Spa hotels on the Edersee
North Hesse's great reservoir in the Waldeck country: the Kellerwald-Edersee National Park with UNESCO beech forests, Waldeck Castle above the water and the spa town of Bad Wildungen nearby.
Holidays & wellness on the Edersee
The Edersee in the North Hessian Waldeck country is one of the largest reservoirs in Germany — almost twelve square kilometres of deep-green water, framed by wooded hills and overlooked by Waldeck Castle. What began as a dam for power generation is today one of the most beautiful water landscapes of upland Germany. Its crown is the Kellerwald-Edersee National Park, Hesse's only national park, whose old beech forests have counted as UNESCO natural World Heritage since 2011. A few kilometres on, in Bad Wildungen, bubble the healing springs of a state spa rich in tradition. Forest, water and a spa-town cure in a small space — the Edersee combines nature experience and recreation like hardly any other region in the centre of Germany.
What this region stands for
- National park & forest bathing
- Spa-town cure (Bad Wildungen)
- Water sports & lake boat trips
- Hiking & cycling
- Family holidays (wildlife park, treetop walk)
Why wellness here?
The wellness profile of the Edersee rests on two pillars: recreation in nature and a spa-town tradition. The nature pole is the Kellerwald-Edersee National Park — Hesse's only national park, which protects one of the last large near-natural beech forests in Central Europe and has belonged since 2011 to the UNESCO natural World Heritage “Ancient Beech Forests of Germany”. Forest bathing, hikes through ancient wood pastures and the treetop walk high above the lakeshore make nature directly tangible here. The cure pole is supplied by nearby Bad Wildungen, one of the spa towns richest in tradition in Hesse, whose mineral and healing springs are classically used for kidney, urinary-tract and digestive complaints, embedded in one of the largest spa parks in Europe. Add the lake itself with boat trips, water sports and shore paths. Whoever wants to combine exercise in nature with a classic cure finds both on the Edersee.
When to travel here
Spring (April–May): fresh beech green in the national park, quiet hiking trails. Summer (June–August): high season for bathing, sailing and lake boat trips at full water level. Autumn (September–October): the beech forests glow, and at low water level the “Edersee Atlantis” appears — the ruins of the villages once flooded. Cure and spa in Bad Wildungen all year; the shoulder months for quiet wellness stays.
Sights and anchors for the spa-free day
Edersee & Eder dam
With around 11.8 km² of water one of the largest reservoirs in Germany. The mighty dam wall from the early 20th century is 400 metres long and 48 metres high. Excursion boats ply the lake; cycle and hiking paths run all around. At low water in late summer the “Edersee Atlantis” appears with the ruins of flooded villages and old bridges.
Kellerwald-Edersee National Park
Hesse's only national park, opened in 2004, protects one of the last large near-natural beech forests in Central Europe. Since 2011 it has belonged to the UNESCO natural World Heritage “Ancient Beech Forests”. Ancient wood pastures, wildcats and marked hiking trails such as the Urwaldsteig shape the reserve.
Waldeck Castle
High above the north-eastern shore sits Waldeck Castle, first mentioned in 1120 and until 1655 the residence of the Counts of Waldeck. Today it houses a museum and a hotel; a funicular connects the lakeshore with the hilltop castle. From the viewpoint the view falls far over the lake.
Bad Wildungen — spa town in the Waldeck country
One of the spa towns richest in tradition in Hesse, whose mineral and healing springs are classically used for kidney, urinary-tract and digestive complaints. The extensive spa park counts among the largest in Europe; the old town with half-timbering and town church rounds off the health resort.
Treetop walk & Edersee wildlife park
The treetop walk (TreeTopWalk) on the edge of the national park leads over a 750-metre path up into the crowns and offers wide views over lake and forest. On the southern shore the Edersee wildlife park with its birds-of-prey station and beech-forest information centre invites families especially.
Official tourism portals
Up-to-date information on getting there, events, opening hours and visitor's tax is available directly from the destinations.
Frequently asked questions about the region
What is the Edersee?
The Edersee is a large reservoir in the North Hessian Waldeck country, created by the Eder dam. With around 11.8 square kilometres of water it belongs to the largest reservoirs in Germany and is today a popular destination for water sports, boat trips and recreation in nature.
What makes the Kellerwald-Edersee National Park special?
It is Hesse's only national park and protects one of the last large near-natural beech forests in Central Europe. Since 2011 it has belonged to the UNESCO natural World Heritage “Ancient Beech Forests of Germany”. Ancient wood pastures, wildcats and hiking trails such as the Urwaldsteig make it the natural highlight of the region.
Is there wellness and a cure on the Edersee?
Yes — a few kilometres from the lake lies Bad Wildungen, one of the spa towns richest in tradition in Hesse with mineral and healing springs and one of the largest spa parks in Europe. Recreation in nature on the lake can thus be combined with a classic cure and spa.
What is the “Edersee Atlantis”?
That is the name given to the ruins of the villages flooded when the dam was built. In dry late summers and autumns the water level sinks so far that old walls, bridges and paths resurface — an impressive, almost ghostly spectacle.
When is the best time to travel?
Summer (June–August) for bathing, sailing and boat trips at full water level; autumn for glowing beech forests and — at low water — the Edersee Atlantis. Cure and spa in Bad Wildungen are possible all year; spring and autumn offer the quietest hiking weeks.
Edersee — spa hotels & holidays
Forest, water and World Heritage in North Hesse
The Edersee lies in the heart of the Waldeck country, one of the most wooded regions in Germany. What was built as a dam for power generation is today an extensive natural paradise: deep-green water, wooded slopes and above it all Waldeck Castle. On its western shore begins the Kellerwald-Edersee National Park, whose old beech forests count as UNESCO natural World Heritage.
Recreation in nature meets a spa-town tradition
Wellness on the Edersee means two things. There is nature — forest bathing in centuries-old beech forests, hikes on the Urwaldsteig, the treetop walk high above the water, sailing and lake boat trips. And there is the cure: in nearby Bad Wildungen healing springs bubble in one of the largest spa parks in Europe. Whoever wants to combine exercise and rest, nature and treatment is right here.
Images:
Axel Hindemith, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons