January 7, 2026, 3:51 pm | Read time: 3 minutes
Temperatures well below freezing might be familiar from Canada, Scandinavia, Greenland, or Alaska—they’re quite rare in Germany. However, there is a place here where an incredible minus 45.9 degrees was once recorded. TRAVELBOOK explains where it is and why it’s so cold there.
At Funtensee, deep in the Berchtesgaden Alps, it’s colder than anywhere else in Germany. As WELT reports, a historic low was recorded there in 2001. A private weather station registered minus 45.9 degrees Celsius on December 24, 2001, while the German Weather Service (DWD) station on the opposite side of the lake recorded minus 44.0 degrees Celsius. Such discrepancies are normal under extreme conditions, according to DWD expert Tobias Reinartz on “The Weather Channel.”
Why Funtensee Gets So Cold
But why is it so frosty at Funtensee in the middle of the Berchtesgaden Alps? There are several reasons. The location plays a significant role. The lake is situated at an altitude of about 1,600 meters. Surrounding mountains reach up to 2,000 meters, causing cold air to accumulate and allowing little sunlight in during winter. Additionally, the lake’s water doesn’t drain above ground but seeps underground, creating a natural barrier around the lake.
Ultimately, three factors contribute to the extreme cold there, explains DWD meteorologist Reinartz. Snow, no wind, and no clouds favor the extreme cold. The cold air collects in the basin, and without wind, it stays there. If snow covers the frozen lake, it blocks ground warmth and intensifies the cold.
Funtensee has another peculiarity. Normally, vegetation decreases with altitude. However, no trees grow at Funtensee—they only appear further up. The exact reason is disputed. Some say the icy cold is responsible, while others claim that people who drove their cattle to the alpine pastures for centuries cut down the trees. This cannot be definitively proven anymore.
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Officially Not in the Cold Statistics
Minus 45.9 degrees Celsius—the lowest recorded temperature in Germany—and yet Funtensee is not officially the coldest place in the country. Its exposed location is not representative of Germany as a whole, so this value does not appear in any official DWD evaluation, says Reinartz. There could be even colder places. There are many high-altitude valleys and basins in the Alps with similar conditions. The only difference: Funtensee has a weather station.
The actual record holder is Wolnzach-Hüll in Upper Bavaria. On February 12, 1929, minus 37.8 degrees Celsius was recorded there.
Hiking to Funtensee
Funtensee can be visited despite its extremely low temperatures. Just a few meters higher is the Kärlingerhaus, an Alpine Club hut. Thanks to its location, it can be up to 20 degrees warmer there than at Funtensee itself. From there, you have the perfect view of the lake, and during the season from May to October, you can also enjoy culinary offerings. In winter, hikers can use the winter room, accessible with an Alpine Club key.
There are various routes to reach Funtensee. According to the Kärlingerhaus website, the ascent from Königssee, which takes about four hours, is particularly popular.