Lake Bostal

Lake Bostal (Bostalsee) near Nohfelden is Saarland's largest leisure lake and a favorite for anyone who wants water, forest and open views in one trip. The reservoir lies in the Saar-Hunsrück Nature Park and offers sailing, stand-up paddling, hiking, cycling and camping. If you are looking for things to do in Saarland that combine nature and relaxation, you can easily spend a full day here, whether on the beach in summer or on the lakeside trail in autumn.

The lake at a glance

The lake was impounded in 1979. It covers about 120 hectares, reaches a maximum depth of 18 meters and is held back by a dam 500 meters long. It is the largest man-made leisure lake in southwestern Germany. Motorboats are banned, and the southwestern end is a nature reserve. The villages of Bosen, Eckelhausen, Gonnesweiler and Neunkirchen/Nahe lie on its shores, and since 2013 a Center Parcs holiday village with about 500 houses has stood by the water.

Things to do

• Lakeside trail: A loop of roughly 7 kilometers circles the lake, easy walking for most visitors, with a lookout called the Seekanzel.
• Swimming: Two sandy beach areas with lawns; the 2026 bathing season ended on September 13, so swimming is off in October.
• Water sports: Sailing, windsurfing, stand-up paddling and pedal boats, plus a water playground for kids. At the dam in Gonnesweiler you can rent kayaks and SUP boards from the self-service Kayakomat via a QR code.
• Hiking and cycling: Several premium trails start nearby, but some routes are currently detoured or closed.
• Dogs: There is a dog swimming spot at the dam.

Planning your visit (as of October 2026)

Allow two to three hours for a walk around the lake, longer for a full day. Autumn is quieter and colorful. The Ostertal-Höhen-Radweg and the Saarland-Radweg are detoured until the end of 2027, and the lower loop of mountain bike route MTB 3 is closed. The lake itself is an open recreation area; the tourist office at the harbor is open Monday to Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Friday until 2:30 p.m. until Maundy Thursday. The website lists no fees for the beaches or parking, so ask the tourist office at +49 6851 8018000.

How to get there

Lake Bostal sits in northern Saarland, close to the town of St. Wendel, and the harbor address is Am Seehafen 1, 66625 Nohfelden-Bosen, where there is a car park. Without a car, the regional TouristikLinie buses (lines T1 to T4) serve the area from Easter school holidays to the end of the autumn holidays: on weekends and public holidays, and daily during Saarland school holidays. They accept all saarVV tickets, and bikes, dogs and wheelchairs may come along. Prices are in euros.

Nearby

The Street of Sculptures, which begins in St. Wendel, ends at the lake. If you want to stay overnight, there is a campsite with more than 400 pitches.