Templiner See Schwimmen 2026 — Potsdam

Gliding through the water near the southwestern bank, your eyes are drawn to the intricate battlements and oriel windows of the steam engine house in Park Babelsberg. This 19th-century structure, designed by Ludwig Persius, stands as a distinct marker against the backdrop of the hilly landscape. As you navigate the Templiner See, you are swimming through a region defined by continental climate extremes; the water temperature here reflects the area's history, where record highs of 40.4 °C and deep winter freezes have shaped the local environment.

This is the setting for the annual Templiner See Swim, a local highlight organized by the DLRG Ortsgruppe Potsdam. The event, held at the Freundschaftsinsel in the city center, features three distances: a 400m youth loop, an 800m intermediate course, and the 1700m island circumnavigation. For the longest distance, the "Neue Fahrt" canal is closed to shipping for 30 minutes, creating a rare, quiet corridor for participants. The logistics are strict: if you haven't cleared this section by 15:15, a rescue boat will collect you, a necessary measure given the tight window of maritime traffic suspension.

A landscape of history

As you find your rhythm, look toward the Telegrafenberg to spot the Einstein Tower, an expressionist landmark built in 1924 to test theories of General Relativity. Further along the course, the 66-meter-high Böttcherberg rises above the water, topped by the Loggia Alexandra, a structure integrated into the gardens by Peter Joseph Lenné in the 1860s. The area is deeply layered with history; just a few kilometers away, the Glienicker Lake served as a fortified border crossing between West Berlin and Potsdam throughout the Cold War.

Before the race, you will pass the site of the former Luftschiffhafen, once a major airship harbor established in 1911. Today, the water is calm and recreational, but the history of the harbor remains in the sports facilities that line the shore. With entry fees ranging from 5 to 25 EUR, the event remains accessible, though participation in the 1700m race is strictly capped at 130 swimmers. The DLRG enforces German Swimming Federation rules regarding thermal protection: if the water dips below 18°C, wetsuits are mandatory, while above 20°C, only standard swimsuits are permitted.