Rieden am Forggensee combines lakeside paths, historic structures and an unusual Ice Age landform. In Dietringen, the bathing area and a milestone on the Via Claudia Augusta stand on the lakeshore; the Totenisloch is also located in the same district. The Faulensee and two religious sites in Rieden add further points of interest. If you are looking for accommodation, you can first consider whether you want your stay to focus more on the lake, nature, or the buildings and paths.
Lakeside paths and boat trips
From June 1 to October 15, there is a landing stage for Forggensee boat trips at the Dietringen bathing area. The stated seasonal dates may change; if you are planning a boat trip, check them in advance. A circular path also leads from the bathing area toward Tiefenthal and follows the route of the Via Claudia. This means a possible walk begins right on the lakeshore and also takes in Tiefenthal and the Via Claudia.
Another circular-walk option is the sunny Dietringer Alm circular trail. It connects Dietringen, a district located on the Forggensee, with Rieden am Forggensee. The route descriptions differ in their orientation: one starts at the bathing area and heads toward Tiefenthal, while the other connects Dietringen and Rieden. You can therefore choose based on your starting point and which of the named places you want to include in your walk.
Natural landforms and access to Faulensee
The Totenisloch is in the Dietringen district of Rieden am Forggensee. It is a smaller, completely enclosed hollow formed when a block of dead ice was buried and subsequently melted. Its formation is therefore directly connected to the description of this place: a block of dead ice was buried, later melted, and left the hollow behind. This is a different way to experience nature than an outing to the lakeshore.
Faulensee can only be reached on foot or by bicycle. There is a car park near Höllmühle, around 800 meters away. Plan your visit accordingly, allowing for the walk or bringing a bicycle. At the lake, there is a shallow-water area for non-swimmers where children can enjoy a safe stay. Faulensee therefore combines a distinctive way of getting there with an explicitly designated area for non-swimmers.
Rainis FaulenseehĂĽtte serves homemade cakes and Bavarian specialties. If you are planning to stop there, check what is on offer for the day of your visit. This lets you shape your time at Faulensee around your plans: as a nature outing, with time in the non-swimmer area, or with a possible stop for refreshments.
Churches and route markers
Rieden am Forggensee is home to the parish church of the Five Holy Wounds and the votive chapel of St. Mary Magdalene. On the shore of the Forggensee in Dietringen stands a milestone on the Via Claudia Augusta. These named places offer different points of interest: religious buildings in Rieden and a route marker on the lakeshore in Dietringen. Those interested in buildings and routes will find more than one cultural point of interest to consider when planning their trip.
Ostallgäu in the wider region
The Forggensee can also be viewed in its regional context as part of the wider Ostallgäu travel destination: at more than 15 km², it is Bavaria’s fifth-largest lake and Germany’s largest reservoir. The Forggensee Cycle Route runs around the lake. During the summer season, Forggensee boat trips operate regularly. These details describe the wider Ostallgäu region and offer another perspective on the lake, beyond the paths and places in Rieden am Forggensee.
Choose accommodation based on the experiences you have planned
At Faulensee, access matters; at the landing stage, the stated season is a factor. This can help you decide which themes you want to shape your stay, without combining the individual paths into a fixed route.
Discover more destinations: Schwangau, Ronsberg, Mauerstetten, Unterthingau, Kaufbeuren, Waal, Westendorf, Lamerdingen.
Back to the overview of the wider region: Ostallgäu.
