Location
Germany
Status
Informal / Traditional
Suitable for
Families and adults
Terrain
Sand
Best season
June to August
About Stausee Kelbra
The Kelbra reservoir (Talsperre Kelbra) dams the Helme in the Goldene Aue, right on the border between Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia, between the southern Harz and the Kyffhäuser hills. The bathing beach on its shore is run by Seecamping Kelbra, the campsite beside the lake, and is a long sandy strip split into a textile part and a separate FKK part. Several independent listings (a regional tourism directory, a campsite directory and the Dutch ANWB camping guide) agree that naturists are limited to their own section of the beach rather than mixing along the whole shore; none of them pins down exactly which end it is, so look for the boundary on arrival. The main beach has changing rooms, lawns for lying out, a water slide, a playground, beach volleyball, a kiosk and the Seeblick restaurant, plus a Wasserwacht station. The reservoir is also used for sailing, windsurfing and diving. A 2021 visitor comment said the FKK lawn was only partly mown and the water's edge there was overgrown, so expect a rougher, quieter strip than the textile beach.
Getting there
Kelbra lies off the A38 between Sangerhausen and Nordhausen; follow signs for the Stausee and Seecamping Kelbra (Lange Straße 150, 06537 Kelbra). There is a car park near the beach; fees were not stated in the sources. The beach is roughly 700 m from the campsite, and campers get free access. The nearest railway station is Berga-Kelbra on the Halle–Kassel line, a few kilometres away, from where you need to walk or cycle; the reservoir is on a popular cycling loop. Paths to the beach are flat.
What visitors say
Reports are thin. Listings and visitors describe a long sandy family beach with plenty of facilities on the textile side and a quieter, separate FKK lawn. One visitor noted in 2021 that the FKK area was poorly mown and that reeds made getting into the water awkward there. Blue-green algae can be an issue on shallow reservoirs in late summer, so check the bathing-water status before going.
Summarised in our own words from public reviews and guides listed under Sources.
Amenities
Legal context
Nude bathing is not a criminal offence in Germany; it is generally tolerated where an area is set aside for it, and could only be fined as a nuisance (§118 OWiG) elsewhere. Directory and campsite listings describe a separate FKK section of the operator-run beach, but no official confirmation was found (2026).
Naturism at Stausee Kelbra sits under Germany's rules for traditional tolerance — custom more than statute.
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. 51.4286, 11.0143
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 area at Stausee Kelbra?
Yes, several listings describe a separate FKK section on the beach run by Seecamping Kelbra, with the rest of the beach textile. No official page confirming it was found.
Is it suitable for families?
The beach as a whole is family-oriented, with a slide, playground and volleyball; the FKK part is a separate, quieter lawn.
Is there parking?
Yes, there is a car park near the beach. Prices were not published in the sources we found.
Are there facilities?
The main beach has toilets, changing rooms, a kiosk and the Seeblick restaurant, plus a Wasserwacht station.
Sources
Important
Beach status changes. Verify current conditions before you go. This is guidance, not legal advice.
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