Funtensee

About this spectacle

Funtensee is a high-alpine lake nestled in the karst landscape of the Steinernes Meer plateau in the Bavarian Alps. Its extraordinary cold-air pooling phenomenon — the result of dense, frigid air draining into the enclosed depression — made it the site of Germany's lowest ever recorded temperature, -45.9 °C in 2001. Visitors who make the demanding hike to this remote, crystal-clear lake encounter a starkly beautiful world of limestone pavement, dwarf pines, and open sky. Alpine marmots are a regular sight on the surrounding rocky slopes, their whistles echoing across the plateau. In summer, the lake shimmers a deep blue-green against pale grey karst rock. Snow lingers well into the warmer months, and the silence and remoteness give the place an otherworldly stillness. This is a landscape for those who seek wild, unpeopled places — dramatic in its quiet extremity.

When to go

Jun — Sep, peak Jun — Aug

Getting there

Nearest airport: MUC. Nearest city: Salzburg.

Booking options

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