Many of these lakes developed from former open-cast mines and are now popular as local recreation areas. Each individual lake has its own characteristics and offers special experiences. But all of the bathing lakes in Leipzig's New Lake District are similar in one respect: you can swim without any worries because the water quality is excellent.
Lake Cospuden
The development of the almost four square kilometer large Cospudener See from a brown coal mine to a leisure oasis is exemplary for the region. In 2000, it was given its new purpose as a correspondence project of EXPO 2000 in Hanover. The Cospudener See is about eight kilometers from Leipzig's city center. On the north bank, Saxony's longest sandy beach invites you to sunbathe extensively. A barrier-free bathing jetty allows bathers with physical disabilities to go straight into the water using a bathing wheelchair. There is also a dog and nudist beach on the north beach. If you don't want to laze around in the sun or cool off in the water, you can let off steam on the beach volleyball courts. Fishing is also possible on the Cospudener See. Several restaurants around the lake, such as "Cossi's" and the "Sole Mio Seeterrasse", provide for your physical well-being. South of the lake is the Zöbigker harbor "Pier 1" with a beer garden, passenger boat rides, sauna, sailing and surfing schools, and pedal car and boat rentals. You can also try out the popular stand-up paddling here. If you prefer to take it a little easier, you can breathe in the sea air on a boat trip on the MS Cospuden. The 35-meter-high Bistumshöhe observation tower on the southwest shore of Lake Cospuden guarantees a wonderful view of the extensive lake landscape.
Hainer Lake
With an area of six square kilometers, Lake Hainer is one of the largest in Leipzig's New Lake District. It emerged from the "Witznitz II" open-cast mine and has been open to tourism since 2008. In addition to relaxation, it offers water sports such as water skiing, banana boating and stand-up paddling. On the south bank of Lake Hainer, embedded in the historic village of Kahnsdorf, are the Kahnsdorf Lagoon and the Kahnsdorf Estate. With its historic charm, the estate is perfect for weddings and family celebrations. Nestled in an old English park with ancient trees, the carefully renovated houses form a unique architectural ensemble. Friedrich Schiller also stayed in the so-called Schiller House on the Kahnsdorf Estate in 1785 and found inspiration here for his famous ode "Ode to Joy". From here you can take a relaxed stroll along the two-kilometer-long promenade with boat and holiday homes as well as a boat rental service. There is also beach volleyball on the sandy beach. To the north of the lake there is a campsite with the option of temporary and permanent camping.
Kulkwitzer See
The popular recreation area of Lake Kulkwitz (1,7 square kilometers) is located between the cities of Leipzig and Markranstädt. The 1970-meter-deep lake has been open to swimming since the 32s and is considered a real gem, especially among divers. An underwater park with visibility of over ten meters makes Lake Kulkwitz one of the most popular diving waters in Central Germany. If you prefer to relax on the beach, you can choose from the Miltitz, Göhrenz and Markranstädt beach areas. Nudists get their money's worth at Lausen beach, as nude bathing is expressly permitted here. Surfing, sailing and fishing enthusiasts are also in the right place at Lake Kulkwitz. There are also opportunities for wakeboarding, water skiing, stand-up paddling and rowing and pedal boating. Various restaurants as well as the meri SAUNA and the holiday resort at Lake Kulkwitz invite you to linger.
Markkleeberger Lake
Lake Markkleeberg lies east of the town of Markkleeberg, which gives it its name, and covers an area of 2,5 square kilometers. Three different beach areas, the Auenhain beach including the dog beach, the Wachau beach and the lake promenade, invite you to swim thanks to their crystal-clear water. The beach on the lake promenade with its shallow water pool and sandy shore is particularly popular with families with children. You can walk or cycle around the lake on well-developed and asphalted paths and even extend the tour to the neighboring Störmthaler Lake. Water hikers can reach this via a lock. You can also be active at the ALL-on-SEA water sports school, in the climbing park and at adventure golf. Those who prefer something a little more relaxed can explore the lake on modern passenger ships or take a few laps on the garden railways in the model building park not far from the family-friendly Seepark Auenhain holiday resort. In addition to swimming fun and water sports, Lake Markkleeberg offers a real adrenaline highlight: the Markkleeberg Canoe Park with one of the most modern whitewater facilities in the world. In addition to its function as a training facility, recreational athletes can also enjoy whitewater rafting or cardboard boat racing.
Schladitzer See
Lake Schladitzer (2,2 square kilometers) with its wonderful sandy beach, deep blue water and Mediterranean flair has been inviting people to bathe, swim, laze around and relax since 2003. Schladitzer Bay offers a beach area with sand and a lawn. There are small, natural bays around the lake where you can also swim. At the local water sports school CAMP DAVID SPORT RESORT by ALL-on-SEA, beginners and advanced learn the art of sailing, surfing and freediving, among other things. The Water Fun Park, a huge fun island on the water, also invites young and old visitors to let off steam on the obstacle course. Guests can stay overnight right by Schladitzer Bay - in tents, mobile homes or small bungalows. For cyclists and inline skaters, there are asphalted and signposted paths with a total length of around 11 kilometers. On the Hayna shore of Schladitzer Lake, concerts, musicals and other cultural events are regularly held on the Seerosenbühne in the historic setting of a Biedermeier beach. To the left of the Seerosenbühne there is a small bathing bay.
Störmthaler See
South of Lake Markkleeberg is its big brother, the 7,2 square kilometer Störmthaler Lake. It was opened as a bathing lake in 2014. Here, bathers will find four inviting bathing areas - on the Magdeborn peninsula, at the Lagovida holiday resort, on Grunaer Weg and on the Störmthal shore. All bathing areas are natural bathing areas. The Lagovida beach offers barrier-free access. The heart of the lake is the floating cultural island VINETA. At 15 meters high, it is the highest floating structure on a German lake and is a reminder of places that had to make way for open-cast lignite mining. It can be visited in a historic amphibious vehicle or by ferry. 3D archery, motorboat trips, sailing trips and windsurfing are offered around the lake. The LAGOVIDA holiday resort ensures relaxed vacation days. Here you have a view of the lake from every room. The dune houses even have their own access to the sandy beach. The Mining Technology Park can be seen from afar to the west of Störmthal Lake. It is an open-air museum on the subject of brown coal mining in the southern Leipzig area. Attractions include two large machines from the former Espenhain open-cast mine.
Zwenkauer Lake
With its almost 10 square kilometers, Lake Zwenkau is the largest lake in the southern Leipzig New Lake District and is located about 12 kilometers from Leipzig. It was created from the Zwenkau opencast mine and was opened for tourist use in 2015. The public bathing beach Kap Zwenkau is located on the southeastern shore of the lake and, thanks to its gently sloping entrance, is also suitable for families with children to swim. The best way for visitors to discover the lake is from the water - by motorboat, by paddling, sailing or during a tour on the passenger ship MS Santa Barbara. Above the Zwenkau harbor there are also restaurants, a boat rental, the tourist information office and vacation apartments for longer stays. The Eichholz and Neue Harth forest areas invite you to take long walks.
Information on other lakes in the Leipzig region and the offers available there can be found in the 76-page brochure “Leisure Fun on the Water”, which is also available for download online: www.region.leipzig.travel/badeseen
Anyone who would like to discover the Leipzig New Lake District can book the three-day travel package “Excursion to the Leipzig New Lake District” with Leipzig Tourismus und Marketing GmbH. Further information: www.leipzig.travel/travel-offers and www.leipzigerneuseenland.de