude bathing has a long tradition here. According to nacktbaden.de, signs put up in recent years now mark which areas are textile and which are mixed, where nudity is allowed; most nude bathers gather on the lawn at the south-western end. Contributors call the water very clean. The lake fills up fast on warm days. There is a darker side: one seen.de visitor described exhibitionist behaviour beside the cycle path and litter in the bushes, and police investigated two exhibitionism cases on the lawn in September 2024.
Getting there
From Tübingen take the road towards Hirschau and Rottenburg and use the first turn-off to the lake; the lake is about 4 km from both Tübingen and Rottenburg. A cycle path along the Neckar passes through the grounds, so arriving by bike is easy. No information was found on parking capacity or charges, public transport stops or step-free access. Lawns are reached on short unsurfaced paths; the nude area is mainly the lawn at the south-western end.
What visitors say
Long-time visitors describe a relaxed lake where people can choose to be clothed or nude, with clean water and many small secluded lawns. Recent comments are more mixed: one couple used to saunas and naturist holidays found the nude area required high tolerance because of men exposing themselves near the cycle path and used tissues in the bushes, and a 2024 police report confirms such incidents. The south-western lawn is the main nude spot and gets crowded in hot weather.
Summarised in our own words from public reviews and guides listed under Sources.
Amenities
Legal context
Nacktbaden.de (2022) reports on-site signs that define where nudity is permitted (mixed areas) and where swimwear is required; no published municipal ordinance was found to confirm the wording. Exhibitionism remains a criminal offence: police appealed for witnesses after two incidents on the lawn in September 2024.
Naturism at Baggersee Hirschau sits under Germany's rules for traditional tolerance — custom more than statute.
Full country law: Germany public nudity guide.
Researched 24 October 2026. No official source confirms naturist status, so treat it as unverified.
Location
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Approx. 48.4941, 9.0010
Visitor tips
- 1 Informal / tolerated site — be discreet and leave no drama.
- 2 Towel, water, sunscreen. Sit on your own towel.
- 3 No photos without clear consent.
- 4 Check access, tides, and parking before you go.
- 5 House rules and local custom can be stricter than the law.
More in Germany
Frequently asked questions
Is nude bathing allowed at the Baggersee Hirschau?
Reports from 2022 say signs on site mark mixed areas where nudity is allowed and textile-only areas. Most nude bathers use the lawn at the south-western end.
Is the water quality checked?
Yes. The Landratsamt Tübingen monitors it from 1 June to 15 September each year.
Is it suitable for families?
The lake is a popular general bathing spot, but recent visitor and police reports describe exhibitionism near the cycle path and in the bushes, so families may prefer the textile areas.
Sources
Important
Beach status changes. Verify current conditions before you go. This is guidance, not legal advice.
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