Location
Germany
Status
Informal / Traditional
Suitable for
Families and adults
Terrain
Rock
Best season
June to September
About Blauer See
The Blauer See is a small flooded limestone quarry in the Harz, on the stretch of road between Rübeland and Hüttenrode in Saxony-Anhalt. It fills the lowest working level of the old Garkenholz quarry, which was worked from 1885 until 1945; groundwater rose into the pit after it was abandoned. The lake is only about 95 m long and 47 m wide but up to 17 m deep, and its level follows the karst groundwater, so in wet years it is full and in very dry years it can almost vanish. The dissolved limestone gives the water an intense blue colour on sunny days, which is what draws most visitors. The 'beach' is a small strip of gravel and rock with only a little grass at the quarry floor. A nacktbaden.de contributor reported in 2006 that this strip was often used by nude sunbathers in summer, while warning that swimming is not officially permitted. The lake is a protected geotope inside the Harz landscape protection area, and most people who come are walkers and sightseers on the circuit path rather than bathers, so treat it as a quiet, small and informal spot rather than an established nude beach.
Getting there
Take the B27 between Blankenburg and Rübeland and turn off at the 'Blauer See' sign on the road towards Hüttenrode; a large car park sits above the old quarry. From there a short path leads down to the water, and a trail loops around the lake, with a gravel single-lane track as the easier way back up. There is a summer kiosk near the lake. The Rübeland railway and local hiking routes from Rübeland (caves) also pass close by. The descent is short but the shore itself is rocky.
What visitors say
Most online reports describe the lake as a sightseeing stop: visitors praise the vivid blue colour, the clear water and the short walk from the car park, and some note the summer kiosk. The only report about nude use (nacktbaden.de, 2006) calls it a well-hidden tip where the small gravel-and-rock shore is often taken by nude sunbathers in summer, with the caveat that bathing is not officially allowed. Recent first-hand reports of nude use were not found.
Summarised in our own words from public reviews and guides listed under Sources.
Amenities
Legal context
The lake is a protected geotope in the Harz landscape protection area. A 2006 user report on nacktbaden.de states that swimming is officially not allowed; no official page found confirms or lifts this, and no official nude designation exists. Nudity here is informal and unregulated.
Naturism at Blauer See 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. 51.7633, 10.8684
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 sunbathing allowed at the Blauer See?
There is no official nude area. Nude sunbathing has been reported informally on the small shore, but swimming itself is not officially permitted, so discretion is needed.
Can you swim in the Blauer See?
A 2006 report says bathing is officially not allowed, and the lake is a protected geotope. The water is deep (up to 17 m) right off the rocks.
Where do you park?
At the signposted 'Blauer See' car park on the road from Rübeland towards Hüttenrode, then walk a few minutes down to the water.
Why is the water so blue?
Limestone dissolved in the water filters out most colours of sunlight, so the lake looks deep blue, especially in sunshine.
Sources
Important
Beach status changes. Verify current conditions before you go. This is guidance, not legal advice.
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