Urban swimming and lakes around Strasbourg
Around Strasbourg, several lakes and gravel pits offer popular swimming spots in summer, easily accessible from the city. From developed sites and leisure areas to more natural spots, this area is home to a large number of the Bas-Rhin’s swimming spots.
The Neubiltz lake in Reichstett
To the north of Strasbourg, the Reichstett lake is a popular leisure spot in summer, with the eastern section open from 21 June to 31 August. Lifeguards are on duty in July and August, in the afternoons only, making it a supervised and safe site during the summer months. The area offers a pleasant setting to cool off on the outskirts of Strasbourg, whilst remaining in a relatively quiet environment.
The Baggersee: the large lake in the south of Strasbourg
The Baggersee lake is one of the main swimming spots in the Strasbourg metropolitan area. Located in Illkirch-Graffenstaden, just a few kilometres from the city centre, it is easily accessible in around fifteen minutes by car or tram.
This developed lake features a large beach where swimming is supervised in summer. It is a particularly popular spot during hot weather and is therefore very busy.
Lake Achard: a lake between Illkirch and Ostwald
Lake Achard is a lake formed from gravel pits, located in Illkirch-Graffenstaden, south of Strasbourg. It is just a few kilometres from the city centre, making it a natural area easily accessible from the urban area.
Lake Achard features a large, largely unshaded beach, which is particularly popular in summer. Lifeguards are on duty seven days a week in July and August. The site also offers a range of leisure facilities.
La Ballastière lake in Bischheim
The Ballastière lake is situated less than 10 km from Strasbourg, in a very pleasant setting. It features a beach that is supervised in summer from 12 noon to 7 pm, and is slightly less busy than Lake Achard and Lake Baggersee. Please note that from 6 July to 28 August, the lake becomes a real leisure hub, with activity leaders from the towns of Bischheim and Hœnheim offering games and art workshops for young people aged 8 to 15 from Monday to Friday.
The Hardt lake in Brumath
The Hardt Lake (or “Brumath Plage”) is located about 15 to 20 km north of Strasbourg. This vast bathing area features an extensive, well-equipped beach with lifeguard in the summer. Very popular during hot weather, it offers an ideal setting to cool off close to the city. The site also offers areas for relaxation and leisure activities.
Les Docks d’Été in Strasbourg, a temporary urban beach
Docks d’Été is a pop-up urban beach set up every summer in Strasbourg, on the André Malraux peninsula, right in the heart of the city.
Admittedly, there’s no swimming yet, but fine sand, sun loungers, hammocks and a range of water sports are on offer. Admittedly, there’s no swimming yet. The whole area forms a seasonal leisure space designed for relaxation and refreshment in the city, particularly popular during hot weather.
Blauelsand Gravel Pit, a naturist site in Strasbourg
The Blauelsand gravel pit beach is located about 10km north of Strasbourg, in a former gravel pit area on the banks of the Rhine. It is a recognised naturist site, set apart from the major bathing facilities in the urban area.
The site consists of areas of water and largely undeveloped riverbanks. Swimming here is unsupervised.
Along the Rhine: beaches and lakes in the north of the Bas-Rhin
The Rhine forms the natural border of the Bas-Rhin and flows through an area with a concentration of developed lakes and leisure centres. This stretch of the Rhine offers numerous bathing spots in summer, in a setting that is both natural and family-friendly.
Mouettes beach in Lauterbourg: a large sandy beach at the Bassin des Mouettes
Mouettes beach is located in the far north of the Bas-Rhin, a few kilometres from the German border. This fine sandy beach at the Bassin des Mouettes stretches for over 500 metres. You’ll have access to water sports, plenty of relaxation areas and children’s play areas.
Swimming is supervised at weekends in June, then every day in July and August. There is an admission charge.
Seltz Outdoor Centre: a family-friendly beach by the water
The Seltz outdoor recreation centre is located close to the German border, near the municipal campsite on the banks of the Rhine**. It features a fine sandy beach set in natural surroundings, which is popular for summer swimming.
Swimming is supervised during the summer season, in July and August, and only at weekends in June. There is an admission charge.
La Chapelle lake in Beinheim
The Chapelle lake is located in Beinheim, in the northern Rhine area. This lake, developed as a bathing area, features a grassy beach and a playground, offering a simple, family-friendly setting for summer leisure activities.
Swimming is supervised in July and August, Tuesday to Friday from 1pm to 8pm, and on weekends and public holidays from 11am to 8pm. There is an admission charge.
Gambsheim lake: a leisure area north-east of Strasbourg
The Gambsheim lake is situated within the leisure area of the municipal campsite**. There is an admission charge for non-residents. You’ll find a well-equipped beach, a lovely green space with partial shade and a playground. Swimming is supervised during the summer season, from 1 July to 31 August. In addition, several water sports are available on site, such as introductory sessions in canoeing, kayaking or stand-up paddleboarding.
Staedly lake in Roeschwoog, a bathing spot in the Pays Rhénan
The Staedly leisure area, near the German border, offers supervised swimming during the summer season, as well as relaxation areas in a natural setting that is popular in summer. The lake is part of the Le Staedly*** campsite, with paid access for non-residents (pets not allowed).
Other swimming spots in the Bas-Rhin
Between the Grand Ried plain and the hills of the Northern Vosges, the Bas-Rhin offers a few more swimming spots in the heart of nature or at developed lakes. More secluded than the major spots around Strasbourg or the Rhine, they allow you to enjoy a variety of settings, ranging from unspoilt natural areas to family-friendly leisure zones.
Huttenheim lake
The Huttenheim lake is set in a peaceful, green environment typical of the Grand Ried. Set back from the road, it offers a tranquil, tree-lined setting, perfect for relaxation.
The site, covering an area of approximately 2.5 hectares, offers supervised swimming from the last Saturday in June until the last Sunday in August. There is an admission charge during the supervised period.
Benfeld lake
The Benfeld lake is open from mid-June to the end of August, with two lifeguards on duty to ensure safety.
This developed site offers a swimming area popular with families, with a beach where you can enjoy sunny or shaded areas thanks to the surrounding trees. There is an admission charge during the summer season.
Koba Lake in Wittisheim, a leisure centre in the heart of the Grand Ried
The Wittisheim lake, known as the Koba, is a former gravel pit converted into a leisure centre set in lush green surroundings. Swimming is supervised in summer and there is an admission charge during this period.
In addition to the swimming area, the Koba Wake Park offers a range of water sports such as wakeboarding, water skiing, wakeskating and stand-up paddleboarding on the lake.
The Fleckenstein Pond in Lembach, a natural site in the forest
Swimming at Fleckenstein takes place in a pond surrounded by nature. Access is free and swimming is unsupervised, open daily during the season. The site offers a peaceful natural environment in a woodland setting, in the Green Alsace.
Keskastel lake, a developed bathing spot in Alsace Bossue
The Keskastel lake is a developed lake covering approximately 2.3 hectares, situated on the grounds of the Les Sapins*** campsite. Swimming is supervised only in July and August, during which time there is a charge for access to the leisure area. Outside these dates, the lake remains accessible, but swimming is at users’ own risk.
Campsites in the Bas-Rhin near swimming spots
There are around fifty campsites in the Bas-Rhin, spread across the Alsace Plain, the Ried, the Rhine Valley and the Northern Vosges. Many offer quick access to developed lakes, gravel beaches or supervised bathing areas, which are particularly popular in summer. Here are a few examples:
- The Fort Falabraque**** campsite in Seltz is situated right next to Seltz Lake (around 3 to 5 km away) and about fifteen kilometres from La Chapelle beach in Beinheim, offering quick access to the main swimming spots in the north of the Bas-Rhin. A great alternative to the campsite’s water park!
- The Strasbourg**** campsite is just 6 km from the Baggersee and a short distance from Lake Achard, the Reichstett lake and the Ballastière in Bischheim, right at the heart of the main swimming spots in the Strasbourg metropolitan area.
- The Le Ried*** campsite in Boofzheim is located around 15 km from La Chapelle beach in Beinheim, one of the main bathing spots in the Rhine region.
- The municipal campsite Le Vallon de l’Ehn*** in Obernai offers easy access to the lakes at Benfeld and Huttenheim, located around 10 to 15 km away.
Practical tips for enjoying the swimming spots in the Bas-Rhin
The lakes closest to the Strasbourg conurbation quickly attract large numbers of visitors during the summer months. In hot weather, it may be wise to arrive early in the morning or late in the afternoon to enjoy quieter conditions.
Lifeguard supervision is generally only provided in summer. It is therefore advisable to check the times and dates of supervision before you go. Outside these periods, swimming remains the responsibility of users, with particular care required for children.
It is also essential to respect the environment: do not leave litter behind, protect the riverbanks and natural areas, and be mindful of water quality, which can vary depending on the weather and visitor numbers.