Lake Rursee (Rurstausee), Eifel

Green slopes, bays, sailing boats and a dam holding back the water at a height of 77.4 metres: the Rursee, officially the Rurstausee, holds 203 million cubic metres and is the second-largest reservoir in Germany after the Bleiloch reservoir in Thuringia. It lies in the northern Eifel between Heimbach, Nideggen-Schmidt and Simmerath-Rurberg, right on the edge of the Eifel National Park. In summer it draws visitors for boat trips, swimming, sailing and hiking, and it is worth the trip in autumn too.

History: dam, flood wave and rebuilding

The Schwammenauel dam was built from 1934 to 1938 as an earth and rockfill dam with a clay core and went into service in 1939; between 1955 and 1959 it was raised by 16 m to its current height. In the Second World War the Rur formed the front line. On the night of 9 to 10 February 1945, German soldiers blew up the gates of the bottom outlets. The resulting flood lasted 13 days and delayed the US Army's advance across the Rur. After the war the installations were rebuilt.

What to see

• The main lake: At full capacity it stretches about 10.6 km along the river and covers 7.83 km². Places on its shores include Schwammenauel, Eschauel, Woffelsbach and Rurberg.
• The Schwammenauel dam: About 2.7 km west of Heimbach, it is also the home port of the excursion boats.
• The Obersee: The upper basin near Rurberg and Einruhr is served by electric boats and reaches as far as the Urft dam in the national park.
• "Schöne Aussicht" near Schmidt: This viewpoint offers one of the best-known views over the lake and its islands.
• Swimming: Designated bathing areas with toilets and changing rooms are at Eschauel beach on the main lake, the Einruhr natural pool and the Eiserbach natural pool; swimming is also allowed at the Woffelsbach bathing spot.
• Water sports: Canoes, rowing boats and pedal boats are allowed; your own boats, sailing and windsurfing need a permit, available at the Nationalpark-Tor in Rurberg.

Boat trips: season and prices (as of October 2026)

In 2026 the Rursee boats run from 28 March to 1 November, since 7 September on the low-season timetable. The Stella Maris (almost 500 seats) and the Aachen sail on the main lake, the electric boats St. Nikolaus and Seensucht on the Obersee.

• Rursee round trip (1¾ hours): €16, families €41; hourly departures from Schwammenauel from 11:00.
• Obersee round trip (1 hour): €11.50, families €29.50.
• Two-lakes round trip: 3 hours €24, 4 hours €31.
• Children aged 4 to 14 pay half price, under-4s travel free. Dogs (on a lead) and bicycles cost €2.50 each.

Note: the last boats from Rurberg end at Schwammenauel, so no round trip is possible on them.

Getting there and parking

The key satnav address is Schwammenauel 12, 52396 Heimbach, with a large car park and the boat landing. The first 30 minutes are free, then €1.50 per started hour, up to a maximum of €6 per stay; your number plate is recorded on entry and you pay at the machine. Further car parks are in Rurberg (Seeufer 1), at the Obersee (Paulushofdamm 1) and in Einruhr (Rurstraße 1). Some satnavs send you into a dead end near Woffelsbach if you enter "Schwammenauel", so check the route first. Without a car, take the Rurtalbahn train from Düren to Heimbach and then the Rursee-Bahn road train, timed to meet the boats, to the landing stage.

Tripto tip

Allow half a day for a boat trip and a walk along the shore, or a full day with a hike or a swim. A good combination is the two-lakes trip with a change in Rurberg; between the Rurberg/Rursee and Obersee landings you walk about 800 m across the dam wall. The lake is especially atmospheric with autumn colours and morning mist.