Walchensee tightens towing rules as visitor traffic overwhelms roads

Authorities at Walchensee lake in Bavaria are taking tougher action against illegal parking as heavy visitor traffic creates congestion and blocks emergency routes, BR reported.

At the Einsiedl car park, vehicles and motorhomes are packed closely together, with some spaces allowing overnight stays. The popular day-trip and short-break destination has attracted growing numbers of visitors, particularly during this summer’s many hot, sunny days.

Municipal traffic officers from Bad Tölz check number plates and parking tickets, including through digital systems. They can now call a towing service without police involvement, for example when vehicles block emergency access.

In July, officers had a car removed for the first time after it blocked the emergency route to Zwergern peninsula and cut off access to the lake. Police ordered the vehicle to be towed to an available parking space in a neighbouring town. The holidaymakers from North Rhine-Westphalia had to continue by bus but reportedly understood the decision.

Julia Schuster, who runs a café on the lake’s western shore, said more people were holidaying in Germany, had less money and were choosing day trips. Many visitors spend hours in traffic before arriving tired and frustrated, while the heat increases demand for access to the lake.

Lisa Grünwald, a volunteer at the water rescue service’s station, said traffic had caused more concern than supervising swimmers. On six to eight particularly difficult days, the toll road along the southern shore was closed after reaching 1,100 vehicles. Hundreds of visitors then found themselves unable to continue and left their cars along the roadside.

Residents’ frustration has grown in the village of Walchensee. The mayor and residents regularly meet at a round table to discuss campers in the village, tents on the beach and vehicles in the nature reserve, but no breakthrough has been reached.

Some drivers accuse the traffic officers of seeking profit, but Andreas Schärfl rejected the claim. He said their task was to ensure road safety and keep emergency routes clear in case of a fire.

Although the school holidays are ending, officials expect busy weekends to continue for several weeks. The nearby Jochberg and Herzogstand mountains are popular hiking destinations, and quieter conditions may not return to Walchensee until fog and the first frosts arrive.