Location
Germany
Status
Unofficial / Tolerated
Suitable for
Families and adults
Terrain
Grass / lawn
Best season
June to August
About Sendener Baggerseen
The Sendener Baggerseen are flooded gravel pits in the Iller valley between Senden and Vöhringen, in Bavarian Swabia south of Ulm. The main bathing lake is the Waldbaggersee (also called Waldsee), split into a northern and a southern basin; next to it, separated by a reed belt, is the Großer Baggersee. The lakes straddle the boundary between the two towns, and the rules differ on each side. Nude bathing is allowed only on the lawn on the southern shore of the Waldbaggersee, which lies in Vöhringen; on Senden's side, a 2017 amendment to the town's green-spaces bylaw requires swimwear. Naturists have used the southern lawn for decades. Press reports describe it as well kept, with toilet cabins and a kiosk nearby, and regulars from across the region as well as families. The peninsula between the two basins earned national headlines in 2011 and 2012 under the nickname Porno Island, after complaints about sexual activity and people exposing themselves to other visitors. Police and a volunteer security patrol have since patrolled the area, and by 2019 police described the situation as calmer.
Getting there
The lakes lie in woodland between Senden, Illerzell and Vöhringen, in the Neu-Ulm district. The nude lawn is on the southern shore of the Waldbaggersee, on Vöhringen's side; approach from the Vöhringen/Illerzell end and stay south of the peninsula. A lakeside path runs around the water. We found no current, reliable information on car-park locations, fees or bus links, so check local maps before travelling. The ground is grass and gravel-pit shoreline.
What visitors say
Press accounts portray two sides of the lake. Long-time naturists describe a tidy, respectful lawn with decent facilities and a friendly kiosk, used by families as well as regulars. Others report that the area, especially the peninsula, gained a reputation as a cruising and swinger spot, with sexual activity, night-time parties and broken glass in the grass and water. Police said in 2019 that things had calmed down, but locals had long avoided the path past the peninsula. Visitors looking for ordinary naturism should keep to the southern lawn.
Summarised in our own words from public reviews and guides listed under Sources.
Amenities
Legal context
Bavaria's statewide bathing-clothing rule expired in October 2013, leaving nude bathing to each municipality. Senden banned nudity on its side of the lakes in 2017 through its Grünanlagensatzung (swimwear required, children up to six exempt). Vöhringen changed its bathing ordinance around 2018 so that nude bathing is allowed only on the southern lawn of the Waldbaggersee (Schwäbische Zeitung, 2019). Police and the Sicherheitswacht patrol the area and act on complaints.
Naturism at Sendener Baggerseen sits under Germany's rules for de facto tolerance — usually left alone if you keep it non-sexual and low-drama.
Full country law: Germany public nudity guide.
Researched 25 October 2026. No official source confirms naturist status, so treat it as unverified.
Location
View on interactive map
Approx. 48.3095, 10.0439
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
Where is nude bathing allowed at the Sendener Baggerseen?
Only on the lawn on the southern shore of the Waldbaggersee, which belongs to Vöhringen. Nudity is banned on the Senden side.
What is 'Porno Island'?
A nickname for the peninsula between the two basins of the Waldbaggersee, which made headlines in 2011 and 2012 over sexual activity. Police and a security patrol now check the area.
Can I be fined for nudity on the Senden side?
Senden's green-spaces bylaw requires swimwear since 2017, and violations are reported to the town. Stay on the Vöhringen lawn to avoid problems.
Are there toilets and food?
Press reports mention toilet cabins on the southern lawn and a kiosk at the lakes, but check current conditions before going.
Sources
Important
Beach status changes. Verify current conditions before you go. This is guidance, not legal advice.
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