Fühlinger See
Former gravel pits turned into a 100-hectare lake in northern Cologne, home to a 2,300 m regatta course that hosted the 1998 Rowing World Championships.
On the northern edge of Cologne, in the Fühlingen district, lies the multi-part artificial Fühlinger See — a chain of lakes that grew from former gravel pits and now serves as a recreational and watersports hub for the city.
At a Glance
- Type
- Multi-part artificial lake, fed by groundwater
- Location
- Cologne-Fühlingen, Chorweiler borough
- Area
- 100 hectares
- Layout
- Seven interconnected lakes surrounding a central regatta course
- Depth
- Average 10 m, up to nearly 20 m in places
- Regatta course
- 2,300 m long, 130 m wide, six 2,000 m lanes
- Protected status
- 84 ha landscape conservation area
On September 10, 2006, more than 135,000 visitors came to the Fühlinger See for the Red Bull Flugtag event to watch 40 homemade flying objects – a remarkably high turnout for a local recreational area in Cologne.
Things to do here
- Swim and splash in the clear groundwater lake
- Stroll or jog along the 19 km of paths around the lakes
- Picnic on the shore and relax in the sun
- Watch rowers and boaters on the regatta course
- Try inline skating, beach volleyball or surfing
- Watch and photograph waterbirds and the scenery
Water area comparison
Largest lake in Cologne
Water area compared with other lakes in Cologne.
History
Gravel extraction in the Fühlinger Heide began in 1912 to supply the Cologne–Aachen and Cologne–Krefeld railway lines as well as the city's cement industry. With the Rhine close by and an ancient underground river channel nearby, the pits quickly filled with groundwater, drawing bathers to the northern outskirts as early as the 1930s. From 1967 onwards, during construction of the satellite town of Chorweiler, the pits were reclaimed and merged into a single recreational area intended to provide green space for the new town and buffer it from planned industrial zones to the east.
The Lakes and the Regatta Course
Each of the seven lakes has its own designated use: an outdoor pool and scuba diving, fishing, surfing, bathing and boating lakes, and a rowing and canoeing lake with access to the centrally positioned regatta course. Outside competition periods, three lanes run in the start direction and three in the finish direction only, while one lane is reserved for training — a system that prevents collisions. Because the water comes from groundwater and the Rhine flows less than two kilometres away, the lake level can rise and fall by up to 2 m with the river.
Swimming and Water Quality
From 1984, swimming was restricted to the designated outdoor pool area of Lake 5; since 2024 it is also permitted in Lakes 1 and 7 during the season (1 May – 30 September). On hot summer weekends up to 80,000 people gather at and in the water. The former public pool closed in 2007 and has been run as the privately operated Blackfoot Beach since 2009.
Events and Sport
The 1998 Rowing World Championships were held on the regatta course, following earlier junior and senior world rowing championships. Dragon boat racing has been part of the annual programme since 2009, the Summerjam reggae festival takes place each July, and triathlon events have returned regularly since 1984. On 10 September 2006, the 6th Red Bull Flugtag drew over 135,000 spectators with 40 home-built flying contraptions.
Surroundings and Paths
The 84-hectare conservation area is crossed by around 19 kilometres of footpaths. Bridle paths run around the entire lake area, and the Oranjehof riding club is located to the southwest on Oranjehofstraße. Inline skating and beach volleyball round out the leisure offering.
Timeline
- 1912Gravel extraction begins in Fühlinger Heide
- 1930erFirst bathers arrive despite ongoing excavation
- 1967Recultivation of gravel pits into recreational area begins
- 1984First European Triathlon Championships over long distance
- 1996Temporary closure due to excessive pollutant levels
- 1998Rowing World Championships held on the regatta course
- 2007Outdoor pool closed by KölnBäder GmbH
- 2009Pool reopened privately as Blackfoot Beach
Map
Blue dots: other places nearby — tap to explore.
Address
Fühlinger See
50769 Köln
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Sources & links
Auto-generated, last verified: 2026-06-26
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