Waginger See Langstreckenschwimmen

In 1867, the landscape surrounding the Waginger See underwent a definitive transformation when the lowering of the Götzinger Achen river caused the lake level to retreat by two meters. This sudden recession fundamentally altered the shoreline, pushing the town of Waging back from the water's edge and leaving behind the terrain that athletes navigate today. Swimmers now trace the remnants of a basin shaped by this historical engineering, moving through a lake that established itself as a hub of the medieval 'lower saline road', the vital artery that moved salt from Reichenhall to the markets of the Inn valley.

The water and the view

As you glide through the water, the geography of Upper Bavaria remains a constant presence. Rising above the village of Tettelham, the Schlossberg—crowned by the ruins of the Obertettelham Castle—provides a sharp visual landmark to orient your progress. Further along the course, the elevated silhouette of the St. Martin Church emerges, its Baroque and Rococo architectural details visible from the water as you approach the market square. The lake itself is defined by its thermal profile, consistently registering as the warmest in the region, a characteristic that often allows for a comfortable swim without the chill typically associated with alpine water bodies. The settlement of these shores dates back to the migration of the Bajuwaren tribes, who took root here under the leadership of Uuago, eventually giving the town its name.

Race day logistics

Organized as part of the Alpen Open Water Cup, the event is currently refining a new 5000m point-to-point course. The projected route spans from Taching to the Kurhaus Waging, requiring logistical coordination to manage the transit across the lake. Participation is open to those who appreciate a steady, long-distance challenge in a setting that has evolved from a medieval trade corridor into a specialized venue for open water competition. While the water is welcoming, the scale of the lake demands a consistent pace to navigate the distance between the historic banks.