Agriculture, environmental and climate minister Norbert Tettschnig is also responsible for Austria’s waters and is driving the expansion of the freely accessible lake shore and the protection of valuable natural banks. In 2024, a new property on Lake Wörthersee and one on the Weißensee were bought through the Austrian Federal Forest. In 2025, the purchase of another area was successful directly on Lake Attersee. In total, the Federal Forest acquired around 24,000 square meters of bank space for the public sector in 2024 and 2025.
Water Minister Norbert Tettschnig: “It is important to me that there are free access for everyone who is looking for relaxation at the lake. In the government program, we have agreed to increase the number of free sea access in the coming years and I am pleased that the Austrian Federal Forest will be on the right track here.”
Free access to the record level – Federal Forest are a central partner for lake access
The Austrian Federal Forest support a total of 74 of the larger lakes in Austria. The Federal Forest currently provides around 350,000 square meters of the lake shore area – and thus more than ever before – for the general public. These include around 70 freely accessible natural baths on popular lakes, but also areas for promenades, parks or beach baths that look after the municipalities, as well as numerous smaller lake access. There are also around 200 kilometers of natural banks.
Georg Schöppl, board spokesman for the Austrian Federal Forest explained: “Our central task is to manage these valuable waters sustainably and to secure their ecological functions. At the same time, the preservation and expansion of public lake access are very important to us. Wherever it is possible and economically justifiable, we therefore buy lake shells with the aim of either enabling public sea access or protecting them.”
At Wörthersee, the Federal Forest in 2024 bought an approximately 500 square meter bank property in the municipality of Techelsberg from a private hand, where a public sea access was opened this year. At Weißensee, the Federal Forest bought around 15,000 square meters of bank from a private individual in 2024 and thus secured a natural area for the public. In April 2025, the latest acquisition was achieved with a more than 8,000 m² area on Lake Attersee. The property was acquired by the ÖBB and further areas were rented. A public recreation area with a sea access for the general public is now to be designed there. Federal Minister Norbert Norbert Tettschnig, ÖBF board spokesman Georg Schöppl and the mayor of Weygg, Michael Stub, at the free and free accessible ÖBF-Nature Batzenplatz Huthaus attachment in Weyregg, which the Federal Forests have expanded and upgraded a few years ago, and were able to convince themselves of the successful project.
Expansion of further additions in sight
Thanks to the acquisitions, the freely accessible area to lakes that provide the Federal Forest is already at a record level, but is said to continue to grow. Therefore, the Federal Forest is currently actively looking forward to further purchase options. In addition, the federal foresters are constantly investing in the quality of the existing areas, from the care of the meadows, the protection of reed belts and natural banks to upgrade existing bathing spaces with modern infrastructure for visitors.
Norbert Tettschnig: “Subject to the necessary permits, the new area on the Attersee should be available for all people from the 2026 bathing season for all people.
Further information: Map -Lake – Austrian Federal Forest