Location
Germany
Status
Informal / Traditional
Suitable for
Families and adults
Terrain
Mixed
Best season
June to September
About Bostalsee
The Bostalsee near Nohfelden in northern Saarland is one of the largest leisure lakes in south-west Germany, a reservoir of about 120 hectares and up to 20 m deep, created in 1979 purely for recreation by damming the Bos and Dämelbach streams. The main facilities are at Bosen on the north side: a DLRG-supervised beach with lawn and sand, toilets, showers, boat hire, a harbour and beer garden, and a large Center Parcs-style holiday park along the north-east shore. Nude use has always been informal. nacktbaden.de reports from 2001 and 2006 describe small coves on the north side reachable by footpaths from the cycle track, used by early risers for nude sunbathing, and a 2010 report notes a few nude sunbathers at the far upper end of the hilly lawn of the Strandbad Bosen. A 2016 report, however, says that since the holiday park was built on the north-east shore the nude spots have largely disappeared. There is no designated nude area and recent evidence of nude use is thin, so treat this as a textile lake.
Getting there
Signposted from the A62 (exit Nohfelden-Türkismühle) to Bosen. The main paid car park is at the Seehafen; smaller car parks around the lake give access to the shore path, an easy 7 km circuit that crosses the dam. The Strandbad Bosen is next to the harbour. The coves formerly used for nude sunbathing were reached by bike along the shore cycle path and side trails on the north side.
What visitors say
General visitors rate the lake highly for its clean water, supervised beach, lawn and the easy circuit walk, and it is regularly voted Saarland's favourite lake on seen.de. Nude-bathing reports are old: early morning use of small north-side coves (2001-2006), a few nude sunbathers on the edge of the Bosen lawn (2010), and a 2016 note that these options had mostly gone with the holiday park development.
Summarised in our own words from public reviews and guides listed under Sources.
Amenities
Legal context
No official nude area exists at the Bostalsee. A 2016 report says informal nude use on the north-east shore largely ended once the holiday park was built (around 2013-2014); the official Strandbad Bosen is a textile beach where a few nude sunbathers were seen at the far end of the lawn in 2010.
Naturism at Bostalsee 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
View on interactive map
Approx. 49.5665, 7.0699
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 there a nude beach at the Bostalsee?
No. Nude sunbathing happened informally in north-side coves, but a 2016 report says this largely ended after the holiday park opened.
Is the main beach supervised?
Yes, the Strandbad Bosen is DLRG-supervised, with toilets and showers.
Where can I park?
At the paid Seehafen car park in Bosen or at smaller car parks around the lake.
Sources
Important
Beach status changes. Verify current conditions before you go. This is guidance, not legal advice.
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